How to Use a Panini Press With Great Results
- 1). Investing in either an electric Panini press or portable Panini pan with press is essential to making an authentic Panini. An electric Panini press will make the Panini making process easy by allowing you to simply set the sandwich in the Panini and simply cover the sandwich until the timer, bell, or light notifies you the Panini is done cooking.
- 2). A portable Panini pan with a press will save you in electricity and counter space as it can be stored with your other pans. You might want to consider getting a Panini press with the raised grill edges so you don't have to flip the sandwich so both sides of the sandwich get the grill marks. A Panini press with the raised grill edges on the pan but not under the press is common so you will need to simply turn the sandwich over with tongs or a flat spatula and press the sandwich again on the other side.
- 3). Select bakery quality bread such as ciabatta, sour dough, or any rustic bread. Slice the bread in thick pieces. Choose three to four ingredients for your Panini sandwich so that you will be able to enjoy each of the flavors without getting overwhelmed by too many ingredients.
- 4). Ingredients such as turkey, chicken, pork, or even salmon go great in Panini's. Add one or two vegetables such as grilled onions, red bell peppers, or zucchini. If you'd prefer a vegetarian style Panini, mozzarella, tomato, and basil is a popular choice.
- 5). In order to bind the sandwich together, you will need to choose an ingredient such as cheese which can melt and keep the rest of the Panini insides together. Use cheeses that melt well such as provolone, fontina, gouda, and especially gruyere. Feel free to get creative and add olive tapenade, barbecue sauce,honey, or mayonnaise infused with flavors such as garlic, chipotle, and even wasabi.
- 6). Don't overstuff your Panini or else the insides of your Panini won't cook fast enough to keep up with the outside. Overfilling your Panini can also create a big mess as the inside ingredients will escape from the sandwich and overflow into the pan.
- 7). Preheat your Panini press or pan over a medium heat or per the instructions on the electric Panini press. The electric Panini press should notify you by a light or bell when it is preheated. A non-electric Panini press pan will let you know if it's preheated if you simply flick small drops of water onto the pan and if you get a sizzle reaction, the Panini press is ready.
- 8). After you put your Panini sandwich together, brush or spray each side of your sandwich with either butter, canola, or olive oil. Put the sandwich on the Panini press and cover with the Panini grill press. Each side of the Panini sandwich should cook for three or four minutes or at least until it turns a golden brown color. Turn the Panini sandwich over and press so that both sandwich gets those beautiful brown grill marks.
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