As a nation we love the humble sandwich, so taking that convenient and tasty lunch time treat to another level by converting it into a toastie hits the ultimate snacking spot!
There’s a great selection of toastie makers on the market, with no frills budget options from as little as £12.99 making warm and tasty toasties accessible for everyone, right up to £80 where you can really experiment with a variety of fillings and even make cake bites thanks to some smart features.
We tested 5 standout models, offering a mix of fixed and removable toasting plates, with some that were dishwasher friendly to really help make life (or lunch!) easy. We looked at larger designs making 4 toasties at a time, perfect for families, and more compact solutions with cable tidies and vertical freestanding capabilities to ensure finding a place in the kitchen cupboard for storage wasn’t an issue. We also included a model that had interchangeable plates so your lunch time snack menu could include waffles and paninis as well as the favoured toastie.
Tried and tested | Which toastie maker is best?
- Best family toastie maker Quest 35990 quad sandwich toaster
- Best multi-purpose toastie maker Salter 3-in-1 snack maker
- Best overall toastie maker Breville ultimate deep fill sandwich maker
How we tested the sandwich makers
We considered everything from how easy they are to use, and their performance as well as value for money. Here’s how we scored them…
- Features (6 points): Plate size and material | Temperature range, light or buzzer | Accessories - instructions manual, recipe book, scraper, panini option etc
- Results (3 points): How long it takes | Golden crust, spillages, sticks | Easy top clean - removable plates/dishwasher safe etc
- Value for money (1 points): Price | Warranty | Quality
The best toastie makers for 2024
Salter EK2143 3-in-1 snack maker
Score 9.5/10
Pros
- Can make toasties and waffles and toast paninis
- Pretty toasting finish
Cons
- Plate release catch occasionally gets stuck
Considering how well it worked as a sandwich toaster, plus it comes with the accessories to convert it into a panini press and waffle maker, the features justify the price point.
The Salter 3-in-1 snack maker comes straight out of the box with the toastie plates installed and a box with both the waffle plates and panini press plates. There is a small leaflet with a quick guide to get started, but the brand directs you to its website to download a full instruction manual.
Are there many features?
The removable, non-stick plates measure a decent 14cm x 14.5cm and boast a pretty scalloped design that’s toasted onto the bread for a neat, eye-catching finish. The plate’s design goes to a thicker depth towards the middle to allow for a respectably filled sandwich. Coating the plates with the spray oil is also advised, helping to prolong the life of the non-stick feature.
There is no on/off button or temperature dial, once I’d plugged it in the snack maker was ready for use. The lights on top of the machine work to indicate that the appliance is on and whether it’s at temperature or not.
There were a few recipe suggestions in the instruction leaflet downloaded from the site, but as someone that’s new to waffle making, it would have been nice to see a basic waffle recipe to get me started before suggesting the Quesadilla waffles and bangers and mash waffles!
Does it make good toasties?
The Salter 3-in-1 snack maker was quick to reach temperature for making my toasties and just over 5 minutes later they were ready to eat. For such a substantial snack maker I would have expected the clip in the handle to be bigger to tackle the bulky contents, which may have helped with the initial closing of the appliance when I made my toasties.
The green light goes on and off periodically during toasting and is a good indicator to keep checking on the sandwiches until you reach the preferred golden finish. The scalloped pattern made for a pretty design, but there wasn’t the overall even browning I was hoping for. There was only slight leakage from the toasties, within the appliance, but most came away with the sandwiches leaving little mess behind for clear up - hooray!
Salter recommend you use heat-resistant gloves when placing the sandwiches in the machine, or when removing them, but I found using a silicone spatular and being mindful of the heat to work well with no injuries.
The plates are removed by pushing the two release buttons, they came away well and the instructions advise you clean with warm water and a mild detergent and a non-abrasive cleaner, rather than a dishwasher. The plates took a while to clean up due to the grooves and pattern on the plates, but once clean they were easy to reinstall in the snack maker. Occasionally one of the release buttons would get stuck which I noticed may have been due to some melted cheese around the latch, so these areas need to be thoroughly cleaned to ensure the plates are install correctly.
The cable wraps neatly and easily around the base foot and the appliance can stand on its side so I could slide into a cupboard for easy storage taking up minimal space which is a bonus.
Does it offer value for money?
