Smash, Sear or Press a Panini: Best Grill Press Picks in Cast Iron and Steel

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The best grill press depends on what you flatten most. A round smasher turns a ball of ground beef into a thin, crusty patty on a flat top. A rectangular cast iron weight keeps bacon from curling and presses steaks and chicken against the heat. A wide, square press weighs down sandwiches like a panini maker.

We compared seven presses using their Amazon listings: five cast iron presses from Lodge, Cuisinart, Blackstone, Bellemain and Amazon Basics, a square Lodge panini press, and OXO’s stainless steel griddle press. We looked at weight, size, handle material and how each listing says to care for it, and we flag where a listing leaves a field empty or gives a number that looks off.

Two cautions apply to every pick. Cast iron gets as hot as the cooking surface, handle aside, so keep mitts nearby. And a smashed burger still needs to reach 160°F inside before it’s done.

Our Top Grill Press Picks at a Glance

Price key: $ under $50 · $$ $50–$100 · $$$ $100–$175 · $$$$ $175+. Prices change often; check Amazon for today’s price.

1. Lodge Cast Iron Grill Press, 6.75 x 4.5 in: Best Overall

Lodge’s grill press is a small rectangle of cast iron, 6.75 by 4.5 inches, with a spiral handle on top. Set it on bacon, a chicken breast, a steak or a sandwich, and its weight keeps the food flat against the pan or grate, which Lodge says helps with browning, crisp edges and evenly pressed sandwiches.

It arrives seasoned with 100% natural vegetable oil, so you can use it right away, and Lodge says the seasoning develops more character with use. The listing describes it as non-toxic and made in the USA, and it pitches the press for burgers and grilled sandwiches as well as bacon.

Day to day, preheat it on the cooking surface or set it on the food cold, then lift it with a mitt. The spiral handle is designed for a comfortable grip, but it is cast iron like the rest of the press, so expect it to get hot. Treat it like a skillet: wash, dry promptly and wipe on a thin coat of oil. The specs list it at 2.88 pounds and 3.5 inches tall with the handle.

It suits home cooks who already use cast iron and want a compact weight that fits a 10- or 12-inch skillet as easily as a grill grate.

Why we like it

• Ready to use, pre-seasoned
• Compact size fits a skillet
• Made in the USA

Watch out for

The handle is cast iron and will heat up with the press, and the listing’s warranty field is empty.

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2. Cuisinart 6.5″ Cast Iron Smash Burger Press: Best Round Smash Burger Press

Cuisinart’s CISB-111 is a round cast iron smasher, 6.5 inches across, built for one job above all: smash burgers. Set a ball of ground beef on a hot griddle, press down firmly, and the flat face spreads it into a thin patty with lots of contact with the heat.

Cuisinart says the heavy-duty cast iron applies even pressure, and the flat edge helps create the crispy, caramelized edges smash burgers are known for. The listing names griddles, skillets and grills as surfaces, so it works on a backyard flat top or a cast iron pan on the stove.

Cleanup is by hand with warm water and mild soap, per the listing; dry it straight away, as with any cast iron. The listing doesn’t say it comes pre-seasoned. The specs give it a 1-year warranty field and a listed weight of just 1 pound, which looks low for a cast iron disc this size, so don’t count on that number. A round smasher is less useful for bacon strips or sandwiches than a rectangle.

It suits anyone with a gas griddle or a big cast iron skillet who makes smash burgers often and wants the most popular press on this page, judged by Amazon sales rank.

Why we like it

• Flat edge for crisp burger edges
• Most popular press here
• Stated 1-year warranty

Watch out for

The listed 1-pound weight looks off for cast iron, and the listing doesn’t mention pre-seasoning.

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3. Lodge Cast Iron Square Panini Press, 8.32 in: Best Panini Grill Press

Lodge’s square panini press is a flat, 8.32-inch slab of cast iron with a looped handle across the top. Set it on a sandwich in a skillet or on a griddle, and the weight flattens the bread and pushes it onto the hot surface, giving you a pressed, toasted sandwich without a countertop appliance.

