The weight and size is phenomenal.I put the panini press on a burner while I warmed up the other skillet, turned off both burners, added a sandwich, and after much sizzling and 6 minutes it was a perfect panini.The color however doesn't match the photo. I was hoping for a bright emerald green, but it is a dark hunter green.It's not a deal breaker.
But the real problem from Lodge "America's Original Cookware" is that this is made in China.I've been avoiding cookware from China because of concerns about lead in the enamel glazes. These suspicions may be unfounded but if lead can turn up in toothpaste & baby food, cookware can't be far behind. So enameled cast iron from Martha Stewart and Batali were out, and so I opted for the pricier Le Crueset & Staub. Lodge seemed like an excellent American product. I'll keep this piece but it will be the last one.
This product does exactly as stated.It's a good weight that's easy to handle but adequate to press.
The press is easy to clean especially for those used to cleaning cast iron.
I would recommend paring this with the Lodge Grill Pan
If you're looking for a grill press to do the job this one is an economical winner.
Buy Lodge Color Enamel Cast Iron 8 inch Square Panini Press, Caribbean Blue Now
We had been wanting a larger press, but didn't want to spend a fortune on one.
I've tried the cast aluminum ones and they just don't have enough weight to handle all jobs.
This press from Lodge is priced right and looks good.
I can use it in a large skillet or on the stovetop grill.
From sandwiches to bacon to steaks, it gets the job done and didn't cost an arm and a leg.
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What you want with a panini press is weight, an oven friendly handle and width enough to cover your food especially if you use it for more than grilled sandwiches. The Lodge is the heaviest I've found for an item that is a 5th the cost of competing Staubor LC products. (I paid $20 for mine in brown). The prices varies by color so click on all the options before you buy.The pork chops I make with this and the lodge grill pan are AMAZING. I would not buy any other grill press .. ever. Hint.. pre-heat your press either in the pan on on open flame (on low) for an even better grill exp.Want Lodge Color Enamel Cast Iron 8 inch Square Panini Press, Caribbean Blue Discount?
I bought this Panini Press more as a want than a need and I am extremely happy I did. I had purchased the Lodge Emerald green grill pan with it as well. They work fantastic as a set. This Panini Press (5lbs) is about 2.5lbs heavier than the one Le-Creuset offers and works better. I use it to make grilled cheese, paninis (obviously), a bacon press (which keeps the splatter down i might add), and about 100 other uses. I have a glass cooktop and I do put this directly on a burner and let it heat up while I cook in the grill pan. After I take it off the burner tho and make contact with food I just leave it in the grill pan after that if it needs to be reheated for whatever reason. I am extremely happy with this product. I use refined peanut oil on this to give it a non-stick coating. Refined peanut oil has a very high smoke point so because this can get pretty hot I prefer it over EVOO in this particular case. (also I apply the oil AFTER its been warmed up to prevent making a mess on my stove top). This product comes with the plastic handle which for all intents and purposes works fine. All the other Lodge Enameled products (as of January 2012) come with the stainless steel handle.Lodge Color vs Lodge L-series: I talked directly to their customer service to get the low down on this subject. Both sets are enameled the same way by the same vendor with the same amount of enameled layers. They obtain the same quality control. Other than the obvious shape and color differences the only thing that separates the 2 sets are the stainless steel handles and embellishments on the L-series. I was also told by customer service that they are phasing out the L-series and are going to continue to move forward with the Color series.
Just an FYI the Emerald Green is a little darker than the Le Creuset Fennel Color if you are looking to match the two sets. You might notice more of a difference in color between the Lodge's dutch oven and Le Creuset's French oven (same thing) but overall they are quite close in color. But between the skillets you wont notice hardly any difference unless you examined them right next to each other. They actually match quite well. I own Le Creuset pieces in Fennel and Lodge Color pieces in Emerarld Green. I have not seen either out perform the other.
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