Best sandwich makers in Australia

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How did we pick this list?

For this list, we picked sandwich makers based on actual customer reviews and ratings on Amazon, Harvey Norman and Myer. We also considered key product features. For every category, we carefully chose parameters based on our research and determined products with the highest review score within those parameters.

Read more detail on our methodology below.

Breville The Big One Sandwich Maker

Best overall sandwich maker

• Easy to clean

Cons

• Not suitable for big families
• Some users said it doesn't securely seal toasties

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For the best overall sandwich maker, we picked Breville's The Big One Sandwich Maker. On Harvey Norman, it has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Breville's The Big One Sandwich Maker features cast iron, non-stick pockets that are deep for bigger toasties. It has an upright design and an integrated cord wrap for easy storage. Additionally, it has a cool-touch plastic housing with high-quality die-cast aluminium cooking plates for durability.

Synonymous with toasties, Breville has won the highest marks when it comes to durability, performance and ease of cleaning, earning the brand the title of the best-rated sandwich maker at the Finder Retails Awards. The Big One Sandwich Maker boasts excellent value for money, top-quality build and user-friendliness. It makes 2 big toasties in minutes, thanks to its deep pockets. The upright design is also ideal for those with smaller kitchens. Several customers said it doesn't fully seal their toasties, resulting in spilled fillings. However, this seems to be a minor issue.

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• Compact design

Cons

• Pockets aren't deep enough for some customers
• Makes smaller toasties compared to other models

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With a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars on Amazon, we recommend the Lumme Sandwich Maker as the best cheap option.

Lumme's Sandwich Maker has non-stick plates that can toast up to 4 triangular sandwiches for you and your loved ones. It has 750 watts and enables double-sided baking for a quicker cooking time. Its body is also made of high-quality plastic materials and features insulated handles and anti-skid feet. According to the brand, this can be used to cook waffles and omelettes as well.

Customers gave positive feedback on the appliance's ease of use, compact design and affordability. It has a durable body that doesn't get overheated for a secure toasting experience. Additionally, it makes evenly cooked toasties in less than five minutes. One major con for some buyers is its shallow pockets – one critic said these don't allow for generous fillings without any spillage.

Cuisinart Sandwich Maker

Best sandwich maker for small kitchens

• Fast heat up for quicker cooking

Cons

• Several customers found the plates too big for some bread types
• Expensive

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For small kitchens, we chose Cuisinart's Sandwich Maker as the best one available online. It has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from over 300 Amazon reviews.

This Cuisinart sandwich maker features extra-large plates with deep pockets, so you can make toasties with tons of filling. It has a variable temperature control to ensure the sandwiches are perfectly browned each time. Apart from being compact, its plates are removable and dishwasher safe. It comes with a 5-year warranty as well.

Hundreds of reviews praised the product's ease of use, durability, performance and compact size. The build feels and looks luxurious, adding a stylish touch to any kitchen. The non-stick plates are also large enough to make huge toasties to fill any appetite. However, several customers found that these are too large to fit some bread types, which results in unsecured edges with spilled fillings.

Sunbeam Big Fill Toasties for 4

Best sandwich maker for families

• Quick heat up

Cons

• Difficult to clean
• Not suitable for small kitchens

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Our pick for the best sandwich maker for families is the Sunbeam Big Fill Toasties for 4. It has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Myer.

Sunbeam's Big Fill Toasties for 4 features extra deep and large plates that can fill up to 50% extra filling, compared to the brand's other sandwich makers. It has a Cut & Seal design to cut sandwiches into triangles and seal the edges for one-handed eating. Additionally, it has a cool-touch handle and a ready-to-cook indicator for ease of use.

At just $84.95, this sandwich maker is a reasonably priced option for the entire family. Its large, deep plates can make evenly browned toasties that are sealed to prevent any spillage. Most customers said it is user-friendly and suitable for making short desserts like hand pies and puffs. But despite having an upright design, it is still bigger than other options in the market. Several others also said the plates are difficult to clean because they aren't removable.

Russell Hobbs Sandwich Press

Best flat sandwich press

• Large capacity

Cons

• Doesn't create a secure seal to prevent spillage according to some
• No drip tray to catch grease or excess fillings

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Russell Hobbs' Sandwich Press is our choice if you're looking for the best sandwich press available right now in Australia. It has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon.

Russell Hobbs' Sandwich Press is designed for easy toasting, featuring non-stick flat plates that accommodate up to 4 sandwiches. It has a floating hinge so you can toast any bread – from paninis to traditional cheese toasties. Additionally, it has a lid lock for secured upright storage and temperature indicator lights for ease of use.

Customers gave positive feedback on the appliance's value for money, performance and large capacity. It is durable and quite compact, suitable even for smaller kitchens. The floating hinge also caters to various sandwich types and food items. One customer even mentioned that it cooks bacon to perfection. However, it doesn't have a drip tray, which makes it difficult to create generously filled toasties without any mess.

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• Has a drain tray, allowing fat and oil to drip away from your food

Cons

• Flimsy temperature knob control
• Several customers found it too bulky for their liking

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For the best grill sandwich press, we recommend Sunbeam's Cafe Contact Grill & Sandwich Maker. It has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Myer

This Sunbeam grill sandwich press has the best of both worlds – the advantages of a BBQ grill and the benefits of a sandwich press. It has a ribbed top plate that creates grill marks and a flat bottom plate suited for sandwiches and veggies. Its BBQ grilling plate also has a sloped design so that fat and excess oil drip into its tray, making your meal healthier.

Featuring non-stick Teflon Platinum Pro plates, this indoor grill sandwich press is a versatile and easy-to-use addition to any kitchen. It has a large capacity that can create up to 4 toasties in minutes. Customers loved that the Sunbeam Cafe Contact Grill & Sandwich Maker is also suitable for grilling veggies and meat to perfection. It is easy to clean as well. However, some of its components are made of plastic. One buyer said the temperature control knob on their press broke after just a few months.

