Types of Toastie Makers Explained

By toastiemaker.com · Updated 16 Oct 2026

There are six main types of toastie maker: the standard electric sealed sandwich toaster, the deep-fill version, the 3-in-1 swap-plate machine, the panini press or contact grill, the microwave toastie maker and the stovetop or campfire jaffle iron. They differ in whether they seal the sandwich, what bread they accept and where you can use them.

At a glance

Price bands are typical ranges, not live prices; always check the current listing.

1. Standard electric sandwich toaster

This is the classic machine most UK households picture: two hinged, shell-shaped non-stick plates, a ready light and a clip latch. The plates have a raised ridge round the edge and across the diagonal that crimps the bread into two sealed triangles. The result is a crisp, golden shell with the filling locked inside.

Standard plates are fairly shallow, which suits ham and cheese or a thin layer of cheddar. Load them too generously and filling squeezes out of the sides. They're the cheapest and most compact option, so they suit students, small kitchens and occasional use. See our best cheap toastie makers for budget picks.

2. Deep-fill sandwich toaster

Same idea, deeper wells. Deep-fill plates leave more room between the bread and the plate, so you can add beans, leftover chilli, tuna mayo or two kinds of cheese without overflow. They also take thicker bread more comfortably. For most buyers this is the best all-round type; it's the format behind many popular models, including Breville's long-running deep fill range.

Read deep fill vs shallow fill for the trade-offs and the best deep fill toastie makers for picks.

3. 3-in-1 swap-plate machines

A 3-in-1 toastie maker comes with interchangeable plate sets, usually sandwich, waffle and flat or ridged grill plates, which clip into the same hinged body. Because the plates are removable by design, they're also easier to clean than fixed plates.

The catch is that the sandwich plates are often standard depth rather than deep fill, the clips add a point of wear, and you need cupboard space for the spare plates. They make sense if you'll really use the waffle plates. Compare options on our 3-in-1 toastie maker page, and see toastie maker waffles for what the waffle plates can do.

4. Panini press and contact grill

A panini press has flat or ridged plates, often with a floating hinge that lets the top plate rise and sit level on a thick sandwich. It doesn't cut or seal, so it accepts any shape of bread, from ciabatta to sourdough doorsteps, and leaves you with a pressed, striped sandwich rather than sealed triangles. Contact or "health" grills such as George Foreman models work the same way and double as meat grills.

The weakness is leaks: melted cheese and saucy fillings run out of the open sides. Read toastie maker vs panini press and toastie maker vs health grill, or go straight to the best panini presses.

5. Microwave toastie maker

Microwave toastie makers, the best-known being the Morphy Richards Mico, use plates lined with a susceptor material that absorbs microwave energy and gets hot enough to brown bread. You close the clam-shell, put it in the microwave and cook for a few minutes depending on wattage.

They're slower to brown and less crisp than an electric machine, but they're useful where mains appliances aren't allowed or there's no worktop space — halls of residence, offices and some caravans. Follow the manufacturer's instructions closely, especially on preheating and metal. Our microwave toastie maker guide covers the best options and microwave vs electric compares results.

6. Stovetop and campfire jaffle irons

The original toastie maker: two hinged metal plates on long handles, used over a gas hob, camping stove or campfire embers. Australians call them jaffle irons; in the US they're often called pie irons. Cast-iron versions hold heat and need seasoning; aluminium versions are lighter and heat faster but can scorch more easily.

They need no electricity at all and are close to indestructible, but you have to turn them and judge timing by eye. See the best camping toastie makers and how to use a camping toastie maker. For the backstory, read our history of the toastie maker.

Which type should you choose?

• You love molten cheese, beans or saucy fillings: electric deep fill.
• You buy ciabatta, focaccia or artisan loaves: panini press.
• You want waffles too: 3-in-1, accepting standard-depth sandwich plates.
• You're in halls or an office with only a microwave: microwave toastie maker (see toastie makers for students).
• You camp, sail or want an off-grid option: jaffle iron.
• You feed a family: a 4-slice electric machine.

For a step-by-step decision on fill depth, wattage, latches and cleaning, use our toastie maker buying guide, then see the best toastie makers in the UK for ranked picks.