When you’re craving that delicious sandwiches and snacks but don’t have time to prepare them, a panini press or a plancha may be the perfect solution. These two contraptions are both used to make grilled sandwiches, but they serve different purposes.
A panini press is a sandwich press that applies pressure to the sandwiches to cook them evenly on both sides. It’s a must-have for making paninis and grilled cheese sandwiches.
On the other hand, a plancha is a flat griddle that typically sits on a stovetop. It cooks the sandwiches by placing them directly on the surface of the griddle.
While both tools make great sandwiches, some people prefer one over the other. Read on to discover more about the panini press vs. plancha and choose the right one for you.
What is a Panini Press?
A panini press is a sandwich toaster that applies pressure to the sandwiches to cook them evenly on both sides. Some models feature a removable plate that you can take off and use as a serving plate.
The sandwich is placed between two plates that are pressed down with a weight, usually a canister of some sort.
This pressure can be applied with one hand while operating the press with the other, which makes it ideal for making sandwiches when you don’t have a lot of free hands.
There are a few different types of sandwich presses: single and double-sided, spring-loaded, and French-press sandwich presses.
The single-sided and double-sided sandwich presses both apply pressure to both sides of the sandwich at the same time.
They are good for making large batches of sandwiches, while the spring-loaded sandwich presses apply pressure only to the top side of the sandwich.
French-press sandwich presses use a pressurized bowl instead of plates, making them lighter and easier to use.
What is a Plancha?
A plancha is a flat griddle that typically sits on a stovetop. It cooks the sandwiches by placing them directly on the surface of the griddle. While both tools make great sandwiches, some people prefer one over the other.
A plancha is a griddle that’s been specially designed to make grilled sandwiches. It’s also known as a “turtleneck griddle” because the ridge around the outside of the griddle accommodates a folded towel or a fabric cover, protecting the outside of the pan from getting stained.
How the Panini Press vs. Plancha Works
When you use a panini press, the sandwiches are placed between two plates that have been weighted down with a canister, usually a can of beans or a potato sack. The sandwich presses down on the sandwiches with enough pressure to cook them evenly on both sides.
When you use a plancha, you simply place the sandwiches on the griddle and press down on them with a wooden spatula or a spatula with a serrated edge. There are also metal and plastic spatulas that can be used with a plancha.
Both the panini press and the plancha are easy to use and make delicious sandwiches. However, there are some differences between them. Let’s take a closer look at these two popular sandwich makers.
Which one is better, the plancha or the panini press?
There are many factors that go into answering this question. It largely depends on your personal preferences and the type of cooking you prefer to do.
If you’re looking for a tool that can do it all, from making toast to cooking up a storm, then you might want to go with the versatile plancha. This is because it can do it all with ease and grace. It can grill, bake, broil, and even make pizzas.
On the other hand, the panini press is designed specifically for making grilled sandwiches, so it doesn’t have as many bells and whistles as the plancha. It doesn’t have a baking tray, a pizza stone, nor a griddle big enough to make a full-blown Belgian waffle. It’s a simpler sandwich maker, but that doesn’t mean it’s not versatile.
Final words: Which one to choose?
The panini press is a great tool for making grilled sandwiches and snacks. It’s great for smaller households or for when you want to make a few sandwiches at a time. It’s a must-have for making paninis and grilled cheese sandwiches.
On the other hand, the plancha is a great tool for when you want to make a few sandwiches at a time. It’s also great for making thickerGrilled cheese sandwiches, such as the American variety.
However, if you’re looking for a tool that can do it all, from making toast to cooking up a storm, then you might want to go with the versatile plancha. This is because it can do it all with ease and grace.
While both tools make great sandwiches, some people prefer one over the other. Hopefully, this article has helped you to decide which one to buy.