Sandwich Maker in the test and comparison
Tested Today at TheFruitAndFlowerBasket: Sandwich Maker. We want to find out which of the top sandwich makers from Tefal, Krups, Cloer and WMF are best for making sandwiches. Wish us a good appetite and a tasty test. Of course, you are allowed to join us in this enjoyment test and in the end you will be even smarter!
| test winner | ||||
| model | WMF LONO  | Cloer 6219  | Krups FDK 451  | Tefal SW852D  |
| Shape of the plates | triangle | shell shape | triangle | triangle |
| size | 30 x 27.5 x 11.5 cm | 23.2 x 21.5 x 8.2 cm | 29.5 x 31.6 x 15.5 cm | 31.6 x 28 x 20.3 cm |
| power | 800W | 900W | 850 W | 700 W |
| housing material | Cromargan | Silver painted plastic housing | plastic | stainless steel |
| mass | 2.8 Kg | 1,6 Kg | 2,7 Kg | 4,6 Kg |
| Non-stick coating | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| space-saving | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Removable baking surfaces | No | No | No | Yes |
| Plates dishwasher safe | No | No | No | Yes |
| cable rewind | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Power button | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Price on Amazon | 58,38 ? | 28,32 ? | 43,99 ? | 68,89 ? |
| advantages | · High quality workmanship, scratch resistant · Integrated fan, heat-insulated housing & handle · Additional locking button · Two-color LED ready indicator · Easy cleaning | · Inexpensive · Reliable optical completion message · Heats up pretty fast · Thermally insulated handle · Easy cleaning | · Has a solid look · Thermally insulated handle · Robust heating plates · Easy cleaning | · A multifunction device, exchangeable baking plates · Elegant design, quality workmanship · Reliable, two-color indicator lights · Thermally insulated handle · Very easy to clean (dishwasher safe) |
| disadvantage | · A bit more expensive than the others · A little long preheat time | · Shaky shell · No button for switching on / off · The surfaces get really hot during the work process | · Unfortunately not satisfactory toaster result · A bit expensive for the given quality · The outer cover of the lid becomes hot + hot steam escaping when opening · Chemical smell on first unpacking and use · Shaky shell · Unstable and fragile plastic cap | · Expensive · Chemical smell on first unpacking and use · Shaky shell · Long heating and preparation time · High temperatures on the surface of the lid. Hot steam leaving. Burns! |
| sandwich quality | The sandwiches were fragrant and juicy, golden yellow and super crispy! The cheese was really nice. The hot ham tasted fantastic too. | The sandwiches were nicely evenly browned and crispy! The cooked ham was warm and the cheese melted inside. | The sandwiches have become uneven: While one edge was really crispy, the other was rubbery, and only slightly got color. On the whole, the sandwiches were not nice crispy, but partly baked laxly. | Outside, the sandwiches were evenly browned and crispy. Inside, the breads were juicy, the cheese has run nicely. |
| Available at Amazon | WMF LONO | Cloer 6219 | Krups FDK 451 | Tefal SW852D |
Content of the test report
- General information about sandwich makers
- What is a sandwich maker?
- Who invented the sandwich maker?
- How does a sandwich maker work?
- The advantages of a sandwich maker
- The disadvantages of a sandwich maker
- Which bread is best for sandwiches?
- Test recipe: ham-cheese sandwich
- Four sandwich makers in the comparison test
- Cloer Sandwich Maker 6219
- WMF LONO sandwich toaster
- Krups FDK 451 sandwich maker
- Tefal Snack Collection SW852D
- Our test result
- More tips on sandwiches / sandwich makers?
General information about sandwich makers
What is a sandwich maker?
A sandwich maker, also sandwich maker, is an electric, hinged kitchen utensil, which is responsible for the preparation of sandwiches. Unlike a regular toaster, a sandwich maker does not just toast the slices of toast, but also the added cheese, ham, and other appropriate raw ingredients.
Who invented the sandwich maker?
