# How did I not know my waffle iron is also a panini press? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 18, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-i-not-know-my-waffle-iron-is-also-a-panini-press/593243 "2011-08-18T23:23:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-i-not-know-my-waffle-iron-is-also-a-panini-press/593243/1 "2011-08-18T23:23:40Z")
Just flip the dang irons over to the flat side and voila! :smack: I think I may have a new hobby! ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-i-not-know-my-waffle-iron-is-also-a-panini-press/593243/2 "2011-08-19T00:30:09Z")
The George Foreman grill also makes an excellent panini press. ---
**Author:** ![YaraMateo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/58f4c7/32.png) [@YaraMateo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaraMateo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-i-not-know-my-waffle-iron-is-also-a-panini-press/593243/3 "2011-08-19T00:34:02Z")
Damn it! Now, I want paninis. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-i-not-know-my-waffle-iron-is-also-a-panini-press/593243/4 "2011-08-19T01:14:30Z")
Flip them over? What a fancy waffle iron! Back when I worked at Waffle House, there was an off-menu but still “official” item called the Waffle Sandwich - a ham and cheese sandwich pressed in the waffle iron. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-i-not-know-my-waffle-iron-is-also-a-panini-press/593243/5 "2011-08-19T01:16:09Z")
What kind of bread do you use for panini? ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-i-not-know-my-waffle-iron-is-also-a-panini-press/593243/6 "2011-08-19T01:22:53Z")
Just about anything, really. I made the Ogreling a grilled cheese with rye tonight, then made myself a Cuban sandwich with sourdough. ---
**Author:** ![SylverOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SylverOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SylverOne)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-i-not-know-my-waffle-iron-is-also-a-panini-press/593243/7 "2011-08-19T01:40:21Z")
Corned beef, pastrami, swiss cheese, sauerkraut with a schmear of dill mustard on a hoagie roll, pressed and toasted to yummy goodness. Mmmm. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-i-not-know-my-waffle-iron-is-also-a-panini-press/593243/8 "2011-08-19T02:52:10Z")
Mmm, panini in a waffle iron… ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-i-not-know-my-waffle-iron-is-also-a-panini-press/593243/9 "2011-08-19T05:15:58Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > Just about anything, really. I made the Ogreling a grilled cheese with rye tonight, then made myself a Cuban sandwich with sourdough. Cuban sandwiches are wonderful. Mmm… ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-i-not-know-my-waffle-iron-is-also-a-panini-press/593243/10 "2011-08-19T05:21:34Z")
> [@Arrendajo](#): > > What kind of bread do you use for panini? Foccacia and Ciabatta are great for paninis, but as someone else said, you can really use any type of bread. Those torpedo shaped hard rolls are nice, too. ---
**Author:** ![RoniaBorkason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9dc877/32.png) [@RoniaBorkason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RoniaBorkason)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-i-not-know-my-waffle-iron-is-also-a-panini-press/593243/11 "2011-08-19T14:06:31Z")
What I love about grilled cheese made in the Foreman grill was that I don’t have to butter the bread to get a nice crust on it. Mmmmm, sourdough, sharp cheddar, avocado, and tomato. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2011, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-i-not-know-my-waffle-iron-is-also-a-panini-press/593243/12 "2011-08-20T08:23:59Z")
I have to disagree with Ciabatta. It has so little density that it is totally dry by the time the stuff is hot/melted. It’s like chewing lava rocks at that point, and rips the hell out of your mouth. a moister, spongier bread is my preferred.