Toastie Maker vs Health Grill

By toastiemaker.com · Updated 16 Oct 2026

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A toastie maker is built for one job — sealed, leak-proof toasties — and does it better than anything else. A health grill (the George Foreman-style contact grill with sloped, ridged plates) makes a decent pressed sandwich with open edges, but its real strength is grilling meat, fish and veg while draining fat. Buy the toastie maker for toasties; buy the health grill if you'd use it most nights for other food too.

Spec comparison

Price bands are typical ranges, not live prices. Specs vary by model, so check the listing.

What a "health grill" actually is

"Health grill" is the marketing name for a countertop contact grill with heated ridged plates top and bottom, usually angled so fat runs off into a drip tray. George Foreman made the format famous in the 1990s and the name is still almost synonymous with it in the UK, though Salter, Tower, Russell Hobbs and others make similar machines. The "health" claim simply refers to fat draining away from meat; it does nothing special for a cheese sandwich.

It's closely related to a panini press, which typically has a floating hinge and flatter plates aimed more at sandwiches. For George Foreman's sandwich-friendly models specifically, see our George Foreman toastie maker guide.

Round 1: Toastie quality

The toastie maker wins easily. Its plates crimp the bread so the filling is sealed in, the cheese melts fully in trapped steam, and the shell turns evenly golden. A health grill presses the sandwich flat between ridges, giving grill stripes and a crisp outside, but the edges are open and the slope encourages melted cheese to run towards the drip tray.

On a fixed-hinge grill the top plate can also sit at an angle on thicker sandwiches, pressing one end harder than the other. Floating-hinge models avoid this.

Winner: toastie maker.

Round 2: Fillings

Beans, chilli, coronation chicken and generous grated cheese belong in a sealed toastie maker — ideally a deep-fill one. On a health grill, stick to firmer fillings: sliced cheese, ham, cooked chicken, roasted veg. Our guide to stopping toasties leaking helps on either.

Winner: toastie maker.

Round 3: Everything else you can cook

Here the health grill pulls well ahead. Chicken breasts, burgers, sausages, salmon fillets, halloumi, peppers and courgettes all grill quickly with both sides cooked at once. Many owners use one several times a week for dinner, which makes it far better value if you'd actually cook that way.

A toastie maker can manage hash browns, folded omelettes and pizza pockets (see what to make in a toastie maker), but shaped plates aren't suited to raw meat.

Winner: health grill.

Round 4: Cleaning

Health grills produce greasy drips and the ridges collect residue; models with removable, dishwasher-safe plates make this much easier, while fixed-plate grills need careful wiping. Toastie makers mostly suffer from burnt-on cheese in the sealing ridges. Removable plates are worth paying for on either — see toastie makers with removable plates and how to clean a toastie maker.

Winner: draw; it depends on removable plates.

Round 5: Size, price and running cost

A 2-slice toastie maker is compact, often stores upright and usually costs less. Health grills range from small two-portion models to large family grills that need real cupboard space. Running costs are low for both: a few pence per use, with the grill slightly higher because it draws more power (see toastie maker electricity cost).

Winner: toastie maker.

Round 6: Who uses each one, in practice

Owner feedback on both appliances tends to follow a pattern. Toastie makers get used in short bursts — lunches, late-night snacks, kids' teas — and are loved for being fast and foolproof. Health grills tend to become a weeknight dinner tool for people cooking lean meat or halloumi for one or two, with sandwiches as an occasional bonus.

The common regret with a health grill bought "for toasties" is that the results feel like a compromise: tasty, but flatter and messier than a sealed toastie. The common regret with a toastie maker bought "for everything" is that it can't grill a chicken breast. Knowing which camp you're in settles the decision.

Features to look for on either

• Removable plates: the single biggest quality-of-life upgrade for both types.
• A firm latch or a floating hinge: a latch for toastie makers so the edges seal evenly; a floating hinge for grills so thick food is pressed flat.
• A drip tray that's easy to empty: essential on a health grill.
• Upright storage and a cord wrap: helpful in small kitchens (see compact toastie makers).
• A clear warranty: major brands typically offer one to two years; check the listing.

Final recommendation

Choose a toastie maker if…

• You want the best possible sealed toastie.
• Saucy or generous fillings are your thing.
• Space and budget are limited.

A deep-fill sandwich toaster is the safest pick; the Breville deep fill design is a long-running benchmark — check price on Amazon. See the best toastie makers in the UK for alternatives.

Choose a health grill if…

• You'd grill meat, fish or veg on it regularly.
• You're happy with open-edged pressed sandwiches.
• You'd rather own one versatile appliance than a single-purpose one.

Prioritise removable plates and, for sandwiches, a floating hinge. George Foreman remains the best-known name — check George Foreman grill prices on Amazon — and our George Foreman guide covers which models suit sandwiches. If you're torn between grill-style machines, compare toastie maker vs panini press, or browse all our comparisons.