The first electrically powered sandwich toaster, as we know it today, was made from simple bread iron used previously in Australia and South Africa. The electric device was invented by Charles Champion before 1920 and patented in 1925. Only some time later, in 1974, did the Australian company Breville start? the mass production of the first sandwich maker.Already at that time the devices had the similar shape as well as some functions known to us, e.g. a special closure of the slices of toast at the edges, so that no melted cheese runs out. Nowadays, the sandwich device has not changed excessively, there are just a few more features and design adjustments.
How does a sandwich maker work?
A sandwich maker is very similar in function to a waffle iron. The Sandwicher differ less in the functioning, but rather in the price or in the quality. In addition, there are also 3 different variants of the sandwich maker: very simple sandwiches (with solid plates), XXL sandwich toaster (ideal for larger American toast slices) and multifunctional sandwich makers (with interchangeable plates, for example, also for baking waffles or roasting meat are suitable). Most sandwich makers divide the sandwiches into triangles, but there are also those that maintain the square shape of the slices of toast.
Often sandwich makers have non-stick baking plates. The sandwiches are prepared between two coated, heated plates relatively low in fat. The non-stick coating allows a reduced-fat food preparation because very little to no oil / fat is needed for frying. Thus, the non-stick coating causes the healthier preparation of the sandwich and easy cleaning of the heating elements. Most sandwich toasters can be closed well, so that even at the edges no cheese flows out. Each Sandwicher has one or more indicator lights, which indicate his readiness for baking and on some devices also the degree of skill of the sandwiches. Several devices have removable plates that can be cleaned in the dishwasher. With the non-removable baking plates you have to be careful: You can clean them only with a damp cloth and maybe with a little detergent!
The advantages of a sandwich maker:
- The biggest advantage of a sandwich maker: you can prepare your sandwiches within a few minutes. An average sandwich maker usually does not need a long preheat like an oven.
- The device itself is space-saving.
- A good sandwich maker does not have to be expensive.
- In addition, homemade, toasted toasts are also cheaper than ready sandwiches that offer bakeries or supermarkets. Therefore you can save money daily with your Sandwicher. And most importantly, with your own sandwich maker, you know that your sandwiches are made from fresh ingredients. They have a better taste in that they come fresh and warm directly from the baking plates and do not have to be reheated in the microwave.
The disadvantages of a sandwich maker:
- Most sandwich makers are equipped with non-stick surfaces that break faster compared to cast-iron plates. Devices with eternally functioning cast iron roasting surfaces are more in the professional segment, which is much more expensive. It also takes a little longer for the cast iron plates to heat up. But that gives you incomparable taste!
- Of course, there are both cheap and expensive devices that have very poor quality. They are difficult to clean or are not well processed. Therefore, read as much information about the product before you buy in order to distinguish a good product from a bad one in good time!
- Another noticeable disadvantage is that in some models there is a high risk of burns due to the hot housing body and upper housing cover. Unfortunately, the body parts of most sandwich makers are not thermally insulated. That's why you always have to pay attention to what you touch during operation!
- Some sandwich makers have one minus point: they are only suitable for normal sandwiches. If the discs are XXL-size, or if they are too thick, you can not press the disc edges completely together.
Which bread is best for sandwiches?
Mostly for a sandwich maker normal bread is used. The varieties are numerous: There are large XXL, medium, small slices of toast, wholegrain, rye, butter and multigrain toast. You can find all sorts of toasts in the bread shelves of almost all supermarkets. A better alternative to industrially produced toast is a fresh toast with no preservatives and flavor enhancers from a bakery. Homemade bread made with your own hands would also be a super delicious option.
If you are not yet sure which breads are suitable for your sandwich maker, you are welcome to read the forum on this topic on our site: sandwich - which type of bread?
Test recipe: ham-cheese sandwich
We have selected the same recipe for all 4 existing test devices.
