How to Choose the Perfect Sandwich Maker
From light lunches to tasty suppers, the humble sandwich maker is an absolute kitchen essential, allowing you to rustle up tasty treats the whole family will enjoy. Whether you like classic tuna and cheese or prefer to get inventive with your fillings, creating delicious savoury snacks can be easy, quick and fun with a sandwich toaster close at hand.
For those who have never owned a sandwich toaster before, or if you’re thinking of upgrading their current machine, deciding which model is right for you can be tricky. Do you need a deep fill toaster, which seals the bread at the corners to keep the gooey goodness inside? Or would your family prefer a panini press which allows greater flexibility for different types of bread? Then, of course, there’s the design, and how much you’re willing to invest in the right toaster for your needs. These are just a handful of the factors you’ll need to consider before making a decision.
To help you find the appliance you’ve been looking for, here we offer a guide on how to choose the perfect sandwich toaster.
Factors to Consider
Sandwich toasters come in all shapes and sizes, offering different features at specific price points which could help with everyday usability. To help steer you in the direction of your next sandwich maker, we’ve compiled a list of six factors everyone should consider before buying.
Sandwich Toaster or Panini Press?
The first step in choosing your next sandwich maker is deciding whether you and your family would prefer a panini press or sandwich toaster. Sandwich toasters feature a bevelled hot plate for sealing the bread, and are perfect for making hot pocket toasties, which are guaranteed to be a big hit with the little ones. With the help of these affordable and compact appliances, you can whip up a warming cheese toastie in next to no time – perfect for when you need a quick fix to satisfy that rumbling stomach.
Panini presses on the other hand feature a single hot plate design, making them extremely versatile when it comes to toasting different types of bread. Whether you’re partial to a bagel or like to toast your focaccia to perfection, a panini press will never limit your sandwich-making creativity.
Variable Controls
If you like your sandwiches cooked a certain way, then you may want to invest in a machine with variable temperature adjustment. It’s great to have the confidence to leave the appliance to work, safe in the knowledge you'll have a perfectly-crafted sandwich waiting for you.
Sound like your kind of thing? Then the Breville Ultimate Grill may well be the appliance for you. And don't forget, all of our sandwich toasters and panini presses also feature a ‘ready to cook’ light, so you needn’t waste any time getting your sandwich on the go.
Budget
From affordable sandwich toasters to stylish panini presses with all the mod cons; there’s a model out there to suit pretty much every budget. Setting a budget early in your search can help narrow down your options, making it easier to find your perfect appliance without the need to trawl the web for hours at a time.
Speed of use
When you're hungry, you don't want to spend hours waiting for something to cook in the oven or on the stovetop, you want something quick, easy and delicious that you can prepare in no time at all. All our sandwich toasters and panini presses are ready to cook your favourites in a matter of minutes, providing a delicious end result that's sure to satisfy however hungry you are.
Cleanability
Anyone who’s ever used a sandwich maker will attest to how messy the appliances can get. That’s why it’s important to consider how easy your chosen sandwich maker will be to clean. Some sandwich makers offer handy features designed to make cleaning easier, including removable and dishwasher-safe hot plates, high hinges and non-stick, wipe-clean surfaces.
Features such as the DuraCeramic plates found in Breville sandwich toasters make for very quick and simple cleaning – perfect for busy families.
Given that you’re not likely to use a sandwich maker every day, it’s important that it can be stored safely without taking up too much space in your cupboards or on your work surfaces. If you’re planning on storing the appliance on the worktop, we’d recommend buying a sandwich maker that offers cord storage and non-slip feet, for maximum safety and compactness. Alternatively, for cupboard storage, you may wish to buy a sandwich toaster which can be stored standing upright.
All Breville sandwich makers are designed with safety in mind, and feature non-slip feet, cool-touch handles, locking lids and cord storage, so you can prepare and make sandwiches for the whole family quickly and safely.
Click here for Breville’s complete range of sandwich makers and panini presses. If you have any further questions about Breville’s sandwich maker range, visit our dedicated FAQ page.