The Best Toastie Maker in the UK (2026)
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For most UK kitchens the best toastie maker is still a two-slice deep fill sandwich toaster with cut-and-seal plates, and the Breville Deep Fill (VST041) remains the benchmark. If you want plates that come off for the dishwasher, the Breville 3-in-1 Ultimate Snack Maker (VST098) is the smarter buy, and if you are spending under £25 the Tower T27013 does the core job well.
Below are nine picks covering every budget and type: classic sealed toasties, removable plates, 3-in-1 swap-plate machines, family-size four-slice models, a proper panini press, a microwave option for halls and offices, and a stovetop iron for camping. Each one is chosen from manufacturer specifications, owner feedback and long-run reputation rather than marketing claims; you can read how we research for the detail.
Quick answer:
- Breville Deep Fill (VST041): best overall for classic sealed toasties
- Breville 3-in-1 Ultimate Snack Maker (VST098): best with removable plates
- Tower T27013 Deep Fill: best budget toastie maker
- Russell Hobbs 4-Slice Deep Fill (24550): best for families
- Tefal Snack Collection (SW852D): best for variety beyond toasties
- Russell Hobbs Creations 3-in-1 (26810): best-value 3-in-1
- Sage The Perfect Press (SSG600): best panini press
- Morphy Richards Mico: best microwave toastie maker
- Cast iron jaffle iron: best for camping and the hob
On this page
Comparison table
Price bands are typical UK prices over the past year, not live prices. Retailers discount these machines often, so always check the current price before buying.
| Model | Type | Portions | Plates | Power (listed) | Typical price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breville VST041 | Deep fill sealed | 2 | Deep fill, non-stick | 850W | £25–£40 | Classic toasties |
| Breville VST098 | 3-in-1 deep fill | 2 | Removable, dishwasher-safe | About 820–900W | £30–£50 | Easy cleaning |
| Tower T27013 | Deep fill sealed | 2 | Fixed, ceramic non-stick | 900W | £18–£28 | Tight budgets |
| Russell Hobbs 24550 | Deep fill sealed | 4 | Fixed, non-stick | Check listing | £30–£45 | Families |
| Tefal SW852D | Swap-plate snack maker | 2 | Removable, dishwasher-safe | 700W | £50–£80 | Waffles, extra plate sets |
| Russell Hobbs 26810 | 3-in-1 | 2 | Removable | About 750–820W | £30–£45 | Value multi-use |
| Sage SSG600 | Panini press / contact grill | 2–4 | Fixed, flat/ridged | 1500W | £100–£160 | Thick sandwiches, sourdough |
| Morphy Richards Mico | Microwave | 1 | Silicone-clad heat plates | Uses your microwave | £20–£30 | Halls, offices |
| Cast iron jaffle iron | Stovetop / campfire | 1–2 | Cast iron | None | £15–£35 | Camping, gas hobs |
The best toastie makers in detail
Breville Deep Fill Sandwich Toaster (VST041)
The VST041 is the closest thing the UK has to a default toastie maker. Its deep plates take a properly loaded sandwich (cheese, ham and a spoon of beans is not a stretch), and the cut-and-seal edges crimp the bread into two closed pockets so molten filling stays inside rather than pooling on the worktop. At 850W it heats quickly, and a typical cheese toastie is done in around three to four minutes once the ready light comes on.
It is a simple machine with no thermostat dial: preheat, load, close, wait. Its long-running reputation rests on even browning and a latch that holds firmly over thick fillings. The trade-off is cleaning: you will be wiping the plates in place with a damp cloth, so if you hate that job, jump to the VST098 below. Our full Breville Deep Fill review goes deeper.
- Genuinely deep plates that seal well
- Quick to heat, even browning
- Strong latch handles overfilled sandwiches
- Widely sold, so often discounted
- Wipe-clean cleaning only
- Takes standard-size bread best; large bloomer slices overhang
- Toasties only, no waffle or grill plates
Breville 3-in-1 Ultimate Snack Maker (VST098)
If cleaning is what puts you off using a toastie maker, this is the one to buy. The VST098 comes with three pairs of plates (deep fill sandwich, panini and waffle), and all of them detach and are listed as dishwasher-safe. Crucially for a toastie fan, the sandwich plates are Breville's deep fill design with a cut-and-seal edge, so you are not sacrificing the classic sealed triangle to get the convenience.
The lid is height-adjustable, which matters on the panini plates when you are pressing a thick ciabatta. It stores upright with the cord wrapped underneath, though you do need cupboard room for the two spare plate sets. Retailer listings give its power as somewhere between 820W and 900W, so expect toasties in roughly four minutes. See our Breville 3-in-1 review for plate-swap detail.
- All plates removable and dishwasher-safe
- Deep fill, sealed sandwich plates
- Waffle and panini plates included
- Stands upright for storage
- Spare plates need storing somewhere
- Pricier than single-purpose models
- Swapping plates means waiting for them to cool
Tower T27013 Deep Fill Sandwich Maker
The T27013 shows how little you need to spend for a good toastie. It has extra-deep moulds for two toasties, a ceramic non-stick coating and a 900W element, which is more power than several machines that cost twice as much. For cheese, ham, tuna melts and beans it does the job of a branded deep fill machine at a noticeably lower price, which is why it heads our best cheap toastie maker list.
