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Our 20 year old toastie maker is kaput, we need a new one. I was just going to run to the shop and pick up what they have in stock, but Mrs NBT reminded me that, being the font of all knowledge, someone here would be able to recommend a specific model for some reason that i had not considered
So, what do i need to consider and what should i get, folks?
We use the George Foreman grill thing only to make toasties. It gives more flexibility, especially in allowing cheese to be applied to the outside of the bread (obvs in addition to the layers inside)
My wife is in the running she makes a mean toastie 🙂
Ours broke, now I just make them in the frying pan. Works pretty well.
We’ve got One of these.
It also does panini’s and waffles. Not that we ever have. But the main thing is that you can remove the plates to clean them properly so it doesn’t end up encased in charred and solidified cheddar
We just use a frying pan (non stick but don't know whether this matters) and then use a pan lid on top to keep the heat in and press down a bit. Works fine but you do need to turn them over half way. Also works on camping stoves and will at least get you through today's need for a toastie before you get to Argos.
We have a breville with removable plates. So we got the waffle plates too. It makes a good toastie but I reckon my old Morphy and Richards one was better, seemed to get hotter. But the addition of waffle making ups it to ace level kitchen gadget.
George foreman make rubbish toasties, it can't produce the pockets of lava required for perfection.
A frying pan isn't the worst second option but again, no pockets and tends to leave the bread a bit too uncompressed, you can get great flavour though if it's not been washed since you cooked bacon for breakfast.
I’m with @joshvegas on this one. If the pocket of molten cheese isn’t hotter than the surface of the sun, it’s not a proper toastie
Toastie maker manufacturers need to go 650b on their machines, up the size of the plates to fit Warburton super toastie white bread, and also ease off on compression to allow the thicker bread, and more cheese, natch.
We need a bariatric breville.
Until those days, it's the frying comrades.
Edit - anyone ever tried one of these? Be handy as f for firing up once a ride is over on a day away.
All Ride 8711252172347 Toaster, 120 W, Black https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08PPQ545N/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_V61JVZT1PCSZMSM0FAMM?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Cast iron griddle pan and griddle iron/press
When ours died, I bought a large panini press. Very happy with it. Being flat it’s wipe clean too.
Mum got us a Cuisinart one for Christmas. No idea if they are meant to be decent or budget but the plates are removable, it's deep fill and makes a mean toastie according to the kids.
We’ve got One of these.
+1 for the Salter one.
the non-stick is a little delicate but as long as you only use wood/plastic to clear off excess cheese (i.e. the yummy caramelised bits that escape) they are great.
Traditional cast iron pie iron FTW. A mate has one and it makes superb toasties and can be used in a stove/on a fire etc also.
I just use a frying pan with a steak/bacon weight though. Toasty makers are nice but do you really want to devote worktop space to one and clean it etc.
We use our George Formby grill and our toasties always turn out nice.
George Foreman +1
What it lacks in the 1970's superheated cheese and compressed bread stakes, makes up for in the ability to deal with thick bread, odd-shaped bread, homemade bread, and anything else.
Mum got us a Cuisinart one for Christmas. No idea if they are meant to be decent or budget but the plates are removable, it’s deep fill and makes a mean toastie according to the kids.
Have this one and came with a set of waffle plates. Really good bit of kit with consistent heat across the plates.
Doesn't the George Formby one produce a black pool of cheese?
https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/p48917?productId=48917&countryCode=G B" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Silvercrest Panini Grill
Lidl coming soon
Does one not simply use one's aga?
Toastie maker manufacturers need to go 650b on their machines, up the size of the plates to fit Warburton super toastie white bread
go big or go home. Smuggle a Corby Trouser Press out of a hotel.
What it lacks in the 1970’s superheated cheese and compressed bread stakes, makes up for in the ability to deal with thick bread, odd-shaped bread, homemade bread, and anything else.
Skillet + steak-weight/spatula-work.
All of the fun, more of the perfection/compression/flavour yet none of the cleaning.
If you want molten flesh-searing ‘pockets’ then (non)stick with a Breville Sandwich Toaster, not forgetting Findus Crispy Pancakes for ‘variety days’ 😉
I have a Breville similar to that Salter. It's ace. Waffle plates available as an optional extra but well worth it.
Thanks chaps, thanks to your inspiration, I've managed to polish off more of the festive cheese this afternoon with a ridged pan/ steak press combo. Never thought of doing that before.
Produced the perfect toasted sandwich and didn't chop the edges off my large slices of bread. No overly compressed bread either. 8/10, need to experiment with cheese on the outside too.
Will add more of these to my weekend post ride snack inventory.
Oh my! nbt and I, we can't decide.
The panini grill sounds great, as does the George Formby (for that's the name it shall be known as in this household) and the toastie maker Binner's and others recommends (Salter), all sound just the ticket.
Now bring on the cheese.
As a stop gap, so that you’re not deprived of toastie based loveliness, I’d highly recommend Toastie Bags
They shouldn’t work but they really really do!
No overly compressed bread either. 8/10, need to experiment with cheese on the outside too.
Lollopy-tongued semi-cockernee James bloke will sort you out:
I’ve tried it a few times. Never fails to impress.
stevious
Full Member
We use our George Formby grill and our toasties always turn out nice.
Again.
Bravo.
Great work there! 😂
From this thread last year -->> In praise of the toasted sandwich
Today’s my birthday,and without any prompting or mention of this thread,a brand new grill/toastie machine (Tefal) landed this morning.
My family must be telepathic.
I am so excited . 🙂
It's an excellent toastie machine and a really good grill.
Don’t bother with anything other than a cast iron plate/pan and a press.
