Sandwich press - any advice?

[Tefno]

So the other half has been on at me to get a sandwich press for the kitchen, but to be honest, I haven't a clue what to look for in one!

Does anyone out there have a great one they use to recommend? Or likewise any to stay away from?

Cheers in advance for any help

[peterb]

Why don't you ask 'the other half' if she has seen anything hing she prefers?

[Tefno]

Why don't you ask 'the other half' if she has seen anything hing she prefers?

That would be too easy wouldn't it, she knows she wants one as they have a professional catering one at her work, but it's down to me to do the leg work and make sure we buy a decent one for our home alas!

[peterb]

I doubt anything you buy for domestic use will match up to one she uses commercially.

Have a look at these

http://www.nisbets.co.uk/4/Catering-...02c04c05.r12.1

Or otherwise Breville do a range of domestic sandwich toasters that have a good reputation (although some say that the UK versions are pale imitations of the one manufactured for non-UK markets.

Or you could take her into somewhere like John Lewis and let her have a look for herself (brownie points for taking her shopping too!)

There, I've done some of the legwork for you!

[Saracen]

In the domestic sector, I'd go straight for the Cuisinart one ....

http://www.cuisinart.co.uk/sandwich-maker.html

This is available from John Lewis, among others, but a variant of it branded differently is (or was, a few months ago, when I last looked) stocked by Currys, etc.

It's not the cheapest model out there, but I've seen it at under £40 and even at Cuisinart "direct" prices isn't too bad. And it's well-made and "deep fill".

I tried several cheaper ones over the years and one were really all that great.

PS. Yes, I do rather like a toasted sandwich. And it's noon, and typing this has my stomach rumbling. Guess what lunch is now going to be?

[Tefno]

I doubt anything you buy for domestic use will match up to one she uses commercially.

Have a look at these

http://www.nisbets.co.uk/4/Catering-...02c04c05.r12.1

Cheers, Nisbets seems like a good bet and might be what she is imagining if she has been seeing commercial ones about, although at those prices maybe It might help convince her to go for a household one, wow!

In the domestic sector, I'd go straight for the Cuisinart one ....

http://www.cuisinart.co.uk/sandwich-maker.html

Thanks, I think she had the flat grill ones in mind like the ones from Nisbets, for things like ciabatta and paninnis etc, although this is certainly more the price range in looking at!

[scaryjim]

Nisbet's is a fantastic place - they have an actual shop in Manchester now which is just far too tempting.

A sandwich press and a sandwich toaster are very different beasts: I've seen machines that do both (they come with swappable plates), but don't know how good they are.

My current sandwich toaster came from Andrew James via either ebay or Amazon, and it's one of the best I've had since my old 70s Breville died. But if the better half is after a PRESS rather than a sandwich toaster, it's not going to do the job (and a press is more versatile, too).

My last press was a Breville branded one with flat plates (rather than ridged), cost around £25, and worked perfectly until the handled snapped in half (I suspect the repeated heat/cool cycle of frequent use stressed the plastic too much). I'd personally go for flat plates as I think they're more versatile and I prefer a nice even toast on my sandwiches. Fave trick was buying yellow stickered pre-packed sandwiches from the supermarkets late at night then slapping them in the press for supper. Lazy, sure, but cheap and tasty

[Saracen]

Thanks, I think she had the flat grill ones in mind like the ones from Nisbets, for things like ciabatta and paninnis etc, although this is certainly more the price range in looking at!

Fair enough. I misread what you were after.

There is a press in the same range, though it's more expensive. I've used it a couple of times (friend has one) but never owned one. That one certaimly does Paninis, etc. It has larger, flat plates, and they're reversible, smooth one side, ribbed the other for griddle effect. Also, floating hinges, for almost any thickness of bread.

Generally, I've had good experiences with Cuisinart, but can't vouch for longevity of that press.

[Galant]

"Sandwich maker" / "Sandwich toaster" - isn't that why people marry a wife in the first place?

[skiddaddle mode on]

[scaryjim]

"Sandwich maker" / "Sandwich toaster" - isn't that why people marry a wife in the first place? ...

Tremble before me, for I am Redbeard, Norse God of Toasties!

An epithet I was given by my wife's ex-husband, curiously

[Galant]

I would, honestly, it's just that, well, I already subscribe to the beliefs of Butter-only Toastism. Should I ever face the temptation to partake of something more caseus then I tend to the practises of the thin and rounded Quesadilla. No offense.

[jimborae]

In the domestic sector, I'd go straight for the Cuisinart one ....

http://www.cuisinart.co.uk/sandwich-maker.html

This is available from John Lewis, among others, but a variant of it branded differently is (or was, a few months ago, when I last looked) stocked by Currys, etc.

It's not the cheapest model out there, but I've seen it at under £40 and even at Cuisinart "direct" prices isn't too bad. And it's well-made and "deep fill".

I tried several cheaper ones over the years and one were really all that great.

PS. Yes, I do rather like a toasted sandwich. And it's noon, and typing this has my stomach rumbling. Guess what lunch is now going to be?

Sorry Saracen but we have that one as well and I simply can't recommend it, in fact it's absolute utter crap at making toasted sandwiches (imho). On low heat it doesn't toast the bread but at any higher heat the bread sticks to the supposedly non stick plates. A £5.99 disposable jobbie from Sainsburys does a better job and causes less frustration. As for the well made comments, yes it mostly is but I also believe there a lot of comments about the the handles and locking mechanism breaking.

[Smudger]

What about a George Foreman? Articulated plates like a commercial press, plus you can do meat on it as well, and the fat rolls down into a catcher.

Robert Dyas usually have a big one for about £40...

[scaryjim]

I... I tend to the practises of the thin and rounded Quesadilla. No offense.

None taken, and in a few weeks I will be able to share the particular "why" for my lack of offense! (yup, I'm being deliberately cryptic)

... A £5.99 disposable jobbie from Sainsburys does a better job ...

I've owned that "toasted sandwich" maker. It toasts a single, half inch strip of each sandwich, leaving the rest a wet soggy mess. The result is worse than either a normal sandwich OR a round of toast.

The Andrew James one I've got at the minute makes the best toasties I've had in years, but sadly it no longer appears to be available.

OTOH, the OP was looking for a press, not a toastie maker, and Andrew James do make a very pretty one of those: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Andrew-Jam...l/281726261455

I've actually bought several Andrew James products over the last couple of years - each one I've bought has done its job well and been decent value, which has given me confidence in the next purchase. We've now got their toastie maker, glass-jugged blender, basic ice-cream maker.... as far as I can tell them just buy in decent white-label OEM kit then stencil their name on it, but whoever their buyer is has a good eye for the products...

[Divo]

I recommend a device you can use for more than only sandwiches. Have a look to the folowing brands/models.

Philips HD4467

Steba

Fritel

[wazzickle]

I consider myself a sandwich master and quite frankly there's not a huge difference between them all. To a large degree you get what you pay for, but you can very easily get by with a basic model. The one I grew up with in the 80s probably cost 2 or 3 bob and more than did the job. The one I have at the moment feels flimsy and cheap but when it comes to toasted sarnies it really matters very little.