Lodge says the square press applies consistent weight across the cooking surface to support browning, crisp edges and evenly pressed sandwiches. Like Lodge’s rectangular press, it is seasoned with 100% natural vegetable oil, described as non-toxic, and made in the USA. The specs list it at 3.95 pounds and 1.5 inches tall.

For a better panini, many cooks preheat the press on a burner or on the grill so it toasts the top of the sandwich while the pan toasts the bottom; then you don’t have to flip. Grab the looped handle with a mitt, since it is cast iron too. Wash, dry and oil it lightly like any cast iron pan to keep the seasoning in shape.

It suits sandwich lovers who already own a large skillet or a griddle, and anyone who wants a press big enough to cover a whole sandwich or several strips of bacon at once.

Why we like it

• Covers a full sandwich
• Pre-seasoned
• Low, flat profile stores easily

Watch out for

At 8.31 inches square, it needs a large pan or griddle, and the cast iron handle gets hot.

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4. Blackstone 5554 Cast Iron Griddle Press, 10 x 10 in: Best Large Press for Griddles

Blackstone’s 5554 is a 10 by 10 inch slab of pre-seasoned cast iron, made for the big flat-top griddles the brand is known for. At 7 pounds, it can press several burgers, sausages or a row of bacon at once, and the listing says the equalized pressure distribution speeds up cooking.

The underside has grooves that leave grill marks, and Blackstone lists bacon, sausages, burgers, chicken, pork, fish and chops as uses. The handle is heat-resistant rubber, which Blackstone says stays cool to the touch and gives a slip-free grip. The listing describes the cast iron as non-stick and chemical-free.

Cleanup, according to Blackstone, takes a minute or less: wipe the press with a damp cloth after cooking. As with any cast iron, dry it well and keep a light coat of oil on it so it doesn’t rust. The size is the trade-off: a 10-inch square press fits a griddle or a large grill, but it overwhelms most stovetop skillets and takes up more storage space.

It suits owners of a 28- or 36-inch griddle who cook for a family or a crowd and want to press a whole batch of food at once, and who have storage room for a 10-inch square of iron.

Why we like it

• Presses a whole batch at once
• Rubber handle
• Grill-mark grooves

Watch out for

At 7 pounds and 10 inches square, it’s too big for most skillets, and the face itself gets as hot as the griddle.

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5. OXO Good Grips Griddle Press: Best Stainless Steel Smash Press

OXO’s Good Grips Griddle Press is a weighted stainless steel press with a tall handle, designed for smashing and searing burgers on a griddle. Steel skips the seasoning routine cast iron needs: there is no oil coating to maintain and no rust spots to scrub.

OXO keeps the listing brief. It calls the press weighted stainless steel that smashes and sears evenly, says the rounded edges help protect griddles from unwanted scratches, and describes the tall handle as ergonomically built to keep hands away from heated surfaces. For a crisp crust, OXO suggests letting the press sit on the burger for several minutes.

In use, you place a ball of beef on the hot griddle, press it flat, and leave the press on to build a crust before lifting and flipping. The rounded edges matter on coated or well-seasoned flat tops, where a sharp corner can mark the surface. Wash it like any stainless tool after each cook. The listing doesn’t give the press’s diameter or weight, and the product specs leave both fields empty.

It suits flat-top owners who want a smasher with a tall handle and no seasoning chores, and who care about protecting the seasoned or coated surface of their griddle.

Why we like it

• No seasoning upkeep
• Rounded, griddle-friendly edges
• Tall handle

Watch out for

The listing doesn’t state size or weight, so you can’t compare its pressing weight with the cast iron picks.

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6. Bellemain 7″ Cast Iron Bacon and Burger Press: Best Bacon Press With Wood Handle

Bellemain’s press is a 7-inch round of cast iron with a wood handle, sold as a smash burger press, grill press, bacon press and meat press in one. Its main pitch is bacon: the brand says the 3-pound press stops strips from curling and tangling so they sear evenly, without raw or overcooked sections.

The listing describes the press as 100% heavy-duty cast iron, without the PTFE or PFOA coatings it says other presses use. It is not described as pre-seasoned; instead, Bellemain says it can be seasoned like a cast iron skillet, and instructions are included. Bellemain suggests preheating the press on the pan, then applying it to the food for a short time.