Where the saving shows is in the finish: the plastics feel lighter, the plates are fixed, and like most ceramic coatings it needs gentle treatment (no metal utensils, no abrasive pads) to stay slick. Tower has historically offered an extended guarantee if you register the product, so check the current terms when you buy. More on the range in our Tower toastie maker guide.
- Low price for a true deep fill machine
- 900W heats quickly
- Ceramic non-stick plates
- Fixed plates
- Lighter build than Breville
- Ceramic coating dislikes rough cleaning
Russell Hobbs 4-Slice Deep Fill Sandwich Maker (24550)
Making toasties one pair at a time gets old fast when four people want lunch. The 24550 has four deep, sealed portions, so it does two full sandwiches in a single cycle, and Russell Hobbs designs it to stand upright on its end for storage despite the wider footprint.
A wider plate area takes slightly longer to come up to heat, and the outer portions on any four-slice machine can brown a touch less than the centre, so give it a full preheat. Plates are fixed. If you are weighing it against other large models, our best 4-slice toastie maker page compares them.
- Four sealed portions per cycle
- Deep fill plates
- Stands upright to save space
- Fixed plates are harder to clean across a wide surface
- Larger footprint on the worktop
- Needs a proper preheat for even browning
Tefal Snack Collection (SW852D)
The Snack Collection is a modular system rather than a toastie maker with extras. It ships with triangle toastie plates and waffle plates, and Tefal sells a long list of optional plate sets (Tefal UK cites 16 to collect) for things like paninis, pancakes, wafers and doughnut-style snacks. The plates are removable, non-stick and dishwasher-safe, and the box is designed to store the plates neatly.
At 700W it is the least powerful machine here, so toasties take a minute or so longer and the sandwich plates are shallower than a true deep fill. Buy it if you will genuinely use waffle or other plates; if you only want toasties, the Breville machines do that better for less. Our Tefal toastie maker guide covers the plate sets.
- Huge range of optional plates
- Removable, dishwasher-safe plates
- Plate storage designed in
- Only 700W
- Toastie plates not as deep as dedicated deep fill models
- Extra plate sets add up in cost
Russell Hobbs Creations 3-in-1 Deep Fill (26810)
The Creations 3-in-1 is the newer version of Russell Hobbs' long-running deep fill sandwich, panini and waffle maker (the older one was the 24540). It gives you the same three-plate idea as the Breville VST098, usually for a little less, with removable plates that make cleaning far easier than a fixed-plate machine.
Listings put it at roughly 750–820W, so it is a fraction slower than the Breville. It is a sensible middle ground if you want waffles occasionally but toasties most days. See the full comparison on our 3-in-1 toastie maker page and the Russell Hobbs range guide.
- Three plate sets included
- Removable plates
- Often cheaper than the Breville 3-in-1
- Slightly lower power
- Plate clips need care
- Spare plates need storage
Sage The Perfect Press (SSG600)
A panini press is a different tool from a sealed toastie maker: it presses and grills any sandwich without cutting or sealing it, so it suits sourdough, ciabatta, focaccia and big deli-style fillings that would never fit sealed plates. The Sage Perfect Press is a premium contact grill rated at 1500W with wide plates and a PFOA-free non-stick coating, and it is listed with fixed (non-removable) plates.
The power and plate area mean it handles two large sandwiches or four smaller ones and recovers heat quickly between batches. You lose the sealed edge, so loose fillings like beans are a bad idea. If you are torn between the two styles, read toastie maker vs panini press, and for cheaper presses see our best panini press guide.
- 1500W, fast and powerful
- Takes any bread size or thickness
- Wide cooking area
- Expensive
- Fixed plates
- No sealing, so runny fillings escape
Morphy Richards Mico Microwave Toastie Maker
The Mico is a clamshell of heat-absorbing plates with silicone grips that goes in your microwave. The plates heat up from the microwave energy and toast the bread on contact, so you get crisp, browned bread rather than the soggy result of microwaving a sandwich on a plate. It is the obvious choice where electric toastie makers are banned or space is tight: university halls, office kitchens, caravans.
Be realistic about results. It makes one toastie at a time, the bread is usually less evenly golden than from an electric machine, and timings depend on your microwave's wattage. Our microwave toastie maker guide covers the alternatives and limits, and how to use a microwave toastie maker has timings by wattage.
- No extra appliance to plug in
- Often allowed where electric grills are not
- Compact and dishwasher-friendly
- One toastie at a time
- Browning less even than electric
- Timing needs trial and error
Cast iron jaffle iron (single or double)
A jaffle iron (sometimes sold as a pie iron or toastie iron) is two hinged cast iron or aluminium plates on long handles. You load it, clamp it shut and hold it over a gas ring or campfire embers. Cast iron holds heat beautifully and gives a deep, even crust, but it is heavy and must be seasoned; aluminium versions are lighter and better on a gas stove but scorch easily over uneven coals.
