Delicious quick snack: TOP 5 sandwich makers

The well-known Slovenian company Gorenje offers not an ordinary sandwich maker for making sandwiches, but a mini-grill at an affordable price. It consists of two corrugated surfaces without traditional divisions into triangles, so it allows you to cook a wide variety of products: sandwiches, shawarma, ordinary toast with beautiful stripes, and some even use it as an electric grill for roasting meat, fish and vegetables. However, the device is not intended for these purposes: the power is not so high (700 watts), and there is no tray for oil and fat here for obvious reasons. But for heating, for example, pancakes or pizza (on the one hand) it is quite suitable.

The plates themselves are not too large, but they can accommodate two square-shaped toaster bread sandwiches. They have a non-stick coating, as a result of which the products do not burn, and there is no need to use oil. However, they are not removable, which makes cleaning difficult: after using the plates, it is necessary to wipe them with a cotton cloth, that is, they cannot be washed under running water. Fortunately, the coating is easy to clean, it will not be difficult to remove the melted cheese that has leaked out. There is a clip-retainer, but it is better not to use it when cooking thick sandwiches, so as not to damage the device.

The sandwich maker works quite simply and clearly, and even a child will understand the controls, since there are no buttons on the case. Switching on and off occurs through an outlet, which is not very convenient, there is only one mode. But they added two indicators with different colours: one signals that the plates are turned on, the other that the plates have heated up to the required temperature and are ready to work. But, unfortunately, there is no timer: you will have to mark the time and check whether the sandwiches are cooked yourself.

Despite the simplicity of the device, the manufacturer has taken care of the convenience of use and storage. During operation, the upper part of the case may get hot, but the handles remain cold and will not leave burns on the hands. They are also convenient to use as a carrying handle. Although the grill itself does not take up much space, it can be stored both horizontally and vertically, so there is a place for it in the cabinet and on any countertop. And at the base there is a stand for winding the cord to save even more space. However, the cord itself is too short — only 70 cm, so you will either have to choose a place at the outlet, or use an extension cord.

The classic sandwich maker of the famous Russell Hobbs brand will help you prepare a delicious snack in a matter of minutes. Plates with the usual triangular shapes are designed for two servings or four ready-made triangle sandwiches. The cells are quite deep and allow you to load thick sandwiches with a large amount of filling, which as a result does not leak out. A "lock" — a latch on a heat-resistant handle helps to hold them and keep their shape. However, the partitions do not completely cut the toast, so you will have to arm yourself with a knife and cut the bread into halves yourself.

The device has no timer, no on/off button, but this is a feature of most sandwich makers. There are only two indicators on the case: red lights up all the time while the device is connected to the mains, and green indicates the necessary heating and readiness for operation and turns on and off alternately during temperature maintenance. The sandwich maker heats up quickly, the sandwiches are prepared in just a few minutes, resulting in evenly fried bread with an appetizing golden crust.

The model has a non-stick coating. It simplifies cooking, since nothing burns and does not stick to the plates, as well as cleaning. After using the plate, you just need to wipe it with a damp cloth or sponge, and in case of persistent stains, the manufacturer advises using a paper towel soaked in vegetable oil.

The device itself is quite compact and does not take up much space in the kitchen, but, nevertheless, vertical storage is provided, which makes the sandwich maker even more convenient for storage. At the bottom there is a special stand for winding the cord — again, to save space and prevent tangling.

The well-known Tefal brand, which over the years has established itself as a manufacturer of high-quality household appliances, has in its assortment a compact sandwich maker for making delicious sandwiches with hardware. This is far from the cheapest model, but it differs from most of its competitors with a solid steel case. However, it is combined with heat-resistant plastic, from which the handle is made. When working, it does not heat up, but it is this handle with a locking clip that is the "Achilles heel" of such devices: too much with the thickness of sandwiches and excessive force — and the plastic of the "lock" can break. Therefore, it is better to monitor the amount of filling and the thickness of the bread.

Other design elements serve for safety and ease of use: rubberized legs prevent the device from sliding on the surface, a special platform allows you to wind the cord when the sandwich maker is idle, and the possibility of vertical storage allows you to save space, especially if the kitchen area is small.

The plates of the standard-shaped model are four small triangles and the total size is 23x13 cm. The non-stick coating does not allow bread or leaked cheese to burn and greatly simplifies cleaning: although the plates themselves are not removed and they cannot be washed under running water, after cooking, it is enough to simply wipe the surface with a damp cloth with the addition of liquid detergent.

