Best sandwich toaster 2024: Make perfect toasties with ease

Sandwich toasters became a big hit back in the 1980s, although the original models weren’t quite perfect, being difficult to clean and not reliably keeping your sandwich’s filling inside. The good news is that today, the best sandwich makers are a different breed. These easy-to-use and easy-to-clean machines should see you through years of toastie-making bliss without any fuss, with most models boasting easily wiped down non-stick plates and clever designs that allow them to make perfect, deep-fill sandwiches.

Even better, many modern sandwich toasters are highly versatile, doubling up as grills, waffle makers and more. But with a few rogue appliances still sitting on the high-street shelves, how do you know which sandwich toaster to buy? And what’s the difference between all the good ones?

If you need answers to those questions, our handy buying guide will help you make the best purchase for your needs. Below that, you’ll find our tried and tested round-up, featuring the best machines we’ve tried. So, whatever kind of sarnie is your go-to, you’ll be able to toast it to perfection with one of the sandwich makers from our list below.

Best sandwich toaster: At a glance

How to choose the best sandwich toaster for you

What should I consider before buying my sandwich toaster?

How many sandwiches do you want to be able to make in one go? Do you mind what size they are? Do you want the sandwiches to be decadently deep-filled or are you happy with thinner ones? Some sandwich makers allow for much larger slices of bread than others, and indeed thicker breads such as sourdough or ciabatta.

Are you always in a hurry and would therefore prefer one that heats up extra quickly? Do you want it to be more than a sandwich maker – a grill, perhaps, or even to make pancakes and pies? How much space do you have to store your appliance? If you’re happy to make simple square toasties, then one of the more basic options on our list will suit your needs perfectly. If you like the sound of being able to make deep-fill sandwiches, waffles and more, then one of our more versatile toastie makers will be the one for you.

What features should my sandwich toaster have?

Whatever type you go for, there are a few essentials to tick off. All sandwich toasters should seal the sandwich well. The non-stick surface should be efficient, and there should be even browning across the sandwich.

Some of the best sandwich toasters have interchangeable plates so you can make a variety of delicious treats with just one machine. These could be cake pop plates, waffle plates or flat plates for paninis and pancakes.

How easy are they to clean?

Nobody wants to get their sandwich maker out of the cupboard only to have to scrape bits of crusty old cheese off the edges. Make sure you can wipe it clean or find plates that are removable and dishwasher-friendly.

How much do I need to spend?

Don’t assume you get what you pay for, as some of the models we tested for under £20 were superior to ones we tested at three times the price (which, of course, didn’t make this roundup). That’s not to say all toastie makers at the cheaper end of the scale are worth buying, though, so do your research before making your purchase. At the top end, sandwich makers can go for over £100, and can be worth plumping for if you’re lookign for a versatile machine that will be robust enough to last for many years.

READ NEXT: The best kitchen gadgets to buy

The best sandwich toasters to buy in 2024

1. Breville Sandwich/Panini Press and Toastie Maker (VST025): The best value sandwich toaster

Price when reviewed: £30 | Check price at Amazon

This stainless steel toastie maker from Breville looks far more expensive than its budget-friendly price point. It’s highly versatile, with the ability to handle breads of different thickness; if you’ve ever had a student sandwich maker that can only take pre-sliced supermarket bread, you’ll rejoice at this machine’s ability to toast ciabattas, paninis, crumpets and even tea cakes.

The non-stick aluminium plates make cleaning simple and mean you won’t waste time scraping crusty cheese off the machine – a no-go if you’re investing in a sandwich toaster for fuss-free WFH lunches. If you’re short on space, a locking mechanism on the toastie maker means it can be stored upright, nicely finished off with cord storage. Our only small gripe is the lack of on/off switch: you have to turn it on by plugging it into the socket, which can feel a tad rudimentary. Nevertheless, this is a deceptively capable sandwich maker at a very palatable price.

