Grills and Sandwich Makers Buyers Guide

Information on Grills and How To Buy the Best Grills and Sandwich Makers.

Indoor grills are a great way to quickly and healthily cook many types of food such as meats, vegetables and sandwiches. They are also very useful for smaller households or students who do not have the space for full cooking facilities. Users who make toasted sandwiches on a regular basis might want to buy a dedicated sandwich maker.

Grills and Sandwich Makers Guide - Table of Contents

• 1 Grills and Sandwich Makers Product Types
  • 1.1 Indoor Grills
  • 1.2 Sandwich Makers
  • 1.3 Panini Press
• 2 Grills and Sandwich Makers Product Advice
• 3 Grills and Sandwich Makers Buying Tips
• 4 Popular Grills and Sandwich Makers Brands

Indoor Grills

Most grills have a ribbed grill plate on both the top and the bottom as the hinged lid also acts as a grill, and these are known as contact grills. In some models the food can either be cooked with the lid pressing the food down for cooking more quickly or open as a griddle for a double cooking surface. Some have sloping grill plates allowing the excess fat from food such as sausages to drain away into drip trays, so these types of indoor grill are a healthier option than frying.

There are also indoor grills which are called open grills. They only grill from the bottom and have a cover, usually made of glass. The advantage is that the moisture in the food is preserved however these types of grills are less common as most indoor grills have grill plates on the top for faster and more efficient grilling.

Most grills feature a light which indicates when they are ready to use .

Indoor grills are very versatile as they are also suitable for making toasted sandwiches

Sandwich Makers

These are similar to indoor grills but are especially designed for toasting sandwiches and they are available in either 2 round or 4 round sizes. They have grill plates in a 'shell' design which cut the crusts off the sandwiches and seal in the contents. Some sandwich makers are also suitable for thicker types of bread such as panini.

Panini Press

They are similar to a sandwich toaster but are especially designed for panini and ciabatta bread as they can hold much thicker widths of bread due to the floating hinged lid. They are available in 2 panini or 4 panini sizes. Many sandwich makers are also suitable for paninis.

The main criteria for choosing an indoor grill or sandwich maker are:

Size

Size Info

A larger grill or sandwich maker might be more suitable for a larger household but remember that it does take up more space. Sizes can range from models suitable for cooking for one or two people up to ten people for entertaining.

Features

Features Info

Some models offer additional features but only choose these if you are really going to use them as the higher featured models are usually more expensive:

Indoor Grills

Indoor Grills Info

• Variable temperatures
• Timer
• A sear function for a short burst of heat to brown the meat and bring out the flavour
• Adjustable floating hinge to accommodate thick steaks etc.
• Grill and melt feature where the top plates lock open for elevated grilling - this is suitable for grilling foods such as cheese on toast.
• Some models have both flat and ribbed plates for grilling different types of food.
• Rapid heat feature for a shorter warm-up time
• Cool touch handle

Sandwich Makers

Sandwich Makers Info

• Adjustable floating hinge for paninis and other types of thicker bread.
• Handles with a locking clip
• Some can easily stand vertically to save space
• Rapid heat feature for a shorter warm-up time
• Cool touch handle

Cleaning

Cleaning Info

Many indoor grills and sandwich makers have a non-stick coating for easy cleaning. Some have removable grill plates which are suitable for dishwasher use. It is worth also checking if the plates are scratch resistant.