The power of the Tefal Ultracompact SM 1552 is 700 watts, and this is quite enough for fast heating of plates and no less fast cooking of sandwiches. Just a few minutes — and evenly fried sandwiches with crispy crust and hot filling are ready. One of the indicators on the housing lights up when the plug is plugged into the outlet and does not go out until it is turned off, and the second one reports heating and goes out and lights up again during operation, indicating that the required temperature is maintained.

The Italian manufacturer De'Longhi has developed a high-quality sandwich maker, which is not cheap, but stands out favorably against competitors and in its characteristics more resembles a contact grill. The company added, at first glance, little things that are so lacking in ordinary sandwich makers. Firstly, it is an on and off button, which most devices in this category do not have. As a result, you do not need to remove the plug from the outlet every time, and if conditions allow, you can leave the device right next to the power supply. Secondly, instead of two handles with a clip, there is one handle with a lock button. And if ordinary plastic clips often break when cooking thick sandwiches, then such a button is much more reliable. And the contents will definitely not leak to the bottom handle, since it simply does not exist.

The sandwich maker has a power of 800 watts and is equipped with two plates measuring 270x140 mm with a diagonal mark that cuts the toast in half, giving out four perfectly toasted triangles. The coating is non-stick, and the plates themselves are removable, which greatly simplifies their cleaning. By the way, they can be washed not only under running water, but also in the dishwasher. Alas, one can only dream of a timer, but during operation two indicators light up on the case. The first one signals that the device is turned on, and the second one indicates sufficient heating: the green light is on, which means that you can load sandwiches.

Finally, the sandwich maker is quite compact: its dimensions are 105x290x250 mm, weight is 2.7 kg. Storage in an upright position is allowed, in this case, the same locking button that closes the plates and prevents the device from accidentally opening will be useful.

By the way, there are other versions of the device with different nozzles in the De'Longhi range: Multigrill Easy SW 12C with a waffle mold, Multigrill Easy SW 12A with a grill, Multigrill Easy SW 12BC with a waffle iron and sandwich maker, as well as Multigrill Easy SW 12AC with a waffle iron and grill.

The Redmond company calls the model a multi-baker, as it is really a multifunctional 3-in-1 device that can replace several appliances in the kitchen at once. The peculiarity lies in the removable panels designed for different dishes. The set includes three molds: for roasting four small triangular sandwiches; for baking thin wafers for tubes and a grill. According to the manufacturer, the latter is suitable for baking fish, meat and vegetables. But, of course, it cannot be compared with a conventional grill: a small size is enough for one large or two small portions, a small power (700 W) increases the cooking time, and the lack of modes does not allow you to choose the optimal temperature for different products. In addition, although there is a tray for dripping fat and oil in the set, the design is not fully thought out. As a result, the juice and fat get on the inside of the handle, so after cooking, you will need a thorough cleaning of the case. Therefore, it is better to use the grill for making large sandwiches from bread of different shapes, shawarma, casseroles, etc.

By the way, the panels themselves have dimensions of 250x132 mm and are conveniently removed by pressing special buttons on the case, and the non-stick coating does not allow the products to stick to the surface and burn. Another big plus is their convenience in cleaning. Most sandwich makers have non-removable panels, so they just need to be wiped with a damp cloth. Here, the forms are removed and washed under running water. But keep in mind that they are not designed for a dishwasher. In total, Redmond offers more than 40 different molds, but they must be bought separately, and they are not cheap.

Due to the lack of modes and temperature settings, controlling the device will not be a difficult task. First of all, there is a power button hidden on the back of the case. It would seem that why such a common and familiar thing has become an advantage? It's simple — most sandwich makers are deprived of this button and turn on / off through an outlet, which is not very convenient. The model is also equipped with two standard indicators — power and ready to work. By the way, the cord here is not too long — 80 cm, so you will need a place at the outlet to work.

Another feature of the multi—baker is a two-level lock on the handle, which provides compression of the plates and prevents them from opening during cooking. It allows you to adjust the degree of compression depending on the thickness of the ingredients. However, no matter how evenly you distribute the products, there are complaints about uneven frying — for example, the lower sandwiches turn out to be more fried than the upper ones.

The device belongs to the Ecology series, that is, it is made of safe materials. The case is made of bakelite, a type of plastic that is resistant to high temperatures, hard and resistant to chemicals. In addition, the device itself is quite compact: its dimensions are 231x237x101 mm, and its weight is 2 kilograms.