Ingredients:
4 slices of toast, 2 slices of cooked ham (one slice per toast), 2 slices of cheese (Gouda o. Gruyére, 1 slice per toast), butter, pepper
Preparation:
Butter the outside of the slices of toast.We recommend that you take soft, slightly melted butter to better lubricate the toast. Cut the cheese into thin strips and place half of them between the two slices of toast. Put a slice of ham on it, season and add the rest of the cheese. Then you fold the discs together.
The toast shapes of all test equipment were cleaned with a damp paper towel prior to first use.
For all sandwich makers, we did not brush the baking plates with oil. The butter contained on the outsides of the bread slices is quite sufficient. We have disposed of the first-made sandwiches on all sandwich devices for hygienic reasons.
Four sandwich makers in the comparison test
Cloer Sandwich Maker 6219
The Cloer Sandwich Maker 6219 was kindly provided by Cloer Elektrogeräte GmbH for this test free of charge.
Properties:
Price on Amazon: 28.32? (instead of 42.99?); Power: 900 W; Shape of the plates: shell shape; Weight: 1.6 Kg; Size: about 23.2 x 21.5 x 8.2 cm
Test procedure and positive features:
The Cloer 6219 is a beautiful sandwich maker with a silver painted plastic case. He is also the cheapest candidate of all in our test. It has a simple design and is easy to operate. When first unpacking the sandwich toaster had no chemical smell. The Cloer 6219 is switched on via the mains plug and has no on / off switch. However, we find it positive that the device has a ready-made optical message. The next good criterion is its practical 2-stage closure, which can be fixed depending on the sandwich thickness.
The closure holds firmly so that the slices of toast are compressed well. The handle is thermally insulated and does not get hot. The pan edges are high, so nothing can run out. The connection cable is not too short and fits with its length exactly to our sockets, so we did not need to use an extension cable. The Cloer 6219 is non-slip on four silicone feet around which the cable can be wound up. The size of the device is optimal. It can be stored properly space-saving - standing on the handles -!
The sandwich maker heats up pretty quickly and takes about 2:40 minutes for that. When heating up, a slight smell was created, but disappeared immediately after the first baking. When the red indicator went out, the device was ready to use. Unfortunately, he is the only sandwich maker in our test that is not suitable for XXL sandwiches. That's why we used standard toast bread for this device. When the sandwich maker had heated up, we put the sandwiches on the lower baking plate and closed the lid. The locking mechanism worked well, and the wide handle could even be pushed down completely with one hand. The red indicator light came on shortly after closing. As soon as it went out, the toast was ready. The baking process took 1 minute 32 seconds, not even 2 minutes. During the baking process you should avoid touching the body parts, so you do not burn your fingers. If you want to take out your breads, please only touch the handle!
To the sandwiches:
The sandwiches were nicely evenly browned and crispy! In the middle they were almost divided so that we no longer had to halve them with the knife, but could easily break off easily. The cooked ham was warm and the cheese melted inside. Just great delicious sandwiches!
Cleaning:
The most important thing is not to forget before cleaning, to pull the plug out of the socket! We did not wait for the unit to cool down and cleaned the still lukewarm sandwich maker. Thanks to the internal hinge, cleaning was quick and easy. The non-stick coating has also allowed us a pleasant cleaning: Hardly anything stuck. There were a few bread crumbs and reasonably few burnt cheese rinds. The leftovers could be easily removed with a damp kitchen towel. The worktop was just as clean as before. Only a few drops of condensed water came out.
Criticism:
The Cloer 6219 worked perfectly on our first test. He still has some shortcomings:
- There is no button to turn on / off. For every little break, the plug must be pulled. Of course, you can alternatively buy a plug with switch to solve this problem.
- Another point deduction has the device for its shaky shell get. Unfortunately, the lid wobbles back and forth and is not 100% solid.
- As the sandwich maker's surfaces get hot during the work process, the device is quite dangerous for children's hands.
WMF LONO sandwich toaster
The WMF LONO sandwich toaster was kindly provided by WMF consumer electric GmbH for testing.
