Sandwich Presses

Sandwich Presses are countertop Kitchen Appliances used to toast sandwiches in a variety of sizes. They feature top and bottom hot plates attached via a hinge that can apply heat and pressure for quick and even toasting. They are great for whipping up a delicious and sometimes healthy meal with little effort.

Due to the pressure applied by the plates, they are great at toasting larger size sandwiches or those with messy fillings because they toast both sides simultaneously with no need to flip or move it.

Sandwich Presses are easy to set up and cook on with quick minimal cleanup afterwards. Because of this Sandwich Presses are also great for whipping up a wide variety of meals and snacks. With two tortillas and your choice of filling you can enjoy a tasty quesadilla or crisp up pita bread for dipping. While Sandwich Presses are great for enjoying various foods other than just melted cheese toasties, for grilling foods such as bacon and eggs you're best off with a Grill.

You may have heard different names for a Sandwich Press before, such as Toastie Maker or Jaffle Maker. If you’re wondering why, the answer is there are a few different types of Sandwich Presses out there.

A traditional Sandwich Press uses a top and bottom hot plate to hold the sandwich, panini or wrap in place whilst cooking, with the option of pressing it down with the lever. They are great as they can toast various sized breads including artisan breads, although some types of filling or larger sandwiches may be prone to overflowing or spilling out of the sandwich like tomato and cheeses. 'Toastie Maker' is simply just another way to say Sandwich Press.

Jaffle makers are a little more specialised often designed for the size and shape of standard bread slices. The hot plates on jaffle makers have grooves designed to seal sandwich fillings between the bread slices and will leave a score mark across the middle indicating where to cut. This type of Sandwich Press is great for messy fillings but lack the option to toast wraps or buns.

Sandwich Makers cook using hot plates on a non-stick surface. The easiest way to make sure a Sandwich Press keeps cooking quickly and evenly is with regular cleaning. Not only will this keep greasy residues and food contaminants out of the toasties, but it will also help prevent damage to the coating. Luckily, Sandwich Presses are one of the easiest appliances to keep clean.

Always make sure the Toastie Grill is turned off and unplugged before cleaning. A quick wipe down with a damp cloth or sponge soon after each use whilst the plates are still warm but not hot will prevent grease and food residues from hardening and cooking on to the surface. Cooked on food is much more difficult to clean off and can damage the coating.

Always avoid abrasive chemical cleaners or scouring scrubbing pads as these will also damage the coating. A small amount of dishwashing detergent on a dampened cloth will lift off some of the stickier residues, then wipe down using a clean, wet cloth and dry with paper towel.

Sandwich Presses generally come in two main sizes that fit either two or four slices of bread. Keep in mind that larger models are not just for cooking more food at once, but often add versatility by being able to accommodate a wider variety of breads, rolls and buns.

Whichever size is right, always check you have enough room for the appliance both on the Benchtop and/or cupboards. Look for easy storage designs like a latch that locks the top and bottom plates shut together, and a dedicated space to wrap the power cord underneath the Sandwich Grill.

Some models can adjust the height of the top plate and lock it in place at various heights like some Breville Sandwich Press models. This is great for cooking larger sized sandwiches and open melts. This feature is also great for adding and removing food to the hotplates without having to hold the top plate up, so you can take more care with placing larger food items.