A sliding cooking plate is a common feature in these types of appliances. It allows you to cook a raw ingredient such as eggs after which you can remove the plate and close the lid for the rest of ingredients that are already cooked to be merged with that ingredient. It can also be used for semi cooked additions such as salami that may need that extra bit of cooking time before it is combined with other fresh ingredients such as bread.

Basic devices such as original models used sandwich loaves that could be sealed shut allowing the contents on the inside to cook. Designs like these created a crunchy exterior with a warm and gooey inside. With these more modern designs, you can use any type of bread to combine your sandwich such as muffins or even bagels. Once you seal the appliance and cook it for the allotted time you get a crunchy perfectly made sandwich.

A lay flat grill is every home cook’s dream. It allows you to take this appliance out of the breakfast land and use your device like a grill. It can effectively cook meats such as steak, chicken and fish. You can also roast vegetables and even combine it with the floating lid to create dishes such as pizza. With this feature you can create almost limitless combinations.

Removable heating plates brings a level of convenience to consumers. Even if you have never owned a grill, you’ve likely heard of the turmoil unleashed when it’s time to clean. Heating plates used with these devices usually feature a non-stick coating which makes it easy to get food and gunk off without a fuss. These are also dishwasher safe so after getting the food off you can place them in the wash instead of having to scrub at it yourself.

In order to produce a restaurant grade meal, it would help to have restaurant grade machinery and that is exactly what you get with quite a few of the sandwich makers on our list. Many of them have a floating lid which is used in places such as cafes. They allow users to easily adjust the press the size of the sandwich they wish to make. They can also remove the lid and turn their sandwich make into an open grill where they can cook various types of food including meat and vegetables.

Temperature control is a valuable feature to have in this particular type of device. It is not uncommon for meats and similar types of foods to be unevenly cooked and it boils down to heat distribution. Some devices on this list are specifically designed to distribute heat evenly along the cooking surface. The other danger that exists is the possibility of core temperatures exceeding normal range which can cause a disaster. For this reason some designs have a automatic shut off to prevent overheating in these types of appliances.

Some designs give you the option of setting up ingredients for multiple sandwiches at once. In some cases, you will be able to use different ingredients in each for a bit of variety. These specific designs usually have a timer attached to them which can also be adjusted to send out alerts at increments. This allows you to cook each selection perfectly within different time frames for a perfect result on each one.

The floating lid also offers a level of adjustability. These lids can be used to press and create those lovely grill marks we love, but they can also be locked into place. This feature is ideal for open face meals such as pizza. It is best not to touch the surface of these kinds of meals, but they do need to be evenly heated from above. With the locking function in place you get even heat distribution without destroying the top of your dish.

Removable plates allow you to accommodate different types of meals. You can easily select a plate to create the perfect sandwiches or switch it out for dishes such as waffles. This appliance can also be adjusted to grill meats such as chicken, steak and fish. It can also be adjusted to accommodate open face deep dishes such as pizza. Whatever your preference simply switch out the plate and start creating your meal.

Some models are designed to create sandwiches only, however, they manage to do an exceptional job at it. There are those that seal the edges of your sandwich so your finished product is crispy on the outside but warm and gooey on the inside like any good sandwich should be. There are others allow you to create layers. These are a bit more sophisticated and generally have cooking plates that allow you to cook and combine ingredients such as eggs and salami.

There are other designs that provide pressed sandwiches such as paninis. These usually have a floating lid which creates even heat distribution and the press creates the perfect grill marks at the top of your meal. Not only do these have short cooking times of up to five minutes but the final result is a restaurant quality dish you can grab and go. They also allow you to make open face meals such as pizza and you won’t have to worry about it touching the surface as these lids can be locked into place.

On the top tier of elegance are the 180 degree makers that double as grills. These have what is called a lay-flat design which allows you to cook a wider variety of items such as steak, chicken and fish. You can also cook vegetables on these surfaces which makes it a great companion, not just in the kitchen but also in the backyard. You can fire up this device anywhere you have access to a power outlet and the meal combinations are almost limitless.

LCD is commonly used today as they utilize less power and are great at blocking out light as opposed to emitting it, this helps to give a clearer visual image. These usually exhibit information such as the temperature at which the device is currently operating at as well as any timers that may be currently active. Available functions and settings can also be displayed on this main screen and adjusted according to user preference.

Recipe books can also be included in some product kits which feature common as well as unique sandwich combinations that users can try to make and familiarize themselves with. Some individuals are sandwich making veterans, however, there are bound to be a few combinations you have not yet tried and it’s a great way to test the limits of what your device can do.

Indicator lights have been installed in a variety of models which offers users a number of benefits one of which is safety. Many of us can admit to forgetting whether we turned an appliance off, and we have all multi-tasked at one time or another. This feature helps to alert you when your device is on and also when it is up to temperature at just a glance. These can lower the chance of your mistakenly leaving the device on or losing track of the time and allowing it to overheat.