A panini press is an indispensable part of any foodservice business. Whether you’re making hot sandwiches, quesadillas, or grilled veggies, a panini grill creates easy meals and a quick cleanup. Getting the most out of these devices won’t just make your menu items more consistent, but frozen food processors can help your kitchen run more quickly, let you throw away less, and, most importantly, save you money along the way.
More Than a Sandwich Spread
While the word “panini grill” makes it sound like the device is only good for sandwiches, you can use this versatile piece of equipment to make quite a few things. It’s all in the bread, beans, and fixings, and you can make them in hundreds of ways if you think outside the bread-and-filling box.
Design Your Signature Panini or Grilled Offerings
A signature dish could distinguish your restaurant from the competitors. And by playing with unusual fillings, breads, and toppings, you can make a sandwich the stuff of memories. That may be serving seasonal sandwiches based on local products or playing with nontraditional ingredients.
Be Creative with Fillings
Rather than choosing the classic ham-and-cheese fillings, mix gourmet choices such as smoked salmon, goat cheese, arugula, or caramelized onions. Unusual pairings can draw in more customers and create word-of-mouth buzz for your brand.
Play with Breads
Though you can’t go wrong with ciabatta or focaccia, there are all sorts of breads you can flatten for your panini. Rye, sourdough, whole grain, and even gluten-free are all fantastic substitutes, and can go with a variety of flavor profiles. If you don’t, bring bread this time. Let these bread options cater to all dietary preferences and bring in more people next time.
Try Specialty Sauces and Spreads
The perfect sauce or spread can bring any panini to the next level. Think about your own bespoke aioli, or pesto, or sauce that can be spread liberally on a sandwich and contribute at least some interest to the dish. A distinctive sauce could be a selling point here, and make your paninis more memorable underneath.
Pre-Prep Ingredients
Prepping your fillings and toppings and having them ready to go before the grill is fired up can create that much more efficiency and speed during your busiest moments. Make sure your team knows how to prep ingredients (sliced meats, cheeses, vegetables). And don’t even think about trying to portion these ingredients into containers when you’re batching them if you want to get your employees the hell out of there faster.
Optimize Grill Usage
You could potentially cook multiple sandwiches at one time, depending on the size of your commercial panini grill. This can save you a ton of time, especially when it’s busy. To ensure you get the most out of the grill, cook several things in succession, quicker than a sandwich at a time.
Streamline Your Workflow
Get your kitchen set up and workflow prepared for panini grill use. Position your panini grill in a convenient spot where your employees can quickly and efficiently operate it next to other essential tools. Efficiently execute this step, and your staff will work faster, and customers won’t be slowed down unnecessarily.
Get Good Quality Grill Plates
The plates on your panini grill are probably the most important feature of the entire machine. Decent grilling plates can significantly impact the way your sandwiches cook and taste. When you are purchasing a commercial panini grill, you want to find one with commercial-grade, high-quality, non-stick grill plates that you can clean with a soapy sponge.
Check the Heating Element
Check the heating elements from time to time to be sure they are working. If you find that the grill is heating unevenly or has hot spots, you may need to replace the element, or you can opt to have a professional come out to service the grill.
Get Your Staff Trained to Be Consistent
You could have a device that is head and shoulders above all the others on the market and still get subpar photos if your team doesn’t know how to use it effectively. Cook your team on how to skillfully and consistently use the panini grill, and it will pay back to you in dividends.
Cook Times and Temperatures
Ensure the staff know the appropriate cooking times and temperatures for dishes. A basic panini, for example, can take up to 5 minutes to cook, but a grilled vegetable or dessert may require more or less. Train your employees on how to watch and maintain the grill’s heat and on how to prevent food from becoming overcooked or burned.
Clean as You Go
Get your team to scrape and clean the grill when things are quiet, or between cooking different products. This will keep the grill in good shape, rather than attracting all the gunk that will affect the taste of the food and impact the state of the grill.
Monitor Food Costs and Waste
When it comes to operating a panini grill, many owners and operators of commercial foodservice establishments will find it easy to focus only on increasing sales by offering new menu items along with the costs of the ingredients, while studying ways to minimize waste. This, in turn, helps you to maximize your grill’s efficiency and make your business more profitable.
Getting the most out of your commercial panini grill starts with using it effectively, continues by using it in innovative ways, and maintaining it well. By adding more uses for it than simply sandwiches, adding your signature items, putting your workflow into high gear, keeping the equipment in good working order, and training your staff, you can increase the quality of your fare and speed of service. This will help you to set you apart from the competition and keep your kitchen department running efficiently, which is a recipe for success in your foodservice business.
