Customer Reviews

Mario Batali Panini Grill and Press, Chianti

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

 

 

In my opinion, this is a very good piece for any kitchen. I was looking for a heavy grill pan and this is the one. This is my second piece of Mario Batali cookware and both are far above average for quality and durability. I bought a round scrub brush to clean any cooked on food. Honestly, you just soak the pan in PLAIN hot water and any food particles scrub right off. I did oil mine after use the first couple of times and it's already starting to be easier to use. It's a keeper!

Cast iron grill pan with press - heats quickly and efficiently (no need to turn burner on higher than medium). However, the bread when making a panini, tends to stick at first (even when brushed with oil) and you must still flip the sandwich when using the press.

It can accommodate two good size sandwiches at a time, but for any more than that I would think a larger counter-top press would be more appropriate. Overall a nice dual purpose item.

I love my new panini grill. It's great for pressed sandwiches. It is heavy but I consider that a plus in a press. I would definitely buy more of Mario's products based on this panini grill..

This Panini pan is beautiful, and I love the idea of it, but after a couple initial uses I was so frustrated, the trash seemed a likely final resting place. Stubbornly I was determined to find a solution for each problem I encountered. Here are the steps that solved my problems. Heating the pan slowly on a setting no higher than medium for about 10 minutes is essential. The lid also needs to be brought up to temperature, so keep it in the pan while heating. Before heating I brush the entire pan, top and bottom, with oil - one that can withstand heat, like canola, sunflower, soy or peanut oil. Much as I love olive oil it simply smoked too much for this purpose.

Realize that even with the top heated, it will not leave decent grill marks on the top side of the sandwich. The panini must be flipped over half-way through cooking to get grill marks on both sides. I found that the drier the bread, the better the result. Moisture causes it to stick to the grill, even if the pan is well oiled. Stale or at least day old bread works well, and I've had more luck with foccacia bread or whole grain than white (sourdough, French or Italian.) Breads with more body and texture cause less sticking problems.

Finally, clean-up can be frustrating. I tried soaking for 30 minutes in warm water but the hard bits on the grill pan didn't budge. What did work for me was heating the pan on low with a small amount of butter or oil. That seemed to loosen the cooked on bits. Wipe clean once the pan cools down but is still warm.

The pan is cast iron and it gets hot and holds that heat both on the pan handle and the lid knob, so be sure to use hot pads or silicone mitts, etc. I have had no problems with the enamel portion of the pan - no chipping or marks or stains of any kind - after six months of use it remains shiny and gorgeous. I rate the pan four stars instead of five simply because of the care that must be taken to obtain a good result. I love the pan and it is a welcome tool in my kitchen.

I bought this on a recommendation from two family members that each have one and love theirs. I have used cast iron before, so am familiar with pre-heating without overheating, seasoning, etc. Despite my best efforts, everything I put in this pan would stick. I would spend more time cleaning the pan after cooking than it would have taken me to start a fire in my charcoal grill and cook the food that way. To top it off, I was preheating the pan (I didn't want to grill in the snow...), and the pan cracked. I heard a loud "pop", and found my pan had split down one side and half way across the bottom of the grilling surface. This is only the sixth time I've used this pan. It is possible that I got a bad pan - maybe the casting was faulty. But for the price I was expecting more. I'm replacing it with an equivalent from Lodge, whose products I've used for decades

When my brother first tried to buy me this for Christmas, it was backordered. That was like the universe trying to tell us something, but we didn't listen. Then, the first one I received was damaged. Another sign ("Don't do it, just don't do it") and another sign ignored. I returned it for another and before the pan was so much as heated, enamel on the handle was chipped off. Serious lesson here. Not only is the outside appearance marred, but the pan doesn't do what it's supposed to do. If you make a sandwich in it, it will stick. You can oil that baby up with any variety of kitchen fats, you can preheat, but it will stick. It is reliable in that way. I use this now to make hot dogs since I live in an apartment and don't have a grill. So, that is about once a year for the Fourth of July. It's a serious waste of space. If I were you, I'd look elsewhere...there are cheaper options from Lodge and similarly priced options from All Clad. (Both of which, by the way, are made in the US...this is made in China and it shows. Despite the pretty colors, Le Creuset it is not). Alternatively, my parents have the Cuisinart 3-in-one electric press, and it's great.