Sandwich maker or toasterThanks to small household appliances, cooking delicious breakfasts and snacks has ceased to take up much time and hassle. Many people know that there are various toasters and sandwiches on sale. But here is what their main difference is and what is better - not everyone can answer these questions. Here we will consider the features of each type of device, the pros and cons, as well as provide expert advice on which devices should be preferred.

What is a sandwich maker and a toaster?

Both the toaster and the sandwich maker are small electrical appliances for making sandwiches. However, their design and principle are somewhat different. Accordingly, sandwiches are different. We will analyze in more detail the principle of operation of each device.

Toaster

The name of the device comes from lat. Tostum, which means toasted. Visually, this is a small-sized device with holes for slices of bread. The housing may be metal or plastic. The size of the toaster and the number of holes depend on the specific model. But most often there are devices with 2 compartments.

There are heating elements inside the toaster. Slices of bread are stacked in compartments and, after activation of the device, are subjected to soft dry frying. Most models have settings (in the form of a rotary toggle switch or slider), allowing you to set the desired degree of mildew. There are models with fully automatic modes, where it is enough to press a couple of buttons.

After a certain time (usually only a few minutes), the toaster “throws out” ready-made hot, rosy, crisp bread on its own. The user can only put on the slices the desired ingredient (ham, cheese, jam, honey) and enjoy the excellent taste.

There are some very important rules on how to use the toaster:

  1. Do not allow napkins, towels to get on the working device: they can catch fire.
  2. No moisture should enter the compartments.
  3. It is forbidden to put in the toaster any bakery products with filling, buttered, coated with glaze.
  4. After making toasts, it is recommended to clean the device of crumbs, but you need to do this by unplugging it from the network. Most models have a drawer that collects crumbs.
  5. Keep the device away from children.

Sandwich maker

A sandwich maker (aka a sandwich maker) looks like a small suitcase. It consists of two thermally insulated panels interconnected by a folding mechanism.

Depending on the model, the sandwich maker can be of different sizes and contain in the set several different forms for making sandwiches, toasts, waffles, grills. There are simpler instances without removable forms. Quality devices have non-stick forms, so nothing sticks to them and it’s easy to care for them. Sandwich case can be made of plastic or metal.

The principle of operation of the electric sandwich maker is simple: slices of bread, rolls or wafer dough are laid in the molds, the lid is closed and the appropriate settings are selected.

Models are fully automated or semi-automatic. When preparing sandwiches in such a device, it is also possible, as in the toaster, to choose the degree of roasting of the bread crust. If desired, it is permissible to add oil to the surface of the molds.

What is the difference

Despite the fact that in both devices you can cook hot sandwiches, there are still many differences between them. Consider the main ones:

  1. The devices have a different design: the toaster has heating elements, between which slices of bread are inserted; the sandwich maker consists of two plates with a locking mechanism.
  2. The toaster is intended for cooking only one type of product - toasted bread.
  3. In a sandwich maker you can make sandwiches with toppings, the same toasts, waffles, vegetables and even fry meat.
  4. In a toaster there are usually only 2 compartments for slices of bread, in a sandwich maker - most often 4 or even 6.
  5. In a sandwich maker you can heat up a ready-made sandwich or other products.
  6. You cannot use butter in a toaster, you can in a sandwich maker.

Features, pros and cons of appliances

Each type of kitchen device has its own advantages, disadvantages and features that you need to familiarize yourself with in order to make the right choice.

Features of toasters

The cooking speed of the bread will depend on the power of the spirals installed in the toaster chamber. As additions in the device there can be: a lattice for heating bakery products, a pallet, automatic centering of slices, an option of defrosting.

A fully automatic type of toaster is much more convenient in operation than semi-automatic or manual. The body material made of stainless steel or aluminum is more reliable. Although if you rarely use the device, you can choose plastic models. Usually their price is lower.

All models of toasters have a spring mechanism that pushes out toasted finished toasted bread slices.

