Best toastie maker for delicious toasted sandwiches

For perfectly toasted toasties in around four minutes, plus the ability to cook omelettes, paninis and waffles, too, there's no wonder that the Salter EK2143FOUR XL 4-in-1 Snack Maker is a popular and highly rated product on Amazon. The interchangeable plates lock in place firmly, and it has automatic temperature control, so you get perfect results no matter what snack you’re rustling up.

Our tester, Commercial Content Writer Natalie Knowles, tried out this multifunctional toastie maker in a home environment. In terms of build quality, Natalie says that without plates, you can see it's a simple design with two heating elements—one in the lid and one in the main body. It’s designed for casual home use, and the hinge is plastic, so be aware that this appliance is strictly for light bites. Quite simply, it doesn’t have the durability of a more expensive model. But, for less than £50, it’s ample for simple toasties, omelettes and tuna melts.

Natalie says: “It's easy to use. Press the buttons on the snack maker to release the plates. To replace them, push each plate down until it clicks into place. The plates have slots that align with the clips on the snack maker itself. Once you realise how they are aligned, it's actually very easy to fit the plates. The red button light is on while it's heating; when it goes green, put your toasties in and clip the lid down. It takes around three minutes to heat up. Although the plates are non-stick, it’s best to give them a spritz of oil. You might notice a smell of fumes during its first use, and the appliance hums when it’s in use. The plates are sizzling hot, so take care when you place your toasties on them. There's no timer, so you use your judgement as to when the toasties are ready. You can hear the cheese sizzling, and that’s a good indication that the toastie is ready. It's perfectly reasonable to lift the handle and check the toasties while they are cooking. Whether you like them lightly toasted or browned is up to you. You've got time to make a cup of tea. There's no switch on or off; just unplug it and remove the toasties with a fish slice. Don't close it straight away, let the plates cool down, then it's a doddle to remove the cheese that's melted on to the plates by washing them in warm soapy water.

“My advice, when making omelettes and waffles, is not to overfill the plates. I looked up the online manual and recipe guide for this snack maker because I wasn’t sure how much batter to add to the waffle plate. The batter will expand as it cooks, therefore you only need to fill the waffle plate ¾ full. It’s important because you’ll have a hot mess on your hands if you overfill it. I would have liked these instructions included in the box, there was only a quick start guide, but at least the guidance is available online.

“Is the Salter EK2143FOUR XL 4-in-1 Snack Maker worth it? Yes, when used sensibly and with the correct amount of ingredients. For example, the omelette moulds take two beaten eggs each and produce perfectly golden omelettes in minutes. Having read a few online reviews, a minority of customers have had faults such as the hinge breaking and the non-stick coating flaking. The hinge design could be improved as it is plastic and it’s in close proximity to extremely hot heating elements so the longevity is questionable. But in terms of the non-stick plates, I’ve tested several Salter appliances over the years, and their non-stick baking trays have always been superb. Just to say, I hand wash everything.”

Liven up lunchtimes with the versatility of a café-style grill in one nifty appliance. Combining the performance of a slot toaster with the versatility of a grill and the convenience of a panini press, the Ninja Foodi 3-in-1 Toaster, Grill & Panini Press is a toastie maker that can do it all. You can create your perfect toastie in minutes using the clever Panini Press accessory, but that's not all. It has seven cooking functions: toast, bagel, defrost, grill, panini, bake, and reheat, so you can cook a whole variety of meals and snacks to satisfy your cravings. There are seven browning levels to choose from to get the top tier toastie you crave.

Use it vertically as a toaster, then turn it on its side to use as a grill and panini press. From pastries to pizza, this Ninja appliance can toast them all. Its bake tray will hold light bites such as tuna melts. The wide and long slots ensure edge-to-edge toasting. It can even grill chunky snacks, such as fish finger sandwiches.