Properties:
Price on Amazon: 58.38? (instead of 79.99?); Power: 800 W; Shape of the plates: triangle; Weight: 2.8 Kg; Size: about 30 x 27.5 x 11.5 cm
Test procedure and positive features:
Again, we have received a high quality device from WMF.The WMF LONO Sandwich Toaster is a really nice Sanwichmaker with a real Cromargan case. The typical WMF stainless steel alloy, Cromargan, stays rust-free longer and is exceptionally robust. In conjunction with silver exterior color makes the device a great impression. It is very stable and practical! In addition, this is the only sandwich maker in our test, whose lid does not wobble. The? LONO? is a bit more expensive compared to its previous competitor, but the price does not have to scare you off. This sandwich maker is worth it!
The sandwich maker is super easy to use, compact and handy. There was no noticeable smell when first unpacking the device. The WMF sandwich maker? LONO? Provides a flexible, two-stage height adjustment of the handle lock. This allows you a lot of latitude in choosing the thickness of your sandwich creation. Unlike the Cloer Sandwicher, the WMF sandwich toaster has an on / off switch. Its edges can be closed well and thoroughly, so that no melting ingredients run out during baking.
Just like the WMF waffle iron we tested earlier, the Sandwichmaker's Cromargan case is protected from overheating temperatures due to its built-in fan. Therefore, there is no risk of burns from external heating of the outer shell for small and large. Also in the? LONO? -Sandwichtoaster heard turning the fan, which decreases the excessive condensation. Here, the fan does not bother us either. The device has a durable and scratch-resistant non-stick coating. Thanks to its exceptionally good non-stick coating nothing remains fixed, which facilitates subsequent brushing. The baking plates are not removable, but they are still easy to wipe off from the inside. The sandwich maker has an extra lock button to prevent unattended opening of the device. Thanks to existing cable winder you can hide the annoying cable and keep the device upright and compact in the closet! The cable length is more than sufficient for those who have their socket directly behind the sandwich toaster.
The sandwich maker heats up a bit longer than the previously presented candidate. After switching on, it took about 3:40 minutes to reach the optimum temperature. The first time you put it into operation, it started to smell slightly and disappeared after a few minutes. The readiness of the device we could recognize thanks to its changing color of the indicator light (from red to white). Since not only normal but also large slices of toast are suitable for this sandwich, this time we have taken sandwiches in XXL size. The lid closed well. The case remained slightly warm throughout the baking process. After about 2 minutes, the white indicator light has lit again. The sandwiches were ready!
To the sandwiches:
The WMF LONO sandwich toaster has delivered really delicious results: The sandwiches were fragrant and juicy, golden yellow and super crispy! The cheese was really nice. The hot ham tasted fantastic too! The sandwiches were optimally divided diagonally in the middle, so you can easily go to the middle point with a knife over it and you already have two halves in your hand!
Cleaning:
After use, we have turned off the sandwich maker and pulled out the power plug. It is best not to let this device stand for long. When the Sandwicher had cooled slightly, we also wiped his toast with a damp paper towel. So all leftover cheese and bread left quickly and well. We only wiped the case with a damp cloth. You should not scrape or scrub the baking plates, otherwise the non-stick coating will break! The worktop next to it we did not have to wipe, because nothing had leaked? also no drops of water.
Criticism:
There are only two disadvantages to WMF's elegant sandwich toaster: its price and the heating time.
- The device is a bit more expensive than the other, usually quite cheap Sandwich Maker. The? LONO? but pays off by its good quality and first-class functionality.
- 3 minutes 40 seconds to heat up is a little long. Preheating a sandwicher should be a little faster. Otherwise there are no criticisms. The WMF LONO works flawlessly.
Krups FDK 451 sandwich maker
The Krups FDK 451 sandwich maker was kindly provided by Groupe SEB for testing free of charge.