A 3 year guarantee comes with the Salter 3-in-1 snack maker, and sitting mid-range at £42.99 I think it’s a good price. Considering how well it worked as a sandwich toaster, plus it comes with the accessories to convert it into a panini press and waffle maker, the features justify the price point. My only negatives were that I wanted the clip in the handle to be more substantial and the plate release latch getting clogged up with cheese, but overall a great snack maker that all the family can enjoy treats from.
Breville Ultimate Deep Fill Sandwich maker
Score 9.5/10
Pros
- Removable plates
- Deep fill
- Good all over browning
Cons
- Tough to clip handle shut
The removable plates portions measure 12cm x 11cm, which is one of the smallest I tested, but the plates do allow for extra depth which meant I could create a more filling sandwich in a smaller area.
The Breville ultimate deep fill sandwich maker is good to go straight out of the box, simply clean and dry it and apply some spray oil and it’s ready for use.
The removable plates portions measure 12cm x 11cm, which is one of the smallest I tested, but the plates do allow for extra depth which meant I could create a more filling sandwich in a smaller area. As with all the sandwich makers I tested the plates are non-stick and applying the spray oil helps to maintain this and keep the product working its best for longer.
Are there many features?
There is no on/off switch with this maker, as soon as you plug it in it gets to work heating up in preparation for use. The toastie maker heats up to the desired cooking temperature and then the amber light goes off to show it has reached this temperature and is ready for the sandwich to be added. The lights on top of the sandwich maker are a little difficult to see in a bright setting due to the white background.
An instruction manual was in the box alongside the product which includes a diagram on how to create the best toastie in this machine - allowing a 2cm gap all the way around the outside of your filling to the edge of the bread to ensure no spilling and more filling! The booklet also include two pages of recipes, covering pizza pockets, steak pasties, omelettes and cake bites - so lots to experiment with here.
Does it make good toasties?
Once I had the sandwiches in place on the plates I found it hard work to get the lid closed and the latch locked in place. The latch and handle feel strong and sturdy which is great, but it required two hands to squeeze the contents down inside and get the sandwich maker safely locked in position.
The amber light goes on and off throughout the cooking period encouraging you to check on the contents to see if it has reached the golden colour desired. This took roughly 4-5 minutes with this model and I was really impressed with the results. I had used the oil spray on the plates, as well as the sandwiches, and the toasties had the best overall golden brown colour of all the machines I used. The toasties both looked neat and sealed, with just a little bit of leakage from one, but this lifted away with the bread as it was removed, so no need to scrape this one clean. We did, however, find that the edges of the bread that had been sealed were really hard, too hard for one of my tester’s teeth - but this can be easily cut away as there is no filling in these areas.
With the toasties removed and devoured, the plates were super easy to remove with the push of a button. The plates can be washed in a dishwasher which makes life easier and simply popped back into place ready for next time.
The power cord wraps easily around part of the base and can be stored vertically in the cupboard taking up very little space. I really liked the compact design of this appliance and the strong and sturdy materials give confidence when using this toastie maker.
Does it offer value for money?
Breville offer a one year manufacturer’s guarantee with this product and for the price I think it’s really good value. The toasties were one of the best I created while testing the sandwich makers, and it’s top features - the removable, deep, dishwasher safe plates, cable tidy and upright storage - alongside its neat and compact design make this one of my favourites. The handle locking mechanism was its only let down.
I also noticed on the brand’s website that this sandwich toaster is compatible with Breville’s VST079 waffle plates, allowing you to go beyond toasties and enjoy a waffle snack too!
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Cuisinart sandwich maker, GRSM1U
Score 9.5/10
Pros
- Removable plates
- 3 year warranty
Cons
- Price
I loved the easy to remove plates to make cleaning the Cuisinart sandwich toaster a breeze - a single button to release each plate is located on the side, I could even do it one-handed.
The Cuisinart sandwich maker is a sturdy piece of kit, the plates measure 15cm x 14.5cm for each sandwich and offer a deep space to fill. The plates are non-stick, however the instructions advise you to add a coating of cooking oil spray to keep them in top condition - Cuisinart also recommend using cooking oil spray or butter on the outside of your sandwich before you place it in the sandwich maker to ensure no part of your toastie is left behind.
Are there many features?
This was the only toastie maker I tested that had an on/off dial, rather than just plug in and go. I preferred the dial as it offered peace of mind when using the machine. The dial allows you to select light, medium or high for your toasting preference.
The sandwich maker came with an instruction booklet as well as a recipe book which is a nice touch, showcasing both sweet and savoury dishes that the product is capable of. I’m a fan of your standard ham and cheese toastie, but I’m definitely tempted to try French toast on this one!