You need butter.
Watch the film Chef.
Lollopy-tongued semi-cockernee James bloke will sort you out:
But don't follow Gordon Ramsay's effort 😳
I would have told you I had a Breville with swappy plates, but it turns out it's a Salter.
Anyway, it's great and the kids love the waffles as well.
I have a question for the frying pan enthusiasts - do you have to hold the sandwich like a normal one to eat it, assuming that it doesn't seal the edges?
Don’t bother with anything other than a cast iron plate/pan and a press.
Out of interest, why a cast iron plate rather than just a pan?
I have a question for the frying pan enthusiasts – do you have to hold the sandwich like a normal one to eat it, assuming that it doesn’t seal the edges?
Yeah, just eat it like a normal sandwich. The crusts are more rigid than the rest of the bread, so a little weight on top means the crusts do the job of sealing.
Cast iron griddle pan here with another cast iron pan on top - 2 rounds at a time. minimal oozing - not like a traditional toastie maker, where the steam has nowhere to go and forces half the cheese out the sides onto the worktop.
Out of interest, why a cast iron plate rather than just a pan?
Because things taste better with lines burnt onto them. I thought everyone knew that?
Wondering if I need a deep-fill toastie make as we don't actually tend to put a lot of fillings in (something about not getting fat). WOuld like removeable plates though
Are these things worth having should you want a toasted sandwich on say a camp fire?
Wondering if I need a deep-fill toastie make as we don’t actually tend to put a lot of fillings in
Marketing.
"Deep-fill" = normal.
"Regular" = homeopathic amount of filling.
I use a cast iron burger press. It’s round. It’s cast iron. The top section is the perfect weight even for fancy breads (your focaccias, your sour doughs anything a bit denser). It’s big enough for a standard load slice. It keeps the heat and spreads it nice and evenly.
Excited. The Salter toastie maker is on its way.
Our Dualit toaster came with 'sandwich cages', but any toastie made vertically is not ideal imo, also they don't squidge the bread enough.
I tried the cages on the grill, that wasn't ideal either but better than in the toaster.
First world problems. :O)
We have a ridge monkey in the motorhome. Works well and good for large /thick bread and other uses. I do have a sandwich maker at home but it rarely comes out of the cubboard as for standard cheese/ham toasties a cast iron pan is better. I don't particularly like the rock hard edges the toastie machine makes but it can be good for more unusual/runny fillings like baked beans or egg.
Not this one:
It arrived yesterday and the lid catch snapped on FIRST use last night!
Hope the Salter is better.
The Salter is an altogether more sturdy affair than that flimsy looking thing
This is what happens when you ignore the wisdom of the forum. Let that be a lesson to you 😉
@bunnyhop - we will all be expecting reviews of toastie trials, obviously 😃
We had this one in the family home.
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I swear the metallic parts were hewn from a solid billet of 316 stainless steel.
It lasted long after I'd fledged the nest.
plus-one
Free Member
My wife is in the running she makes a mean toastie 🙂
@plus-one - what the going rate for your missus?
We had this one in the family home.
I swear the metallic parts were hewn from a solid billet of 316 stainless steel.
It lasted long after I’d fledged the nest.
I've only just twigged that the lack of browning on my current one might be more to do with the lack of brown in the bread 😂
binners - Will do. On first attempt it will be a little bit of everything in the fridge that's savoury with a few beans.
Then I'm going to make me first waffles.
Drooling in anticipation.
IIRC your first attempt likely should be to clean off manufacturing residue, like boiling a new kettle a few times over before use.
I want waffles myself now. That might be this weekend's treat.
BEANS?
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Our Salter toastie maker arrived a few weeks ago, thanks to Binners recommendation.
After much use (not the waffle plates yet) the conclusion is a WIN.
The co-op sell a two pack of small ciabatta and those toasted on the panini plate with cheese, tomato and onion were the favourite snack so far.
Excellent! Glad to hear its a result @Bunnyhop
My 'advice' is rarely worth listening to, but the subject of preparing cheese-based snacks is something of a specialist subject, bordering on a religion.
Its a scandal that I haven't used it for ciabatta yet, so as Morrisons do nice fresh ones, I'm going to get some and christen the panini plates over the weekend. Cheese, tomato and onion ticks all my boxes 😀
👍 
😊
Toast two bits of bread.
Butter or spread of some kind.
Mature cheese.
Spread of pickle or whatever.
30 seconds in the microwave.
Job done.
🙂
MICROWAVE?!!!
You godless heathen!!
I think you need to take some time out and have a think about what it is you've just said
Frying pan is surely the best toastie maker? 😀
I am obviously going to try it 😀
Too many opinions here that miss the fundamental point of a dedicated toastie maker.
It *must* seal the edges to make that pocket of plasma when done.
Pocket of Plasma is the name of my prog rock band's second album.
Pocket of Plasma is the name of my prog rock band’s second album.
Heheeh 🙂
+1 for the brevile and waffle plates
Tefal snack time looked very flexible but brexit shipping hassles make it ridiculously hard to get hold of
I have to stress in true STW stylee, that the onion was from a farmer's market stall, the tomatoes were tiny on the vine and the cheese a mature 'Butler's secret' cheddar.
:o)
Butler’s Secret Cheddar was their first album.
(It was OK but a bit cheesy)
I was lucky enough to get one of these for my birthday recently. I love how the hinges pivot allowing thick bread/paninis etc to be toasted, very artisan. Much better than the old one that you had to butter the outside of the bread to stop it sticking and would only take ‘normal’ bread and was a battle to clamp shut if you had any decent quantity of filling.