Toasted Sandwich Maker – Panini Maker All-Clad
If you’re looking for healthy ways to cook for two, a toaster or panini maker is a good option for quick and easy meals. Since we didn’t want another appliance in the kitchen, the All-Clad Panini Maker was the best choice for us. Most of the reviews stated that this stovetop panini maker was not only good for making toasted sandwiches, but also very good for grilling meats and vegetables. The stovetop style is also easier to clean than electric grills.
The All-Clad Panini Maker is one of the smaller grills, so it works well for just two people. Its dimensions are 17×11 inches and it weighs 9.1 pounds. Actual cooking surface is 8.5X10.5 inches with 1-inch sides that easily fit two 4×5-inch sandwiches or three 1/3-pound burgers. A good Panini maker needs to have some weight to heat and brown evenly. This sandwich maker is a good weight for its size and the press is as heavy as the pan. All-Clad has a good reputation and this sandwich maker lives up to its reputation. The grill and press heat quickly and evenly and grill food well. It is important to preheat the pan and press on medium or slightly lower heat and also spray the grill and press with nonstick cooking spray after preheating. Be very careful where you lift the press as parts of the handle will get hot.
Toasted Sandwiches are so easy and can be made from a recipe or from your imagination. For a nice ham sandwich, spray 2 slices of good, sturdy sourdough bread with cooking spray, a layer of Swiss cheese, leftover ham, canned roasted red peppers (be sure to pat dry with a paper towel), onions, tomatoes and toast for 5-6 minutes. You can also make a healthy toasted sandwich with leftover Thanksgiving turkey. Spread 2 tablespoons of low-fat mayonnaise on a slice of crusty Chicago-style Italian bread, layer thinly sliced turkey, artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers and patted dry with paper towels, basil leaves and low-fat provolone cheese, and toast.
We live in Oklahoma where the weather is unpredictable and the wind can blow for days on end. A Panini maker makes a good stovetop grill that is a great alternative to charcoal or gas grilling. You can use it to grill burgers or meat such as beef, chicken, or shrimp and not worry about wind, rain, or snow! Preheating the pan and pressing over medium heat, each on separate burners, will cook from the top and bottom, searing the meat to lock in the juices and cutting the cooking time in half.
For simple burgers, make patties seasoned with seasoned salt, pepper, and garlic and grill. Or experiment with adding 2-3 teaspoons of liquid smoke or 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce to a pound of patty before making the patties, then season with coarse black pepper and garlic powder and grill. The stove top grill will sear the tops and bottoms of the burgers nicely without flipping them and will cook the burgers in 10-15 minutes.
Remember, a recipe is simply a guide. With something as easy to cook as a Panini Grill you can let your imagination run wild!