Customer Reviews

Breville SG820XL Maxi 2-in-1 Panini Press

5 star:		(73)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I used to be a restaurant owner and chef, serving fabulous toasted sandwiches using several commercial sandwich presses with flat grill plates and I really missed them after I left the business. After much consideration and reading reviews, I mistakenly bought a Delonghi panini press due to its mostly 5 star reviews. However after making one sandwich I realized its serious shortcomings, which I suspect is common to all grooved griddles, and returned the unit in favor of this flat plate Breville press. Before commenting on the Breville let me explain what happens with grooved griddles.

I do not understand the consumer fascination or hype for grill marks on sandwiches just so that you can get that Italian "Panini" look. Grill marks may look cute but they are a functional waste for a toasted sandwich. The problem is that the deep impression made in the bread causes an uneven heating of the bread surface and ingredients underneath. On the Delonghi, I made a classic Rueben with rye, big eye swiss, corned beef, kraut and thousand island dressing. The ridges pushed deeply enough into the bread to cause the cheese to melt through the bread where the untoasted surface was between the grooves. So the raised grooves were toasting but not the valleys between, where the cheese soaked through. Also consider that rye is more dense than typical sandwich bread and it still did not withstand this process. The sandwich ended up a soggy mess within about 3-4 minutes and would not come out of the press very easily due to the deep grooves where the softer bread "gave up" and simply started falling apart from being soaked. So I returned the unit, unsatisfied with the results.

I then promptly replaced it with this unit, which initially was my second choice for which I should have trusted my initial instincts. I got the Breville unit because it is about the only one on the market that has flat griddle plates top and bottom for a truly even toasting over the entire surface of the sandwich. The heat level is perfect and the surface area is larger than the Delonghi and it will actually accommodate 4 sandwiches at one time. The bottom plate features a raised lip around the perimeter to contain ingredients that may run out or for cooking meat or eggs. You can leave the sandwich in as long as you wish, to allow a more crusty surface or desire more heat to the interior ingredients, without burning anything. It is very forgiving on cook time so it would be hard to ruin anything cooked in it. I have also found it wonderful for cooking hamburger patties. And it does it very quickly. A third to half pound pattie will cook in 3-5 minutes, cooking both sides at one time. Not to mention that my Rueben now comes out perfect. I have also cooked Tyson marinated chicken breasts in it, with great results. And will next try sirloin steak cuts, which I am sure will yield excellent results. Although the Breville does not have a variable heat control, I found that to be of no consequence. It is not needed because the unit cooks everything perfectly, from sandwiches to raw meat. They have obviously programmed the heat to a universally acceptable level, in which you simply have to experiment to find the right cook time for various objects chosen.

The Breville also has a stair step slider lid support on the side handle to allow you to set variable thicknesses for sandwiches and other ingredients, to avoid smashing your panini or toasted sandwiches to cardboard thin slices of bread. Also allows for great pizza reheating to crisp the crust on the bottom plate while setting the lid to the open "radiant heat" melt position, hovering above, to warm the topside ingredients while the crust does its thing. I am very impressed with this unit which performs as well as the $600 commercial units we used in my restaurant. All in all, a much superior choice unless you like "tire rut" sandwiches. Grill marks belong on meat and not sandwiches.

I actually own the smaller one - SG620XL, but I love it so much I had to write about this one too. This one is the same but bigger - it makes up to four sandwiches at a time. I love toasted sandwiches and this machine makes the best (and biggest variety) of sandwiches possible. Firstly, it is the only one with a flat plate, so you get crispy bread all over - not just where the grooves are. Plus, the flat plates mean you can make stuff with really thin breads like quesadillas without putting holes in them. And best of all, if you spill some cheese or something, the flat plates take only a second to clean.

The other great feature is the adjustable mechanism on the side that lets you fix the height of the top plate to one of five different settings. I've thrown out my toaster oven! This makes open melts, bagel melts, pizzas, toasts bread!, and even fries foods. I researched every unit available before buying this ... it is way ahead of the competition and the best looking unit too.

