# Whats the deal with Pressed Sandwiches, Panini? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 16, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-pressed-sandwiches-panini/564386 "2010-12-16T17:51:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-pressed-sandwiches-panini/564386/1 "2010-12-16T17:51:17Z")
I had never heard of pressed sandwiches until about a year ago. It seems to be a big fad. The new George Foreman grill offers a panini press feature. My favorite Deli (Jasons) has started selling pressed sandwiches. What’s the deal? Why do I want my sandwich squashed and pressed? Is a panini the same as a pressed sandwich? What does it do to the flavor? Are they really that special and wonderful? I grew up making ham & cheese toasted sandwiches in a skillet. A little butter in the skillet, turn a couple times and eat. How is a pressed sandwich different? I am interested. I might even upgrade my old Foreman grill if these things are that good. 😉 Fill me in. Please. ---
**Author:** ![rostfrei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7bcc69/32.png) [@rostfrei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rostfrei)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-pressed-sandwiches-panini/564386/2 "2010-12-16T17:58:20Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I had never heard of pressed sandwiches until about a year ago. > > It seems to be a big fad. The new George Foreman grill offers a panini press feature. > My favorite Deli (Jasons) has started selling pressed sandwiches. > > What’s the deal? Why do I want my sandwich squashed and pressed? Is a panini the same as a pressed sandwich? What does it do to the flavor? Are they really that special and wonderful? > > I grew up making ham & cheese toasted sandwiches in a skillet. A little butter in the skillet, turn a couple times and eat. How is a pressed sandwich different? > > I am interested. I might even upgrade my old Foreman grill if these things are that good. 😉 > > Fill me in. Please. I first started seeing Panini back in the mid 1990’s. A local grocery store added them to their deli menu. Prior to that, I’d never heard of them at all. And (at least in my area) they seemed to be a regional thing. Then, about 7-8 years later, they seemed to catch on in restaurants, etc nationwide. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-pressed-sandwiches-panini/564386/3 "2010-12-16T18:01:30Z")
The deal is, they are yummy. They’re like a grown up grilled cheese. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-pressed-sandwiches-panini/564386/4 "2010-12-16T18:05:27Z")
I, too, remember paninis becoming popular in the 90s. I, too, have little use for them (although a good Cuban sandwich is a thing of beauty, and Alton’s grilled cheese will be one of the first things I try once I own two cast iron pans). ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-pressed-sandwiches-panini/564386/5 "2010-12-16T18:06:45Z")
it makes the bread toasty and the cheese melty. it’s also freakin delicious. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-pressed-sandwiches-panini/564386/6 "2010-12-16T18:09:16Z")
> [@](#): > > it makes the bread toasty and the cheese melty. it’s also freakin delicious. Sounds good. 😉 I’m starting to get hungry. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-pressed-sandwiches-panini/564386/7 "2010-12-16T18:15:37Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I, too, remember paninis becoming popular in the 90s. I should say, though, that I’ve seen cheap-ass versions of things like [this](http://www.appliancist.com/sandwich-maker-cuisinart-grsm1u.jpg) since back in the 70s. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-pressed-sandwiches-panini/564386/8 "2010-12-16T18:18:53Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I am interested. I might even upgrade my old Foreman grill if these things are that good. 😉 > > Fill me in. Please. There may or may not be better options out there (I’ve spent virtually no time looking) but I’m not at all impressed with the Foreman press. My dad has one and I’ve used it a few times for various sandwiches. It doesn’t seem to get hot enough and it doesn’t press evenly enough for me. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-pressed-sandwiches-panini/564386/9 "2010-12-16T18:23:30Z")
I hate it when the sandwich is over done, turning the bread into a grating board for the roof of my mouth. Unfortunately, the places I’ve tried them tend to this extreme. Thanks, but I’ll do without a torn up palate. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-pressed-sandwiches-panini/564386/10 "2010-12-16T18:25:48Z")
I hate it when your sandwich is too thick (or it’s not grilled long enough) and the middle is still cold. ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-pressed-sandwiches-panini/564386/11 "2010-12-17T08:04:05Z")
The [Cuisinart Griddler](http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=cuisinart+griddler&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=1584916172498059988&ei=MhkLTZKpJsKBlAf_9rW0DA&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CEIQ8wIwAw#) does paninis really well. I’ve done some pretty tasty cuban style sandwiches with mine. It can be used as a grill or a griddle. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-pressed-sandwiches-panini/564386/12 "2010-12-17T08:08:03Z")
In Tampa, we’ve been doing this with Cuban sandwiches since before any of us were born. Cuban bread is soft and spongy, so this gives it a nice crustiness, although most cubans don’t get warm enough inside to actually melt the cheese or even warm the meat much. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-pressed-sandwiches-panini/564386/13 "2010-12-17T13:24:46Z")
Plus one to the “oozy and toasty” crowd. I bought one on the street in Venice that was the best sandwich I’ve ever had. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-pressed-sandwiches-panini/564386/14 "2010-12-17T13:30:28Z")
I first had one in Cyprus in 1991. Halloumi cheese, sliced tomato, and piccalilli. Divine. They’re shaped like that so you can put them in your back pocket for later. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-pressed-sandwiches-panini/564386/15 "2010-12-17T13:38:54Z")
It’s like a home made hot pocket. I had a little press when I was in college in the mid nineties. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-pressed-sandwiches-panini/564386/16 "2010-12-17T14:40:03Z")
I’ve never had a panini, but I can tell you Cuban sandwiches are better pressed than cold. Assuming they are worth eating in the first place. (Tampa Cuban sandwiches are worth eating; Miami Cuban sandwiches are not – their idea of “Cuban bread” seems to be shaped loaves of Wonder Bread with added sugar.) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-pressed-sandwiches-panini/564386/17 "2010-12-17T15:02:30Z")
We used a hot sandwich press back in the late 70’s, in college. Nothing new. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-pressed-sandwiches-panini/564386/18 "2010-12-17T15:20:55Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I had never heard of pressed sandwiches until about a year ago… Where have you been? > **[Panini - It's Everywhere!](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=256834)** > > All of a sudden, it seems like anywhere you go in Manhattan you’ll find a panini peddler. Every independent cafe serves it and, furthermore, they all have the same panini picture taped near the entrance. How did this happen? Did some global... 😃 ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-pressed-sandwiches-panini/564386/19 "2010-12-17T15:58:32Z")
We go get a panini about every Saturday. Chicken, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, cheese, on a pesto or olive oil pressed bun. Yum! ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-pressed-sandwiches-panini/564386/20 "2010-12-17T16:36:31Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > We used a hot sandwich press back in the late 70’s, in college. Nothing new. I did too, I called it an iron 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-pressed-sandwiches-panini/564386.md?page=2)