Tefal Snack Collection Multi-Function Sandwich and Snack Maker

Best multi-use sandwich press

• Compact design

Cons

• Different plate sets are sold separately
• Not cheap

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With a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon, we chose the Tefal Snack Collection Multi-Function Sandwich and Snack Maker as the best multi-use option.

This sandwich and snack maker from Tefal features removable, interchangeable plates for creating various snacks for any taste buds. This appliance has an upright design, cord storage and locking latch for storage. It also features a light indicator for easy toasting. The package comes with 2 plates with recipes—one for creating triangular toasties and another for waffles. However, you can buy one of the 12 additional plate sets that the brand offers for making different snacks.

This multi-function appliance has a simple operation, durable build and removable plates that are dishwasher safe. Most buyers said it heats up quickly and creates evenly toasted sandwiches and waffles in no time. The included recipes are also simple, resulting in tasty snacks for the whole family. Some users wish it came with additional plate sets for added options, but this seems to be a minor concern.

Methodology

Why you can trust our picks

We considered the following brands of sandwich makers:

• Aerolette
• Belaco
• Black + Decker
• Breville
• Croquade
• Cuisinart
• Davis & Waddell
• De'Longhi
• George Foreman
• Hamilton Beach
• Hanchen
• J-Jati
• Lumme

• Maxim
• Morphy Richards
• Ninja
• Norpro
• Russell Hobbs
• Salter
• Sunbeam
• Tefal
• Tiffany
• Yakime

For this list, we carefully picked products with the highest customer ratings on Amazon, Harvey Norman and Myer. We ended up with a total of 86 sandwich makers to compare.

We then researched each product and its features. We also considered ratings and customer reviews on Amazon, Harvey Norman and Myer (as of October 2021). We came up with what we believe are the 7 best sandwich makers available in Australia right now.

Frequently asked questions

How do you clean a sandwich maker?

Unplug your sandwich maker and let it cool down. Remove the plates and clean them using dishwashing soap and water. Gently scrape caked-on food particles using a plastic spatula. Rinse the plates with clean water and let them air dry. You can also clean them using a dishwasher if they are dishwasher-safe. Wipe the sandwich maker's surface using a cloth dampened with soapy water. Use another dry, clean cloth to remove the excess moisture and let all components dry before reassembly.

What is the difference between a toaster and a sandwich maker?

You can use a sandwich maker to create waffles. Simply create a waffle batter. Then heat up your sandwich maker. When it reaches cooking temperature, pour a bit of cooking oil or brush the plates with melted butter. Pour a scoop of the waffle batter and let it spread before adding another scoop and putting the lid down. Make sure the waffles have stopped steaming before lifting the lid.

There are a few different types of sandwich makers available, including toasted sandwich makers, panini presses and grills.

• Toasted sandwich makers. These appliances are designed for conventionally shaped slices of bread. They can keep all your ingredients in the bread and minimise mess, but they don't work well with different types of bread (e.g. baguettes) or super-sized sandwiches.
• Sandwich and panini presses. Designed to handle bread in a variety of shapes and sizes, sandwich presses allow you to cook larger sandwiches between 2 non-stick grilling surfaces. They're practical for cooking a wide range of bread-based treats, but because they don't seal off your sandwich, the cooking process may be a little messier.
• Multi-use grills. Some sandwich presses are also designed to handle a variety of other kitchen tasks, such as grilling meat and veggies or making waffles.

How to compare sandwich makers

To ensure you choose the best sandwich maker for your needs, you'll need to consider the type of toasted sandwiches you want to make and how much money you're willing to spend.

For example, if you just want to make simple grilled cheese toasties, a cheap, entry-level machine will offer what you need. But if you plan on crafting a wide range of sweet and savoury toasted delights for your family, you might need something more advanced.

Price

You can pick up a basic sandwich maker for less than $20. Most models will cost anywhere between $20 and $100. As you'd expect, 4-slice models cost more than those that can only handle 2 slices. Multi-use grills that are capable of cooking meat, vegetables, waffles and pancakes typically cost $100 or more.

Size

Sandwich makers can typically make 1, 2 or 4 sandwiches at the same time. Larger models can usually handle more bread types and shapes, such as focaccias or baguettes. However, don't forget to consider the amount of kitchen benchtop space your sandwich maker will take up.

Ease of cleaning

Sandwich makers typically feature a non-stick coating to ensure easy cleaning, while some models come with removable, dishwasher-friendly plates. If choosing a sandwich press, consider whether it has flat or ribbed grill plates and whether this will affect how simple it is to clean.

Storage

Consider how much space you have in your kitchen cupboards to store your sandwich maker. Is cord storage integrated into the base of the appliance? Can you lock your sandwich toaster shut so that it can be stored vertically if needed?

Height settings

Many models will allow you to adjust the height of the top plate and lock it in at varying levels to suit the size of the sandwich you're making. However, this may not be available on entry-level appliances.

Pockets

If you're choosing a sandwich maker that seals off the edges of your bread and slices it into triangles, check whether the pockets in the machine are deep enough to hold all the fillings you plan on stuffing into your sandwiches.

Temperature indicator

Most sandwich makers include indicator lights to let you know when they're turned on and when they've heated to optimum temperature. Some more advanced models feature adjustable temperature controls to allow you to cook sandwiches and other foods exactly how you want.

Timer

If you're the type of toastie maker who can't stand waiting for their gourmet creation to be ready, some models come with a countdown timer.

Warranty

Most products come with a warranty of 1 or 2 years, but it's worth checking the fine print to find out how long the warranty runs for and exactly what it covers.

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