The Best Sandwich Makers (Review) in 2020

If you’re looking for a quality multi-purpose sandwich toaster at a reasonable price, Hamilton Beach Dual Breakfast Sandwich Maker is a fantastic choice. It makes one or two sandwiches at the same time, which is a huge plus if you’re cooking for two people, can cook a variety of foods, plus is ready in about five minutes. It comes with a countdown timer with an audible beep, so using it is really simple. Importantly, the plates come off easily and are dishwasher safe. Overall, a great and versatile sandwich maker that simplifies cooking without breaking the bank. The only minus – if we could even call it like that – is that cooking certain foods, such as eggs, takes more than five minutes.

Multifunctional and easy to use, Cuisinart 5-in-1 Griddler is perfect for both sandwich-making beginners and seasoned cooks. This sandwich griller can handle pretty much anything you can think of, from pancakes to grilled cheese, sausages to steaks, paninis to hamburgers. This is mostly due to the Griddler’s unique design – reversible grill plates that can easily fit an entire meal or two. So, you can grill meat here, cook eggs, pancakes and various sandwiches simply by using the Griddler in different ways. This is done via the selector knob that lets you choose between grill or griddle function. Each function also has adjustable temperature controls, so perfect meals are guaranteed. However, it does take a while to heat up and cook food – while the handbook says it takes about 10 minutes, often you’ll need around 20, depending on the food you’re cooking.

Affordable yet versatile and efficient, George Foreman Grill and Panini Press is perfect for first-time buyers. This 60-square inch sandwich maker comes with a 4-serving area grill for chicken and burgers for the whole family, or a smaller meal complete with grilled veggies. That said, the grill is definitely on the small side – while it can fit 4 small pieces of meat, it’s better suited for two people than it is for families. The plates are non-stick and easy to remove and clean as they’re dishwasher safe, so convenient all-around. Importantly, this model is marketed as one of the fastest to heat up (35% faster than previous models), so it takes about 10 minutes total to cook up various meals.

If you’re after an inexpensive, compact sandwich maker, the Proctor Silex is a fine choice. This multi-purpose toaster is perfect for sliced bread and tasty grilled cheese sandwiches, although you can also use it for cooking omelets and desserts. The toaster comes with non-stick plates that cannot be removed but are easy to clean as you can just wipe them with a clean damp cloth once they’ve cooled. Cooking food is really quick and easy too, as it usually takes about 3-5 minutes, depending on the food and meal you’re making. While it does come with a bulky handle, the Proctor Silex is easy to store as it’s compact and can be stored upright, taking up minimal space.

The Breville Panini Duo is one of the best, if not the best Panini sandwich maker on the market. This 1500 watt press features scratch-resistant, non-stick Quantanium cooking surface with a flat bottom plate and ribbed top plate for perfect cooking every time. Additionally, the top plate can be moved in a range of positions over the bottom one, which makes the grill suitable even for grilling thick artisan pieces of bread. Thanks to the floating hinge, the pressure is always evenly maintained on both thin and thick sandwiches, which is a huge plus and something the beginners will greatly appreciate. The Breville Panini press is quite large too, so it can make 2 medium or even 3 small sandwiches at once with no issues. However, if you want grill marks on both sides of sandwiches, you’ll have to flip each one because there is no grill ridge on the bottom plate.

Great at making both various sandwiches and square-shaped waffles, T-fal toaster is a solid choice for folks who like their kitchen appliances simple but versatile. With two sets of interchangeable plates that are dishwasher safe, this toaster is not only multifunctional but also easy to use and clean. Craving meat and cheese pocket sandwiches? Use the sandwich plate. In the mood for some Belgian-style waffles? Just use the waffle plates. It really is that easy! There is a ready/on indicator that lets you know when the plates are ready for cooking, so there is no second-guessing. There are only pre-set programs available though, so no way to adjust the temperature or timer according to your cooking steps.

If you’re looking for a quality Panini sandwich maker with a sensible price, the Hamilton Beach Panini Press is an excellent choice. With a roomy cooking surface and café-style floating lid, the griller evenly presses one or two (any sized) sandwiches. It’s perfect for paninis as both plates have grill grids that heat and brown the sandwich beautifully. The grill is also easy to use as it comes with an indicator light (green means ready to do), although you do need to wait about 6 minutes before using it so it can properly heat up. Besides paninis, this press can also make quesadillas, grill veggies and fruit, even warm up your leftovers when opened at 180 degrees.