Reviews praise this Ninja grill for being a compact multi-purpose appliance, and it's been rated 5/5 on Currys. Despite its higher price-point, this Ninja Foodie 3-in-1 is a great addition to the kitchen and combines multiple gadgets in one.

If you love a doorstop toasted sandwich, this is the toastie maker for you. Pack a lot of filling in your toasties with the Cuisinart Style Collection 2-in-1 Grill & Sandwich Maker Midnight Grey. Switch between the classic griddle plates and the deep-fill pocketed plates. Plus, its floating lid makes it much easier to accommodate thicker slices of bread. It has extra-large sandwich plates so you can use thicker breads for your toasted sandwiches, such as focaccia and ciabatta. The plates are also non-stick and removable so you can take them out to give a good clean and even pop them in the dishwasher.

This Cuisinart Sandwich Maker can actually grill a wide range of goods, including grilled fish, vegetables and even make omelettes. It has high performance grill plates and variable temperature control, so no matter what you're grilling, you'll get perfect results.

Customers praise this grill for being well made and superior to other toastie makers that they have used. However, a minor quibble is that it lacks a waffle plate.

You can enjoy a whole host of delicious toasted snacks when using the Breville Sandwich/Panini Press & Toastie Maker. It's perfect for toasting paninis, ciabattas, tea cakes and crumpets as well as for warming pittas, tortillas and naan breads. The large plates offer space for cooking chunky bakery items to perfection each time. The floating top plate accommodates different sandwich thicknesses and rests firmly on the bread for even toasting.

Its floating lid allows you to press and toast larger bakery items or up to three sandwiches at once. Alternatively, you can leave the lid up and use the hot plate to fry eggs.

The non-stick aluminium plates are easy to clean. Plus, it can stand upright, taking up less space when not in use.

Reviews comment that its flat plates are more hygienic than curved griddles because they are much easier to clean. Also, this appliance allows for more versatility. However, do note the dimensions; while it's the ideal size for a couple of paninis, the maximum number of UK bread slices side-by-side is two.

Tasty toasties aren't the only thing you can make with the Russell Hobbs 3in1 Sandwich, Panini & Waffle Maker 24540—it also makes mouth-watering waffles and grilled delights. Its versatility means you can create a whole variety of sweet and savoury snacks. This is the ideal size for one person and reviews praise its multifunctionality whilst being a small appliance. The interchangeable plates make it easy to swap between making paninis, toasties and waffles, plus the plates are easy to clean and are dishwasher-safe. Whilst, it doesn't have the build quality of a premium appliance, this is a popular and versatile toastie maker that's ideal for a small household.

If you love premium quality kitchen appliances, this is the toastie maker for you. With an innovative hinge design, the Sage Perfect Press Sandwich Maker ensures you have a crisp, fluffy sandwich by making sure the outside is deliciously toasted using just the right amount of pressure without squashing what's inside. Any size open sandwich can be melted and browned thanks to the adjustable height control.

Made using brushed stainless steel to give it that modern, clean look, it has a compact design. The plates lock together with a sturdy clip so it can be stored upright, so it won't take up much room on your kitchen sides.

All-in-all, this Sage appliance is a great choice for connoisseurs of toastie making.

The George Foreman 25820 Large Fit Grill will be predominantly used for grilling meat and vegetables, but it can also make a pretty mean, lean, toasted sandwich. This roomy grill uses up to 88 per cent less energy than your conventional oven grill, heating up 160 per cent faster and allowing you to enjoy freshly cooked food quickly while reducing energy and costs on your household bills. With a non-stick coating and a clip-in drip tray, it also has a floating hinge for thicker cuts.

Reviewed by Features & Reviews Editor Emily Gilbert: "George Foreman is my go-to brand when it comes to toastie makers and I'm really impressed by the Fit Grill. We have the large version which means you can toast multiple sandwiches at once and we've also used it for grilling meat for dinner. It's so easy to clean and I love how little room it takes up in our cupboard despite the large size."