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Good Housekeeping contributor Lizzy Briskin tested nine ways to use a panini press beyond making sandwiches, from crisping hash browns to cooking frozen dumplings and cookie dough. The report gives suggested temperatures and times, but readers should check appliance instructions and use a food thermometer for meat and poultry.
Good Housekeeping has outlined nine uses for a panini press beyond sandwiches, including hash browns, grilled halloumi, frozen dumplings and chocolate chip cookies. The ideas come from contributing analyst Lizzy Briskin, who said she tested the foods using a GreenPan Elite Multi Grill & Griddle; the report gives suggested temperatures and cook times for each.
The list ranges from familiar griddle-style foods to less expected options. For hash browns, the report recommends spreading frozen potatoes over a greased press heated to 450°F for six minutes. Halloumi is cooked at 350°F for five to six minutes, while leftover cornbread can be pressed on oiled plates at the same temperature for five minutes to make it crisp enough for toppings.
Several suggestions use frozen prepared foods. Briskin’s instructions call for cooking fully cooked frozen meatballs at 400°F for about five minutes and frozen chicken nuggets at the same temperature for about six minutes. The report says to cook both until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Frozen dumplings are also cooked at 400°F, for about nine minutes or until they reach 165°F.
The remaining ideas include charring pineapple rings at 425°F for three minutes, making French toast from soaked thick bread slices at 350°F for about five minutes, and cooking golf-ball-size portions of chocolate chip cookie dough at 350°F for six to seven minutes. The report says cookie cooking time can be shortened for a softer result. These are the source’s tested suggestions, not a guarantee that every press will cook at the same rate.
One Appliance, More Quick Meals
The report offers practical options for people who already own a panini press and want to use it for more than sandwiches. Its central point is that both heated plates touch the food, which can speed up browning and crisping without turning items over as they cook. That makes the appliance useful for quick snacks, sides and some desserts, according to Briskin’s tests.
The list may also help readers make use of frozen convenience foods and leftovers, including hash browns, meatballs, nuggets, dumplings and day-old cornbread. However, the suggested times are specific to the test setup described in the report. Plate size, heat control, food thickness and the appliance’s instructions can affect results, so the recommendations should be treated as starting points rather than universal cooking rules.
Food safety matters particularly for frozen meat and poultry. Briskin’s report specifies 165°F internally for the meatballs, nuggets and dumplings; a thermometer is a more reliable check than time alone. Users should also follow the product label and the press maker’s directions, and avoid putting food on plates that are not designed for that use.
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How the Ideas Were Tested
The source is a Good Housekeeping report titled “9 Clever Ways to Use Your Panini Press.” Briskin is identified as a contributing analyst, writer and recipe developer in the publication’s Kitchen & Cooking Lab. She says she has a culinary degree from Cambridge School of Culinary Arts and has tested a range of kitchen products.
For this list, Briskin says she made each item in a GreenPan Elite Multi Grill & Griddle. The report presents the options in a ranking from least to most surprising, with hash browns at No. 9 and chocolate chip cookies at No. 1. That ranking reflects the article’s framing; it is not presented as a comparative test of cooking performance across multiple press models.
“The hot plates contact food on both sides at once.”
— Good Housekeeping report
Results May Vary by Press
The report does not provide a publication date in the supplied material, nor does it compare the GreenPan model with other panini presses. It is also not clear whether the listed times were repeated across multiple batches or appliances. Differences in plate temperature, food size and how much food is loaded could change cooking time and texture.
The source gives specific safety temperatures for meatballs, chicken nuggets and dumplings, but not for every item. Readers should follow package directions and appliance guidance where applicable. The report does not discuss possible cross-contact between foods or cleaning procedures after cooking, so users should clean the plates as directed by the manufacturer.
Check Heat and Food Safety
The report does not announce a follow-up test or a new product launch. For readers trying the ideas, the next step is to check the panini press manual for temperature settings, plate use and cleaning instructions, then monitor food rather than relying only on the article’s times. Use a food thermometer to verify that meat and poultry reach the stated 165°F internal temperature, and follow package directions for frozen products.
Results can be adjusted to personal preference: the report suggests less time for softer cookies and describes serving halloumi with salad or pineapple as a garnish. Any further claims about how well the methods work on other appliances remain untested in the supplied report.
Key Questions
What foods does Good Housekeeping suggest making in a panini press?
The report lists hash browns, halloumi, frozen fully cooked meatballs, cornbread, chicken nuggets, pineapple, French toast, frozen dumplings and chocolate chip cookies.
What temperature should frozen meatballs and chicken nuggets reach?
The report says to cook both until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Use a food thermometer to check the center, and follow the product packaging and appliance instructions.
Can frozen dumplings go directly into a panini press?
Briskin’s method uses frozen dumplings on a greased press heated to 400°F for about nine minutes, or until their internal temperature reaches 165°F. Cooking performance may differ by appliance and dumpling size.
Which panini press did the contributor use?
Briskin says she tested the foods in a GreenPan Elite Multi Grill & Griddle. The report does not establish that the same times and results apply to every press.
Does the report say a panini press replaces an oven or stove?
No. It presents the press as another way to prepare certain foods, but does not compare it with ovens or stovetops. Readers should check their appliance manual and use appropriate food-safety checks.
Source: goodhousekeeping.com