Key specs – Model number: ‎VST025; Dimensions: ‎11.6 x 14.4 x 5.2 cm; Plates removable? No; Warranty: Not stated

2. Breville Deep Fill Toastie Maker (VST091): The best standard sandwich toaster

Price when reviewed: £30 | Check price at Amazon

If you’re looking for a two-portion sandwich toaster that balances features and price, this is it. Breville’s deep-fill toastie maker is both affordable and super simple to use. There isn’t even an on or off switch: simply plug it in and wait for the light to indicate it’s hot. Not only do the non-stick plates cut your toastie in half (most of the time), but they’re also fully removable and dishwasher-safe. There’s no option to set time or temperature, but at this price that’s to be expected.

Making toasties in this sandwich maker is incredibly easy, and step-by-step instructions are provided to ensure you don’t overfill or burn your sandwich. As long as you’re careful, you shouldn’t have issues with leaking or tearing. Our only qualm is that its deep-fill credentials might be pushing it a bit, depending on your own idea of deep. While you can fit two slices of cheese and a couple of cherry tomatoes onto the bread without leakage, the plates aren’t the deepest we’ve seen. If you’re looking to make a panini or use thicker bread, you’re better off with a more expensive machine such as the Cuisinart on this list. As far as budget toastie makers go, though, this is the best we’ve found.

Key specs – Model number: VST091; Dimensions: 24 x 9.6 x 23.5cm; Plates removable? Yes; Warranty: Not stated

3. Cuisinart Deep Stuff Sandwich Maker: The best toastie maker under £100

Price when reviewed: £78 | Check price at AmazonWhile it may be a little more expensive than your average toastie maker, this option from Cuisinart is well worth picking up if you’re serious about your sandwiches. The removable non-stick plates feel solid and are deep enough to accommodate even thicker breads such as focaccia and farmhouse loaves, while a cut-and-seal system means you always get two neat triangles.

Browning can be controlled thanks to the adjustable temperature feature and a green light indicates when the plates are hot enough to use. Better still, you can bung the plates in the dishwasher afterwards, so there’s no messy cleaning up to deal with. One issue we found was that because the plates are so deep, when using thinner bread fillings had a tendency to leak out.

Read our full Cuisinart Deep Stuff Sandwich Maker review

Key specs – Model number: GRSM1U; Dimensions: 28 x 24 x 11cm (WDH); Plates removable? Yes; Warranty: 1 year

4. Breville VST057 2 Portion Sandwich Toaster: The best budget toastie maker

Price when reviewed: £17 | Check price at ArgosIf you want a no-nonsense sandwich toaster that simply makes good toasties, then this budget offering from Breville is definitely one for your shopping list. The toaster doesn’t have the largest plates, so it struggles to accommodate big bread slice, but what it does offer is an excellent seal, even if those larger slices are cut off a little.

It produces a nice even toast, especially for the first toastie, though we found it struggles to keep up with consecutive sandwiches, so if you’re making multiple toasties, you will need to wait a bit between each one for the plates to reheat. It’s easy to tell when it’s ready though, as the indicators on the top of the sandwich toaster light up when it gets to temperature. If you like to make the occasional sandwich for one or two, then this neat little toaster is a great model to get started with.

Key specs – Model number: VST057; Dimensions: 25 x 20 x 10 cm; Removable plates: No; Warranty: 1 year

5. Cookworks 4 Portion Sandwich Toaster: The best toastie maker for families

Price when reviewed: £25 | Check price at Argos

If you have a lot of mouths to feed, this sandiwch toaster from Cookworks will do you proud, producing four sandwiches at a time – although it’s better for families than, say, shared student houses, as the sarnies it produces aren’t all that big. This means cutting off the crusts from larger loaves, although we found the smaller pre-sliced ones are a perfect fit.

On our tick list were quick heat-up time, efficient non-stick coating, no spillage, even browning and ease of storage. Our one quibble is that the non-removable plates make clean-up a little trickier than some other options on this list, but some compromises are to be expected when picking up a quad-plate sandiwch toaster at this price.

Key specs – Model number: N/A; Dimensions: Not given; Plates removable? No; Warranty: 1 year

Check price at Argos