Toasted sandwich maker or panini press

[Mendeleyev]

Which shall I buy? Old traditional very cheap toastie maker is in on its last legs so I need to replace. It gets used a couple of times a month by me and the teenagers. Just wonder if the press might be more useful for different things. But then will it be crap for toasties?

I use my George foreman grill. It's multi talented.

Panini press DEFINITELY!
So easy to wipe clean, can use it for so many things: panini, grilled halloumi, drop scones, toasties, even cooking bacon.

George foreman!

George Foreman, is great for toasted sandwiches. Way better than a sandwich toaster IMHO.

Any other vote for George foreman grill here.

I have this combined panini, waffle and toastie maker and it's bloody marvellous!

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Been going strong for nearly 3 years, heats up quickly, easy to clean and really good for all three functions.

I have this exact one but you can get cheaper versions on Amazon.

TBH neither. I'd just use a cast iron pan to make toasties.

Pannini press definitely- you can use it to make toasted sandwiches but lots more too!

Toastie maker with removable plates - then you can make toasties and waffles 😋

We have a combined panini press and toastie maker - it’s in very regular use here

Do you like toasties or paninis better? For myself, I have never in my life thought: if only this sandwich was squashed flat with grill lines across it, like some kind of gluten roadkill. I’ll eat a panini but I’d choose a toastie every time!

That 3 in 1 looks interesting @MintyCedric. I’ve fancied a waffle maker but have nowhere to store it so that may be a purchase!

I use both but definitely prefer the end product of the humble £7 value sandwich maker to my post panini maker

We use small george forman great for toasted sandwiches prob would do panini as well i guess never tried

@Flaxmeadow I want the kids to be able to use it too so something easy is essential. I thought about a panini press as I make my own bread and it doesn’t fit well into the toastie maker

You don't get that crispy, pressed together edge thing that you get with a traditional sandwich toaster, but you can make perfectly good toasties in a frying pan.

I prefer my panini maker. I don't like the hard bits you get with a toasty maker.

Haha @notanotherlockdownsurely the one I want to replace was about a fiver from Asda 15 years ago. Hence wondering if it’s worth getting something else.

@FudgeSundae I think the draw of paninis is that I only usually have them when I’m out and so 1) I haven’t had to make it myself and 2) they usually have interesting fillings. Whereas the toastie at home is more “shit, what can I eat oh there’s some slightly dodgy ham and leftover cheese.

I've got one of the 3-in-1 machines. It's great.

I’ve got a small George Forman grill. I use it for toasties either made with sliced bread or flat bread, and paninis.

I also use the grill for bacon, steak ect and to grill mushrooms and things like peppers and onions.

I have a similar one to @MintyCedric.
I love ours as I pop out the plates and it goes in the dishwasher.

Mine is slightly heavy duty, similar to George Forman.

The reality it we rarely change the plates. Toasted sandwiches do just fine on panini plates. Being able to cook burgers, sausages, chicken and veg is useful too.

@CrazyDuchess

George foreman!

This.

Great toasted sandwiches and also good for cooking chops etc. Win, win.

Mine's a Salter one. It feelsvery solid, and much easier to clean as you can put the plates in the dishwasher.

Well much as I love our George Foreman grill, there's nothing quite like getting third degree burns from a toastie made in a toastie maker, which you ram in your mouth even though you KNOW you are going to burn yourself.