The handle is wood, which Bellemain calls stay-cool, and the listing goes as far as saying you can press and lift without cooking gloves. We’d still keep a mitt at hand: the cast iron face gets as hot as the pan, and a wood handle can warm up when it sits over a grill. The specs list the press at 8.5 by 8.5 by 3.25 inches, larger than the 7-inch title, possibly including packaging.

It suits bacon lovers and steak cooks who want a mid-weight round press and don’t mind doing the first seasoning themselves.

Why we like it

• 3-pound pressing weight
• Wood handle
• Seasoning instructions in the box

Watch out for

Season it before first use, and don’t take the stay-cool handle claim as a reason to skip the oven mitt.

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7. Amazon Basics Cast Iron Press 2-Pack (Round and Rectangle): Best Value Two-Pack

Amazon Basics bundles two cast iron presses in one box: a 6.8-inch round press for shaping and smashing patties, and an 8.1-inch rectangle for bacon, steaks and sandwiches. Both have wooden handles and grooved bottoms that leave grill marks on whatever you press.

The listing describes the presses as durable cast iron with wooden handles for a comfortable grip, and names grills, griddles and skillets as surfaces. It calls the set a bacon press, meat press and steak press as well as a smash burger press, and says the round press helps make uniformly shaped patties for consistent results.

Care is simple but strict: hand wash, then dry right away to keep the presses in good condition. The listing doesn’t say they come pre-seasoned, so a thin coat of oil after drying is a good habit. The specs list 4.24 pounds and 9.53 by 7.8 by 4.33 inches, which appear to describe the pair together rather than each press. A mitt is still wise when lifting either one off a hot griddle.

It suits a first-time buyer who isn’t sure whether they will use a press more for burgers or for bacon, and wants both shapes without paying for two separate listings.

Why we like it

• Two shapes in one box
• Grill-mark grooves
• Wooden handles

Watch out for

Dry them immediately after washing, and expect to season them yourself, since pre-seasoning isn’t mentioned.

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How We Chose the Best Grill Presses

We limited our picks to presses sold by Amazon.com and listed in stock, left out products featured in our grill tool set, gas griddle and gas stove pan guides, and compared what each listing says:

• Shape and size: round smashers, rectangular bacon and steak weights, and square panini presses.
• Weight: as listed, flagged where a field is empty or looks wrong.
• Handle: cast iron, wood, rubber or a tall steel handle, and what the listing claims about heat.
• Material and care: pre-seasoned cast iron, unseasoned cast iron or stainless steel.
• Warranty and popularity: the warranty field and Amazon sales rank.

Grill Press Buying Guide

Round Smasher, Rectangle or Square?

Shape follows the food. Round presses, like the Cuisinart, Bellemain and the round half of the Amazon Basics set, are made for smash burgers. Rectangles, like the Lodge grill press and the Amazon Basics rectangle, fit bacon strips, chicken breasts and steaks. Square presses, like the Lodge panini press and the 10-inch Blackstone, cover a sandwich or a batch of patties. If you cook smash burgers outdoors, our best gas griddle guide compares flat tops by size and burners.

Weight and Size

Heavier presses flatten faster with less effort. Among the listings that state a weight, the Blackstone is heaviest at 7 pounds, then the Lodge panini press (3.95 pounds), the Bellemain (3 pounds) and the Lodge grill press (2.88 pounds); the Amazon Basics pair is listed at 4.24 pounds together. The Cuisinart’s listed 1 pound looks too low for cast iron, and OXO doesn’t state a weight. Check size against your pan: an 8- or 10-inch square press won’t sit flat in a small skillet.

Best Panini Grill Press and Sandwich Press for the Grill

A heavy, flat press turns a skillet, griddle or grill into a sandwich press. The Lodge square panini press covers a whole sandwich, and the Blackstone 10 x 10 can press several on a flat top. Preheating the press toasts the top of the sandwich so you don’t have to flip it. If you want a countertop appliance with heated plates on both sides instead, our indoor grill guide covers contact grills and panini makers.