Convenient and fun to use, the Diablo Stovetop Sandwich Maker is perfect for creating devilishly deep filled toasted sandwiches. With its cast aluminum body and extra tough coating for non-stick and non-scratch cooking, this small sandwich maker is durable and easy to wash as you can just chuck it in the dishwasher. While a simple design, the toaster is highly efficient and versatile too – besides cooking small-sized sandwiches, you can also use it for making beef patties, tortillas and other food. That said, the toaster is definitely on the small side, so keep that in mind when making your purchasing decision.

If you’re a first-time buyer, and you’re looking for cheap sandwich makers, Cuisinart’s Dual-Sandwich Grill is a solid choice. Simple and easy to use, this deep-pocket sandwich grill is great for making one or two tasty sandwiches for breakfast or dinner. It comes with non-stick grill plates that brown and seal a sandwich with a diagonal indentation for slicing in half, making it perfect for creating homemade, healthier snacks. That said, the plates are not removable so they cannot be washed in a dishwasher, but are supposed to be wiped with a damp cloth once they’ve cooled. The green and red indicator lights let you know when your grill is ready to use, so even complete beginners shouldn’t have a hard time using this handy toaster.

The Bulbhead’s Red Copper Flipwich Sandwich Maker is a simple and budget-friendly option for folks who want an easy stovetop way to make sandwiches and paninis. Featuring aluminum induction plates with the copper-infused ceramic cooking surface, this sandwich maker distributes heat evenly no matter the size or number of your sandwiches. The plates are also non-stick and scratch-resistant so they’re easy to maintain as you can simply wipe them with a damp cloth once they’ve cooled. They’re perfect for Panini sandwiches and regular grilled cheese, hotdogs, even stuffed French toasts, pocket sandwiches and eggs. The only downside is the construction of the handle, as it feels a little flimsy. However, considering the price, it’s definitely not a dealbreaker.

The Hamilton Beach Panini Press Grill is the ultimate Panini maker – with two non-stick press grids that heat and brown the sandwich evenly, the griller creates perfectly warm and crisp results every time. Whether you’re making paninis, grilled cheese or maybe sweet fruit turnovers, the end result will always be evenly cooked thanks to a café-style floating lid this model sports. To allow for easy cooking, the griller comes with an indicator light that lets you know when is the perfect time to cook your sandwich. You should wait for about 6 minutes before using it though, as this ensures the press is properly heated. Because the press comes with a top lid lock, you can also use it to make open-face sandwiches, bruschettas and other delicious snacks.

This sandwich maker may come from a lesser-known brand, but it’s just as good – if not better – than most popular compact models on the market. With an adjustable floating hinge, it can accommodate almost any size sandwich, but it’s ideal for either one larger or two small sized sandwiches. Since it opens at 180 degrees, you can also use it for grilling veggies, meat and other foods, as well as regular sandwiches and paninis, of course. The griller has non-removable and non-stick coated grill plates so you can clean it with a damp cloth, however, being non-removable, they cannot be washed in a dishwasher.

If you’re looking for a quality compact sandwich maker, the Dash Mini Sandwich Maker is a great choice. Lightweight, portable and small, it’s perfect for small kitchen spaces and making small sandwiches, burgers, grilled sandwiches, paninis and other meals. The griller has a quality non-stick surface which provides even cooking and consistent results every time. Although not removable, the plates are easy to clean as all you have to do is wipe them with a damp cloth after each use once they’re cooled. There is no timer or off button, but the toaster is still super easy to use.

Looking for the best waffle maker? Rome Old Fashioned Waffle Iron has no competition. This cast iron, large waffle maker makes big, delicious waffles in the traditional round shape. It’s sturdy and durable, guaranteed to last for years even with daily usage, which, considering its reasonable price, makes it quite a bargain. The Rome waffle iron consists of two iron sides that are connected using the company’s popular hinge system for easy use and cleanup. It works on gas stoves, electric stoves and 2-burner camp stoves and barbeque grills, so it’s ideal for both home use and travel/camping. The only minus is a rather short handle which gets hot pretty fast. Thankfully, you can avoid getting burned by using gloves when handling it.

A simple electric sandwich maker, Proctor Silex 4 Servings Panini Press is a great choice if you often cook for the whole family. With a café-style floating hinged lid, the press allows for great grilling variety – from simple meat and cheese sandwiches and paninis, to burgers, steaks, vegetables and fruits, this press can take pretty much whatever you throw in it. The press is easy to keep clean as fat from cooking drips away from foods and into the dip tray that is dishwasher safe. On the downside, the plates are not removable and therefore cannot be washed in a dishwasher, but at least they’re easy to clean with a damp cloth. To make matters as simple and easy as possible, there is an indicator light that lets you know when the press is ready to be used. However, there is no on/off button or audible beep when the sandwich is done.