Once thought of as a unitasker, the panini press can be, in fact, a pretty well-rounded appliance. If it has grooved grates, it can act as an indoor grill (you won’t get actual smoke, but the charred markings count for something). If it doesn’t, it can be an electric flattop, a perfect surface for cooking more than a couple of pancakes at a time, smashing burgers for a crowd, and making Korean barbecue. And then, of course, a pressed sandwich does have a particular smushed-in-a-good-way vibe, different from one griddled in a pan or broiled in the oven. If that’s your thing, it’d be reason enough to keep one in your kitchen. Head to the link in our bio for our roundup of the very best panini presses, according to professional cooks and recipe developers. Photo: @deiman_marcus