Pita breads, tortillas, quesadillas, paninis, sandwiches even eggs!! This unit is very unique. At first I thought Paninis were meant to have grooves in them but when I went to 'Panera', the Panini Kings I saw them using a flat machine and thought I'd try the Breville with the flat plates. WOW! The breads taste great and because the plates are flat you can use them on all sorts of breads, - thin, thick, even for frying eggs. I cook 4 eggs every morning on this machine and the adjustable height control allows you to cook them on both sides at once without breaking the yoke!

Cleaning is very easy too. I love how they've removed the metal coil at the back of the unit making it easier to clean. I use it for almost every breakfast and lunch and it comes with some great recipe ideas in the instruction booklet so I'm still finding new ways to use it.

I purchased the Panini Press for a Father's Day gift for my husband. I was very interested in the Breville brand because I purchased their toaster a few months ago and the design and function is outstanding! Anyway, my husband likes leftover pizza for lunch and doesn't like it in the microwave. Consequently, he often gets out our heaviest pan and turns the flame on high underneath it and...WALKS AWAY! The phone rings, he lets the dogs out, whatever: there is always something to distract him and our kitchen smells like burnt to a crisp pizza!

The press is so easy, efficient and really produces a better product than stovetop pizza reheating. Plus, it is a breeze to clean! My husband misses the ridges that he thinks should be there, but after reading the other reviews, I'm glad that the surfaces are flat! The panini press makes sandwiches that are outstanding, ordinary bologna or grilled cheese sandwiches seem good enough for a fine quality bistro! My 10 year old can make his own sandwich and can easily operate and clean it (the press, not his sandwich! LOL).

If you want a panini press, this is the real deal. You won't miss the ridges when your panini is grilled perfectly and 2 swishes cleans up the press! Oh, and the plug is one of the coolest things you'll ever see!

I have had the Maxi 2-in-1 Panini Press for almost two years, and it has been about the perfect machine. As other reviewers have pointed out, it handles different thicknesses of sandwiches very well. It makes a perfect Reuben sandwich, and every other grilled sandwich that I have attempted. It is an extremely solid machine that is heavy and looks very classy. . It is the only appliance that I have ever owned that I wouldn't change a thing about. The other day I found that my plastic handle was broken (don't know how that happened), so I called their toll-free number, and they immediately e-mailed me out a pre-paid FedEx sticker to send the old machine back. In about 2 weeks I received a replacement machine. It amazed me because I just assumed that I would have to pick up the tab for the replacement handle and the shipping charges.

I am sooooo glad I read all the reveiws for multiple brands of panini presses before finally purchasing this one. I almost purchased another famous expensive brand. That would have been a mistake, because this IS the perfect press hands down. Thanks to the retired chef and his reveiw. That's the one that really sold me.

I have used this every day since receiving it, and I just can't make a bad sandwich. I love the flat plates. I have used presses with griddle marks, and I will NEVER go back to those again. These sandwiches toast faster, crisper, and warm all the way through with these flat plates. The clean up is a snap - just cool and wipe clean. NO MESS! I coat the outside of the bread with a thin brushing of olive oil, and nothing sticks.

The adjustable height on the lid is fabulous. It really does work like a mini toaster oven and griddle as well. When I release the lid, it is heavy enough to press the sandwiches without applying pressure to the handle.

I have made everything from meatball, marinara sauce, and mozarella cheese hoagies on fat full loaf french bread to thin and crispie stuffed pitas. Everything toasts perfectly. No soggie mess. It fits perfectly on my small counter when in use and locks nicely to stand on end when not in use, but it is big enough to toast an entire french loaf (not baguette), cut in half for 2 huge sandwiches. The hole in the plug is pure genius.