Properties:
Price on Amazon: 43.99? (instead of 64.99?); Power: 850 W; Shape of the plates: triangle; Weight: 2.7 Kg; Size: 29.5 x 31.6 x 15.5 cm
Test procedure and positive features:
Visually, the Krups sandwich maker FDK 451 has a solid look. The case is made of black plastic and makes a compact impression. The sandwich maker has the two-stage locking mechanism with a locking clip. As a result, larger sandwiches fit into the device. The Krups Sandwicher also has a power button for on / off switching. This allows you to keep unplugging the plug when pausing.Just as with Cloer and WMF sandwich makers, its non-stick toast plates are permanently installed. The Krups FDK 451 has a red operating light and a green temperature light. Unfortunately, the device does not have a correct completion message. That's why you should always check the toaster result yourself. The non-slip feet and the cable rewind are also relevant equipment components of the sandwicher. The device does not slip, and thanks to the existing cable winder has no unnecessary cable clutter under its bottom.
The first time we used it, we connected and operated the sandwich maker directly after the user manual. The cable length of the device was not very long, but quite enough for us. After switching on the sandwich toaster has his red light lit up immediately. The green light has already lit after about two minutes. The Krups 451 had reached its toast temperature. We put the bread on the plates and closed the device. The toastbreads were well and tightly closed.
After about 1 minute 20 seconds baking time, the green light has lit again. The sandwiches were not finished. That's why we let them in for about 2 minutes and watched the baking process. After about 3:30 minutes we got out our sandwiches. The outer cover of the lid was hot. When opening the sandwich maker very hot steam rose, so you must be careful not to burn you!
To the sandwiches:
The sandwich halves were in fact easily separated by means of his cutting plates. The ham has unfortunately not been halved. Also, the sandwiches have become uneven: While one edge was really crispy, the other was rubbery, and has only slightly accepted color. Only the bread pieces that were more in the middle of the sandwich toaster, were nice golden brown. Unfortunately, when tasting we had to find out that the bread was not baked properly everywhere, so the cheese was not completely melted. Therefore, the sandwiches were not pretty crispy on the whole, but partly baked laxly.
Cleaning:
The cleaning of the Krups Sandwicher has succeeded in contrast to the toaster result without problems. Nothing has leaked out of the appliance, just as few bread crumbs and only a few cheese pieces have remained on the hotplates. The baking plates of the Sandichmaker are not removable, but were still easy to clean in a slightly warm state with a damp kitchen roll cloth! With the device itself, it is completely sufficient if you wipe it with a damp kitchen towel. But never forget to switch off the Sandwicher before cleaning and to pull the plug out of the socket!
Criticism:
Besides the shortcomings mentioned above, the Krups FDK 451 has a few more vulnerabilities:
- When first unpacking the sandwich maker has exuded relatively strong plastic odor. Also on the first use the chemical smell was noticeable.
- As with the "Cloer" candidate, the lid of the "Krups" device has some play. That's why the device seems a bit shaky.
- The plastic cap seems, in our opinion, to be unstable and fragile. That's why we recommend that you handle the clip with care when opening and closing the device!
- Since the result did not look like we had imagined, we also disagree with the price of this sandwich maker. We find that the price of 64.99 euros for such a malfunctioning device is too high.
Tefal Snack Collection SW852D
The Tefal SW852D was kindly provided by Groupe SEB for testing free of charge.
Properties:
Price on Amazon: 68.89? (instead of 99.99?); Power: 700 W; Shape of the plates: triangle; Weight: 4.6 Kg; Size: 31,6 x 28 x 20,3 cm
Test procedure and positive features:
The Tefal SW852D Snack Collection is a multifunction device that offers a total of 12 different replaceable plate sets. The combination unit from Tefal impresses with its elegant design. It looks sturdy and high quality. The Tefal SW852D is not predominantly made of plastic. Its matt silver metal case is made of stainless steel. The basic equipment includes 2 plate sets: baking molds for sandwiches and Brussels waffles. With this device you can prepare not only classic sandwiches or waffles, but also many other delicacies. You can easily reorder the other plate sets.
