{"id":7368,"date":"2021-02-25T12:21:41","date_gmt":"2021-02-25T17:21:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wasserstrom.com\/blog\/?p=7368"},"modified":"2021-03-30T14:17:27","modified_gmt":"2021-03-30T18:17:27","slug":"commercial-panini-grill-buying-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wasserstrom.com\/blog\/2021\/02\/25\/commercial-panini-grill-buying-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Commercial Panini Grill Buying Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Thomas Edison was ahead of his time in many ways, one of them being commercial panini grills. According to the National Parks Service<\/a>, in the 1920s, Edicraft began production on numerous \u201celectric servants\u201d, among them the sandwich grill. However, after the Great Depression seized the US economy, Edicraft ceased production of their sandwich grills in 1934. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United States would have to wait decades for its second coming of the panini, which arrived in the late 1990s. For that, we must show our gratitude to the Paninaro and Paninare of Italy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Andiamo Alla Paninoteca!”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go to the sandwich shop!\u201d Italy\u2019s revered slow food heritage hit a speed bump in the early 1980\u2019s when a subculture of rebellious youth deemed American-style fast food as the next big thing. The most similar fare Italy had to fast food at the time were grilled sandwiches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caf\u00ea Paninaro in Milan served as a meeting place, and eventually, this group of pop culture rebels were known as the Paninari.  A panini sandwich, or the proper term in Italy, panino which translates to \u201clittle breads\u201d, gained traction in the bars and caf\u00e9s of Milan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon this popularity spread across countries and it is easy to understand why: grilling a sandwich captures an amazing flavor. Traditional grilled panini recipes varied across the regions of Italy, however most followed this basic formula:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

High quality bread such as ciabatta, rosetta, or focaccia + classic Italian meats and cheeses + fresh vegetables + fresh herbs + a touch of olive oil. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Restaurants Are Investing in Panini Grills<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The endless variety of ingredients one can play with when creating paninis and other pressed sandwiches makes the commercial panini grill a perfect addition to virtually every commercial kitchen. Restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues, pubs and taverns, caterers, food trucks, concession stands and more all benefit from a panini grill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Panini<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For example, wine bars, brewery kitchens, and cocktail lounges could create an array of savory grilled sandwiches using ingredients that perfectly compliment their popular drinks. Adding a \u201csandwich flight\u201d appetizer to accompany a beer flight is a fun and inventive way to introduce customers to more menu items. Moreover, promoting food\/beverage pairings results in higher profits when, for instance, customers stopping by for just a beer decide to order food as well, or vice versa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to wine bars, Eric Asimov of the New York Times<\/a> points out, \u201cBread and wine are a foundation of civilization. A sandwich simply adds other flavors to the equation, and very few foods won\u2019t be improved by wine.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, panini grills found in today\u2019s commercial kitchens prepare more than just sandwiches. Depending on plate formation, they act either as a grill or a griddle. For instance, griddles have smooth, flat plates while grills have grooved, ribbed plates that create a charred pattern we all love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Panini grills as an investment also offer a fantastic return. For instance, take an ordinary ham and cheese sandwich: Once pressed and grilled, restaurants and cafes can charge double of what the cold version would bring in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Creative<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Anatomy of a Commercial Panini Grill<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Plates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Commercial panini grill plates are most often constructed from cast iron, which is the ideal choice because it is durable and distributes heat evenly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plates vary in their style:<\/p>\n\n\n\n