Can you tell I love this thing? This is great praise coming from a person that has purchased far too many miracle product DUDS over the years that failed to perform as advertised and now simply take up space and collect dust.

We had never really spent much time on heated sandwiches. This machine changed all that. It's an efficient, easy-to-clean (just a wipe), high quality product. The flat, nonstick surface creates an even, broad crispness on the bread. Cheese or meat fillings get warmed easily. For even better heat/steam penetration and retention we often wrap a sandwich in a single layer of aluminum foil. The ability to set the lid height combined with the base's heat make this an ideal appliance when you reheat leftover pizza (if that's how you like to eat it). Had to puchase it elsewhere as it was on back-order at Amazon.

My problem is not with the product but with Amazon. They ship it in the original box and the box was delivered damaged. I wanted to give it as a gift. If you order this, you should find another merchant who will ship it in an outer box.

Okay, I am the world's biggest critic and I never do reviews (single mom where's the time etc..), but I wanted to do a review on this product. I recieved a $25 gift certificate from my sister for Amazon.com. I thought it was plenty of money for books, which is what I usually get. However, when I signed on there was an ad for a panini press. The ad I was looking at reminded me of how much I have been wanted one so I thought I would search for a press within my price range.

When I saw the Breville SG820XL Maxi 2-in-1 Panini Press I thought wow, that is perfect. I had been looking for an inexpensive grill press with flat iron sides on it forever. The price was more than my gift certificate, but hey, I was getting exactly what I wanted for just a little more money out of my pocket. Now...on to the good stuff.

It took about 2 weeks for me to get my panini maker because this product was on backorder after Christmas. When the package arrived, there was an Amazon box on the outside, and inside was packing material and the grill. The grill box itself was fine, but the amazon box looked like it had been through a war zone. No problems though with the grill and everthing was in working order. There was nothing to assemble, you just take it out of the box tear off a little plastic, plug it in and viola...let's cook.

The first thing I made was an Italian panini. Simple yummy, cooked to perfection. The crust gets crispy and fabulous while your goodies inside get steamed. Really a terrific meal. I will say that if you are fixing 2 or more paninis at once, watch them. There will always be one that will cook a little faster. Burgers are good and cook fast, although I am spoiled and live in Florida so I have an outside grill for that. I am somewhat of an egg fanatic. I love eggs. Over medium. The white shouldn't be runny (ewwww). I will say right now that this panini press cooks the most PERFECT eggs I have ever had. I usually over cook my eggs on the stove, or I crisp the edges too much and the white around the yolk is still runny...whatever. I thought I cooked okay eggs before. Now I cook eggs that are perfection every time. I have one of those electric grills for pancakes and such, but I probably won't even use it anymore. This panini maker does it all.

Clean-up is simple. Make sure you unplug grill, there is no on-off switch. As the grill cools take a wet dish cloth or sponge that has just a touch of dishsoap on it and wipe off any excess grease or crumbs. Then wipe with a clean wet cloth for a rinse, then dry it off. No ridges to deal with which makes me very happy :). It is quick and easy.

My only DON'T for this machine: Don't cook bacon on it, unless it is 3-4 strips max. There is lip around the grill so the fat has nowhere to go. For great tasting bacon that doesn't require slaving over the stove, cook it in the oven on a high lipped foil lined cookie sheet (watch the grease when getting pans out). Makes great crispy bacon and a easy clean up.

Just to echo the review by another former chef several reviews down, this is a great device. It really does work as well as the units I've used in restaurants while costing about $1000 less. After using mine for a week, I bought one for a Christmas present and it too is getting a lot of use. The flat cooking surface is great for eggs and chicken, but I have found the depth of the plates to be too shallow for greasier foods like burgers or steak. But as you might guess, the unit really excells at sandwiches. It far outperforms my old GF grill and another sandwich press I tried. Produces beautifully toasted sandwiches. My first unit arrived with a broken handle even though box showed no sign of damage. Amazon shipped one out for next day delivery instantly. Great service.