Customer Reviews

Calphalon Enamel Cast Iron Panini Pan with Press, Cabernet Red

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When I first washed it, the knob on the top came unscrewed in my hand as I was drying it. This is supposed to be solid cast iron! It's the most expensive grill of its type on Amazon, but it's cheaply assembled from parts, not cast in one, durable piece.

The enameling is also applied sloppily. There are bubbles in it, so in many spots it's thin, potentially causing the cast iron underneath to rust over time. And the clear coat on the cooking surface is missing in one area. Quality control appears very poor for a $100 pan.

The grill itself also appears not to be a solid piece (or to have further defects in enamel application). There is a thin seam in the enameling all the way around the top edge. Either this is a physical part of the cast iron construction, or the enamel is badly applied. Either way, it appears like it won't last decades like my grandmother's cast iron cookware.

This is not remotely worth the cost. Check out any of the alternatives here, but I wouldn't waste the money on this one. I'm sending mine back.

I use this panini grill with press at least 3 times a week and it has held up for 7 months now, without a scratch! A beautiful asset to any kitchen and the red is stunning! A must have, and a great price!

We recently bought this Panini pan as a partial replacement for a flat grill. We mainly use grills for cooking meats and other things (rather than Panini type sandwiches). We've used the pan three times to date (once for beef, twice for chicken) and does a great job cooking. The pan heats up quickly and does a nice job searing meats. I've also used it to cook vegetables; because of the raised areas it's not as nice as a flat pan. Clean up has been easy; lightly scrub, place in the dishwasher, and then oil afterward (you don't really have to, but it does help clean the pan). The only real disadvantage I've seen with the pan is the weight, its cast iron after all and was a little heavy when I was unloading the vegetables. I'll give it four stars, can't say five because of the weight and the fact that I can't use it for everything I'd use a flat grill for. If you have any specific questions or want to know what type of cooking we're doing, just leave a comment in the comment area.