Brands and model names vary a lot between retailers, so look for solid cast iron, a secure clasp at the handle end and plates sized for your bread. Our camping toastie maker guide compares the options, and how to use a camping toastie maker covers seasoning and timing.
- No electricity needed
- Superb crust from cast iron
- Practically indestructible
- Heavy
- Needs seasoning and drying to avoid rust
- Not for induction hobs unless flat-bottomed
How we chose
We do not run a test kitchen or invent scores. Every model was assessed against the same criteria using manufacturer specs, retailer listings, independent reviews and owner feedback.
- Toastie quality first. Plate depth, how well the edges seal and how evenly the element browns. A machine that leaks cheese or burns the middle while the corners stay pale did not make the cut.
- Real power. Around 750–900W is the sweet spot for two-slice sealed machines. Below 700W toasties are slower and paler; contact grills need more because the plates are larger.
- Cleaning. Removable, dishwasher-safe plates are a big quality-of-life upgrade, so we flag them clearly, and we prefer coatings with a good reputation for staying non-stick.
- Build and latch. A latch that holds against a thick filling and a handle that stays cool matter more than styling.
- Value and availability. Every pick is a model sold in the UK in 2026 at the time of writing, priced fairly for what it does.
- Honest weaknesses. Each pick lists real downsides, so you can rule a model out as easily as in.
How to choose the right toastie maker
Most buying mistakes come from picking the wrong type rather than the wrong brand. Our full toastie maker buying guide goes through every feature; here are the decisions that matter most.
Sealed toastie maker or panini press?
A sealed sandwich toaster cuts and crimps standard sliced bread into closed triangles or squares. It is the only way to get the classic British toastie with molten filling locked inside, and it handles wet fillings like beans or tinned spaghetti. A panini press or contact grill flattens and toasts any bread without sealing it, which suits artisan loaves and thick fillings but lets loose fillings escape. If you mostly use supermarket sliced bread, buy a sealed machine.
Deep fill or standard plates?
Deep fill plates are worth having. Standard plates take a slice of cheese and a slice of ham; deep fill takes generous fillings without forcing the lid. The difference is explained in deep fill vs shallow fill, and our best deep fill toastie maker picks go further.
Fixed or removable plates?
Fixed plates are cheaper and simpler, and they clean fine if you wipe them while warm. Removable plates cost more but go in the sink or dishwasher, which makes burnt-on cheese far less of a chore. If you have had a toastie maker gather dust because cleaning was a pain, go removable: see the best toastie makers with removable plates. Either way, our guide on how to clean a toastie maker keeps plates non-stick for longer.
How many portions?
Two-slice machines make one sandwich at a time, right for one or two people. Four-slice models are worth the worktop space for families.
Do you need 3-in-1?
Swap-plate machines are good value if you will actually make waffles or use grill plates. If you will not, the spare plates are just clutter, and a dedicated deep fill machine often makes a slightly better toastie. Our 3-in-1 toastie maker guide helps you decide.
Space and storage
Look for models that stand upright with cord storage underneath; several picks here do. For tiny kitchens, caravans and student rooms, see compact toastie makers and toastie makers for students.
Getting great toasties from any machine
A good machine still needs the basics right. Always preheat until the ready light changes, butter the outside of the bread (or use a thin layer of mayonnaise, which browns more evenly, as explained in butter or mayo), and keep fillings about a centimetre from the edges so the seal can form.
Start with our perfect cheese toastie recipe, then explore the full toastie recipe collection. If fillings escape, how to stop toasties leaking has the fixes, and how long to cook a toastie gives timings for every method.
FAQs
What wattage should a toastie maker be?
For a two-slice sealed machine, around 750W to 900W heats quickly and browns evenly. Machines around 700W work but take a little longer. Panini presses and large contact grills are often 1,500W or more because they heat a bigger plate area.
Is Breville still the best toastie maker brand?
Breville popularised the sealed sandwich toaster in the UK and its deep fill models are still the benchmark for toastie quality. Russell Hobbs, Tower and Salter make strong rivals, often for less money. See our Breville toastie maker guide and the brand guides for comparisons.
Can you use any bread in a toastie maker?
Sealed toastie makers work best with standard medium sliced bread, which fits the plates and crimps cleanly. Thick-cut or large bloomer slices may overhang or stop the lid closing. For sourdough and artisan bread a panini press is better. Our best bread for toasties guide covers each type.
Are toastie makers worth buying?
If you eat toasties more than once or twice a week, yes: a decent machine is cheap, quick and uses little electricity compared with an oven. If you would use it twice a year, a frying pan does a fair job. We weigh it up honestly in are toastie makers worth it.
How long does a toastie maker last?
A well-treated machine typically lasts several years. The usual end of life is a worn non-stick coating rather than an electrical fault, so avoid metal utensils and abrasive pads. If yours stops heating, our troubleshooting guide helps you decide whether to fix or replace it.