Does it make good toasties?
Once I’d arranged the two sandwiches in the machine it was a little tough to get the bread squeezed enough to clip the handle shut, but this seems to be standard with all the sandwich toasters I tested.
I chose the high setting as I like a more golden finish to my toasties, this took around 5 minutes to achieve. You have to stay with the sandwich maker while cooking as the only indicator to tell it’s ready is the green light going off. Cuisinart advise that you keep checking on the sandwich by opening the machine until you’re happy with the browning. I left mine in a little longer than the initial 5 minutes to get the finish I personally preferred - so if you’re particular about your toasties it’s best to linger rather than rely on the lights indicating when it’s ready.
It was super easy to remove the sandwich from the machine, a silicone spatular and no effort at all released it from the mould and onto the plate. There was a little overhang from the bread I used while it was cooking, but none of the bread or cheese was left behind on the plates once the sandwich was removed - impressive stuff, although I had covered the plates and sandwiches with the cooking oil spray to ensure as little mess as possible so that’s definitely a top tip.
I loved the easy to remove plates to make cleaning the Cuisinart sandwich toaster a breeze - a single button to release each plate is located on the side, I could even do it one-handed. The plates can go in the dishwasher, but I gave them a quick hand wash as there was very little there to clean.
The power lead wraps neatly at the back to help easy storage. It is a heavy product and rather bulky in shape, so you’d need to find easy access storage for this one.
Does it offer value for money?
The Cuisinart sandwich maker was the most expensive model I tested at £80, however, it is a sturdy, well-built model and boasts a 3 year warranty for further reassurance.
The sandwich plates were deep enough, removable, dishwasher safe and the handle was wide and sturdy and easy enough to clip shut, plus it has an on/off switch, all great features for this pricier model. It’s USP was the temperature settings, with the dial allowing you to choose light, medium or high, which could really come into its own when exploring the many recipe options that come with this toastie maker.
The only downside being the slightly bulky design making it awkward to store. If you’re a toastie connoisseur, this could be the model for you.
Quest 35990 Quad sandwich toaster
Score 6/10
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Pros
- Makes 4 sandwiches at once
- Stands upright for easy storage
Cons
- Shallow plates
- Hard to clean
Due to its larger format I loved the feature allowing me to wrap the cord around the base and that it then stands upright, ideal for sliding neatly into a kitchen cupboard when not in use, taking up hardly any space too.
The Quest 35590 Quad sandwich toaster’s USP is its ability to take 4 portions, so you can feed the whole family all in one sitting with this one. Each portion measures 13cm x 11cm, so slightly smaller than some others I tested, but the Warburton’s toastie loaf fitted 4 sandwiches in here perfectly as the slices are smaller than the standard loaf of bread.
Are there many features?
The plates are fixed in place, but are non-stick. There is a cool touch handle to ensure comfort and safety when making your favourite toastie, plus the feet are non-slip so you don’t have to worry about the appliance sliding over the work top as you’re using it.
There is no on/off switch or temperature control, simply plug in and it starts working straight away. The red light comes on to show it’s powered, then the green light comes on and off to show when it’s at temperature.
The Quest sandwich toaster came with a small instructions leaflet to show me how to use and clean it, but no recipe ideas from this one.
Does it make good toasties?
The Quest quad sandwich toaster heated up quickly and was ready to take the family’s 4 sandwiches in no time. The sandwiches fitted neatly onto the 4 plates, but it was tough going as I tried to close the lid with them all inside. The machine is quite light weight, and the clip on the handle seems small in comparison to the size of the appliance, plus it’s made of plastic so I was concerned about the pressure put on it. Once the lid was clipped into place after the first press it wasn’t a problem opening and closing it again.
The plates themselves are quite shallow and, due to fitting 4 portions in, I don’t think you could fit 4 thick sandwiches in this one and be able to get it clipped closed.
There is no timer, buzzer or temperature setting on this sandwich toaster, the green light goes off when it’s reached temperature so that’s when you check to see if the toastie has achieved the golden brown colour. As this is all down to personal preference I kept checking after the green light went off the first time, which was after 4-5 minutes which was a good colour for my toastie testers.
The sandwiches came out easily, and despite a little bit of leakage the cheese all came away with the bread leaving very little mess. As with all the toastie makers I tested you’re advised to use an oil spray on the sandwiches and plates before use to help the non-stick feature, which definitely pays off!