Handle Heat: Cast Iron, Wood, Rubber or Steel

Lodge’s spiral and looped handles are cast iron and heat up with the press. Bellemain and Amazon Basics use wood, the Blackstone uses heat-resistant rubber, and OXO uses a tall handle designed to keep hands away from the heat. Even a stay-cool handle sits above a very hot surface, so keep a pair of mitts or grill gloves nearby; our oven mitts and grill gloves guide compares heat-resistant options.

Seasoning and Cleaning Cast Iron Presses

Lodge and Blackstone presses arrive pre-seasoned. Bellemain includes seasoning instructions, and the Cuisinart and Amazon Basics listings don’t mention seasoning. For all of them, hand wash, dry right away and wipe on a thin coat of oil to prevent rust. Stainless steel, like the OXO, needs no seasoning. To round out your kit, our grill tool set guide covers spatulas and scrapers for smashing and flipping.

Food and Burn Safety With a Grill Press

• Cook smashed burgers to 160°F. A thin, crusty patty can look done before it is. The FDA’s safe food handling guidance lists 160°F as the safe minimum internal temperature for ground meat; check with a food thermometer.
• Treat the press like a hot pan. Cast iron holds heat long after cooking. Set it down on a heat-safe surface, never on a plastic cutting board or a wood deck, and let it cool before washing or storing.
• Mitts on. Use dry mitts or gloves to lift a preheated press, whatever the listing says about the handle.
• Grill safely. The NFPA’s grilling safety page says to place the grill well away from the home and deck railings and to keep a kid-free zone of at least 3 feet around hot things like grills. The U.S. Fire Administration adds: clean the grill after each use to remove grease that can start a fire, and don’t walk away from a lit grill. Pressing bacon and burgers pushes out fat, so scrape the griddle and empty the grease tray.

Cookout Burns, Fires and Your Insurance

A grease fire that spreads from a griddle to a deck becomes a property claim, and a guest burned by a hot press at your cookout can raise a liability question. Homeowners policies generally address both, though limits and exclusions vary. Our Ohio homeowners insurance guide explains dwelling and liability coverage, and our tips for first-time Ohio homeowners cover what to review before your first cookout season.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best grill press for smash burgers?

A round press with a flat face. The Cuisinart 6.5-inch cast iron smasher has the best sales rank here and a flat edge Cuisinart says creates crispy edges. The OXO stainless press suits griddle owners who want no seasoning upkeep and rounded edges.

What is the best panini grill press?

For sandwiches in a skillet or on a griddle, the Lodge square panini press (8.31 inches square, 3.95 pounds, pre-seasoned) covers a whole sandwich. Preheat it so it toasts the top while the pan toasts the bottom.

How hot should a smashed burger get?

The FDA lists 160°F as the safe minimum internal temperature for ground meat. Thin smashed patties cook fast, but check with a food thermometer rather than going by color or crust.

Do cast iron grill presses need seasoning?

Yes. Lodge and Blackstone presses arrive pre-seasoned. Bellemain includes seasoning instructions, and the Cuisinart and Amazon Basics listings don’t mention seasoning. Hand wash, dry right away and oil lightly after each use.

Can I use a grill press as a sandwich press on the grill?

Yes. A heavy, flat press like the Lodge panini press or the Blackstone 10 x 10 works as a sandwich press on a griddle, skillet or grill grate. Use mitts to lift it, since cast iron gets very hot.

The Bottom Line

For most kitchens, the Lodge 6.75 x 4.5 cast iron grill press is the best grill press to start with: pre-seasoned, made in the USA and sized for bacon, steaks and sandwiches. Smash burger fans should look at the Cuisinart 6.5-inch round press or the stainless OXO Good Grips, sandwich makers at the Lodge square panini press, and big-griddle cooks at the 7-pound Blackstone 10 x 10. The Bellemain suits bacon, and the Amazon Basics two-pack covers both shapes. Whatever you press, cook ground beef to 160°F and keep mitts close.

Hosting cookouts on the deck and wondering how your policy handles fire damage or a guest injury? Call Jeff Smith’s State Farm office at (740) 354-7747 or get a free coverage review.