Pros:

  1. Easy to use.
  2. Affordable price.
  3. An opportunity to receive hot toasted bread rolls every day.
  4. Easy care.
  5. Does not take up much space in the kitchen.

Minuses:

  1. Allows you to make only one kind of toast.
  2. You can not brown sandwiches with filling.
  3. The thickness of the slices must be a certain size.
  4. For a large family, a toaster with only two compartments may seem uncomfortable, because you can’t cook any sandwiches at once for everyone. Finding a model with a large number of holes can be difficult.

Sandwich Maker Features

On average, sandwiches are designed to cook 4 sandwiches at once. This versatile and multi-functional device can please many products: a wide variety of sandwiches with and without filling, Viennese waffles, omelettes and baked vegetables, sweet puffs, fried pieces of meat, fish or chicken, hamburgers. To easily prepare all these culinary delights, you should choose a sandwich maker with a set of forms. In fact, such a device is a mini-grill and takes on most of its functions.

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When choosing a model, it is important to pay attention to high-quality thermal insulation of the case, the presence of light indicators, automatic shutdown, the number of settings, sash latches, temperature and power.

There are sandwiches with mechanical and electronic control. The case material is preferable to choose metal or from high-quality heat-resistant plastic.

Pros:

  1. Large set of options.
  2. Reasonable prices.
  3. Easy to operate.
  4. Large selection of models.
  5. There are many sandwiches with a set of different shapes, which further expands the functionality.
  6. You can cook sandwiches and snacks for several people at once.
  7. Replaces several devices at once.

Minuses:

  1. Not found.

Sandwiches are so versatile that it is difficult to detect any flaws in them. This is actually a very useful multifunctional device.

What is a sandwich toaster

Many have heard the name "sandwich toaster." In fact, this is the same sandwich maker or sandwich maker described above. The entire name is synonymous with the same device.

Between themselves devices can differ only in a set of options and additional forms. Even the simplest sandwich maker is designed to make toasts and sandwiches with fillings.

sandwich maker

Which is better to choose

Despite the fact that the devices are significantly different, it cannot be said that one is better than the other. It all depends on the needs of a particular user or family.If a person wants to have simply toasted bread for breakfast, then a toaster will be quite enough for him. For those who want variety, a sandwich maker would be the best choice.

Performance should also be taken into account: in a sandwich maker, it turns out to cook several servings of snacks at once.

Our experts share recommendations on what to look for when choosing a device.

Choosing a Toaster

  1. Volume. Classic models have two compartments for bread, but you can find devices with 4 compartments and even professional ones with 6 or 8. The more people in the family, the more voluminous the toaster should be.
  2. Power. The optimal power of a household toaster is considered to be parameters from 600 to 1200 watts.
  3. Thermostat Modes Roasting levels allow you to get bread with varying degrees of drying. Usually in modern models there are from 5 to 10 modes. The more of them, the easier it will be to pick up the roast to suit your individual taste.
  4. Timer. A very convenient option for automatic shutdown and alert on readiness.
  5. Additions. A removable crumb tray and a grill for heating buns are what expand the functions of the toaster and make it more useful.

Also, when buying, you should pay attention to the quality of the case, anti-slip legs, cord length, warranty period.

Sandwich Maker Choice

  1. Volume. Standard sandwiches allow you to cook 4 servings at once, but for a large family you can find a model with 6 servings.
  2. The presence of additional forms. The more of them, the more diverse will be various snacks and dishes.
  3. Power. The average parameters are 700-1200 watts.
  4. Body. If it is plastic, then it must be durable. It is advisable not to choose white color, as it turns yellow over time.
  5. Thermal insulation. The high-quality model has special heat-insulating material on the handles.
  6. Timer. Automatically turns off the device after the program ends.
  7. Locking mechanism. The sandwich maker has two panels, and during cooking they slam shut. The lock fixes the cover, pressing it to the desired position.

Two devices - a sandwich maker and a toaster can partially replace each other and supplement. Some people prefer to have both devices in their kitchen, which is also a good solution, if finances and free space allow.