Unfortunately the plates can not be removed, which would have made light work of cleaning. It’s a bit harder and more cumbersome to clean due to its size, but I wiped it over with a warm soapy cloth which did the trick. My mistake was rinsing it under the tap, as water got into the crevices and once I thought it was dry I stood it upright on the worktop and more water gushed out. Next time a damp cloth followed by a paper towel to dry would probably be more than enough. Lesson learnt!
Due to its larger format I loved the feature allowing me to wrap the cord around the base and that it then stands upright, ideal for sliding neatly into a kitchen cupboard when not in use, taking up hardly any space too. Top marks.
Does it offer value for money?
Priced at £31.99 and for a sandwich maker of this portion size, I do think that the Quest quad sandwich maker is value for money. For me, it would be more appealing if the plates were removable to ensure an easier clean (especially when making 4 oozing toasties!) and if the clip on the handle was bigger or more robust to tackle the family’s lunch demands.
However, the sandwich maker worked well, had us eating our lunch together and I loved the ease of stowing it away standing upright to be most space efficient. A great family-sized solution.
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LOGIK LO2SMS17 sandwich toaster
Score 6/10
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Pros
- Price
Cons
- Food got stuck in the crevices
- Tough to clip shut
Priced at just £12.99 this is a super, budget-friendly option making the world of toasties available to everyone.
Are there many features?
This budget-friendly sandwich toaster features two portion, fixed plates measuring 11cm x 13cm. They are non-stick which definitely helps the cleaning process as they can’t be removed from the appliance.
It has a clever cable tidy on the under side and stands upright for neat and easy storing when not in use. The feet are also non-slip to help keep the appliance in its place.
Once out of the box, a quick wipe over with a damp cloth and a spray of some cooking oil and it was ready for use. There is no on switch or temperature dial, simply plug in and it began heating up straight away. The red ‘on’ light shows the sandwich toaster is working, while the green light comes on and goes off when reaching temperature.
The LOGIK sandwich toaster came with an instruction leaflet to help me get started using the product.
Does it make good toasties?
Once I had loaded up my two sandwiches I found it tough work getting the sandwich toaster clipped shut at the handle. The clip on the handle also felt small and plastic for the task in hand and so I was slightly concerned about forcing it too much. However, when the machine eventuallly clipped shut the appliance worked perfectly fine.
The green light goes on and off to show when it’s getting to temperature so I used that as a guide to check on the toastie to see if it was ready. This took approximately 4-5minutes, the finished toasties did look pale in places and due to the shallow nature of the plates the bread was squished and didn’t look as appetising as some of the other models tested.
There was a little spillage from the sandwiches within the machine, but most of this came away with the toasties - so the non-stick plates did their job.
Wiping down the plates in situ was a little harder, having to negotiate the lid while rubbing down the bottom plates was a bit awkward, but there wasn’t too much mess so it didn’t take me long. However, when I did get the machine out for the next batch I noticed some grilled cheese stuck in some of the harder to clean crevices in the appliance which was a downside of this sandwich maker for me.
Does it offer value for money?
Priced at just £12.99 this is a super, budget-friendly option making the world of toasties available to everyone. A 1 year manufacturer’s guarantee is available with the product to further its appeal. There were many good points with the LOGIK sandwich toaster - the cord storage, upright storing position and the price.
However, I felt the fixed plates and hard to clean areas were a big turn off. Over filling the plates isn’t an option as I feel the plastic casing and handle just wouldn’t be able to cope with the job. So while the price makes this sandwich toaster very appealing, if you’re a regular toastie maker you might be wise to invest elsewhere.
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How to make a cheese toastie
Get creative with your cheese toasties! How about this delicious pineapple, chilli & cheese recipe from Tesco? You'll need...
- 70g tinned pineapple chunks (drained weight)
- 100g Cathedral City Mature Cheddar, grated
- 10g fresh coriander leaves, chopped
- Butter
- 4 slices wholemeal bread
- 4 tsp Tesco Finest chilli relish
FAQs
What is the best sandwich maker?
The best toastie maker is one that can handle standard slices of bread without any spillage, gives an even golden brown finish to the bread and has removable plates that can be popped in the dishwasher for a quick and easy clean. Take it to the next level and look for one that incorporates a panini press to give your lunchtime snacks variety and convenience.
How to clean a toastie maker
When it comes to keeping your toastie maker in tip-top condition, thankfully, they are easy to keep clean. Most simply require a wipe, although some models have removable plates that you can wash in warm soapy water – handy if you like a deep-filled sandwich, which might create a little more mess when cooking.
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