The plate sets are packed in the protected storage boxes in a kind of video cassette cover. In each plate set is also a booklet with recipes. All plates are easy to insert, are non-stick coated and, according to the operating instructions, dishwasher safe.
Also on this unit are operating and temperature control lights. A toggle switch for switching on / off is also included. Since our socket is not far away from the device, we do not care in this case that the connection cable is not really long. The Tefal Sandwich Maker has, just like the other candidates, a bracket at the bottom, where the cable can be wound up.The rubber feet provide a non-slip stand. Compared to its competitors, the Tefal Snack Collection is quite large. Because it can be stored upright, its size is still in the frame and saves space.
Immediately after pressing the power switch, the red lamp has lit up. After 4 minutes 28 seconds, the green signal lamp has started. We then put our XXL sandwiches in the pre-heated Tefal sandwich maker. The lid was easy to close, the closure has the middle occupied toast securely held. When the sandwich maker started baking, the red indicator light came on again. During the baking process, the heat-insulated handle did not get hot, but the lid became very warm. After 5 minutes 12 seconds, the green lamp has lit up.
To the sandwiches:
It took more time until the sandwiches were finally finished, but they managed to do that perfectly: on the outside, they were evenly browned and crispy. Inside, the breads were juicy, the cheese has run nicely. We were completely satisfied with the result, and enjoyed the warm sandwiches!
Cleaning:
As already described above, you can clean the removable plates in the dishwasher. However, we simply cleaned the cooled sheets with a damp paper towel. After baking almost nothing stuck in the appliance. Thanks to the non-stick coating, the heating plates were not soiled at all. The residues were easily wiped off with the kitchen towel. All the remainders have solved themselves problem-free. Already everything was fine again. The cleaning by hand was much faster than in the dishwasher. In addition, you can thus protect the coating of the device. It is very likely that you will see the fingerprints on the stainless steel device surface. To defeat all stains, you can rub the metal case with a microfibre cloth.
Criticism:
A few criticisms of the Tefal SW 852D Snack Collection
- Just like the Krups sandwich maker, the freshly unpacked Tefal combi-unit has not only smelled of cardboard, but also of chemistry. It also took a while to bake until the hot delicious sandwich scent replaced the chemical smell.
- Another device in our review, where the upper lid wobbles slightly. The lid can be closed well, but the back and forth is unfortunately not concealed.
- Both for heating and for baking, the Tefal SW852D needs a relatively long time. We see it as a small drawback, but we had the best result. But there are some people complaining about this long heating and preparation time.
- As a negative we feel that the device gets very hot. When you come to the surface while baking, you burn your fingers. Also, the steam that hisses from the device to the outside, can be quite uncomfortable. That's why trying to heat up the sandwich maker just touch the handle!
- The Tefal snack machine is a great multifunction device that does its job well and reliably, but is a bit expensive. This is the most expensive sandwich maker of all test candidates. The plates are relatively expensive.
Our test result
Our sandwich maker test has shown that there are definitely some great sandwich toaster, which can convince both with good baking results, as well as with excellent usability.
But the winner could only be one. The WMF LONO sandwich toaster is the best of the best! There are a few minor shortcomings? its high price and the longer heating time, but otherwise the device is perfect! It bakes super delicious sandwiches, works flawlessly and is sturdy, classy and high quality.
Cloer and Tefal Sandwicher have also achieved good results. Certain criticisms, such as Material processing, robustness, heat resistance, unfortunately did not quite convince us as with the WMF sandwich maker. The Cloer 6219 has a really good price-performance ratio. The Tefal SW852D is also a magic device, which is expensive, but despite its drawbacks is recommended. He is solid, has great features and is multifunctional.
More tips on sandwiches / sandwich makers?
A tip on how your sandwich maker stays clean longer can be found here: Sandwich stays clean
Numerous sandwich recipes are available under the following link: Tasty sandwich recipes
