Saturday 21 January 2012

Toasted Sandwiches

I don't know anyone who doesn't like toasted sandwiches. What's not to like? Earlier this week, images of Mishkin's Reuben sandwich in the morning paper haunted me for many hours. For me, an absolute must is cheese. Without that oozy, gooey quality you're better off leaving it untoasted.

I was offered a Waring sandwich toaster (£50) to review. It's the deep fill sort, and the leaflet that came with it proclaimed that you could also make an omelette or puff pastry fruit turnovers in them. I tend to have omelettes with something in the centre though so I'm not quite sure how it would work that way, so I stuck to toasties.

The sandwich toaster needs to get to optimum temperature first, which gives you plenty of time to construct your sandwich. Simplicity won over and a cheese and tomato toastie was tested first. Set to high, the dial felt a bit plasticky and cheap, but once toasted the sandwich that came out was a fine one; brown and crisp on the outside, well melted cheese within and the tomatoes atomically hot, ready to surprise you and burn the inside of your mouth out.

Garlicky mushrooms mixed with creme fraiche and spinach also worked well and made a quick dinner in front of the TV. It's convenient too as both sides have a quick release button for easy cleaning. I couldn't help but think though that this was another counter top appliance that I don't have the space for. Once done with, it is confined to wherever I can find to stash it. Although it toasts sandwiches well, I've managed to do the same with a frying pan and a heavy dish on top, squishing the sandwich down, for a while now.

For more sandwichism and where to find the best in London, check out the all new London Review of Sandwiches.

10 comments:

Kavey said...

Oddly I was offered one of these several weeks ago but when I said yes, they went into silent mode, and I've never heard back, or received one. Shame, as yes, surely everyone loves a toasted sandwich. And those who don't are freaks!

Katherine @mustardseedcook said...

Looks identical to the Cuisinart Deep Fill we got for the kids for Christmas - incidentally also £50 from Lakeland but was £30 from Costco!! These are great for teenagers who seem to eat all the time & can make their own really easily. Best combo? Rabbit rillettes & raclette cheese!

Katie said...

My sandwich toaster is one appliance i'd be sad to be without! But I have the flat plate sort that does panini/baguettes too.. it gets a showing at least once a week for a quick hot lunch.

Helen said...

I am, unsurprisingly, a big fan of the toasted sandwich. I have to agree that although I love a proper toastie maker and I have fond memories, I do enjoy the cowboy method - either using a George Forman grill someone gave me a while back (love the fact it's suposed to make low fat food and I grill cheese in it) or the pan n saucepan method.

Monkeyboy said...

Perhaps more of a boy thing but I have every gadget under the sun. Got a cusinart pannini grill/press thing which is great and much more versatile than a sandwich toaster. In fact is a weekly ritual to give my self third degree burns in my mouth from volcanic mozzarella toasty while reading the Sunday papers.

Adam VdB said...

dinner sorted - thank you

Hollow Legs said...

Kavey - that is odd. Perhaps chase them up?

Katherine - Rabbit rillettes with cheese? OOF. I agree, thi is probably good for families and, more importantly, family houses with the space but perhaps not for me.

Katie - I would love a flat plated one.

Helen - That's a great use for the George Forman. The cowboy method at least insures any shape of bread can get a good toasting.

Monkeyboy - Oh, to have the room to store all these gadgets! Yes, the volcanic cheese is usually a mistake I never learn from too.

Adam - you're welcome :)

gourmetgorro said...

Cheese and lime pickle toasted sandwiches. They used to be my favourite at university but I haven't had one for years. I wonder whether they're as good as I remember.....

Kavey said...

Lizzie, I was thinking I should do that, though had thought maybe they decided my blog wasn't suitable any more, for some reason, but they saw my comment here on your blog, and got back in touch, I think they thought they'd already sent one out! Oops! Thanks for your intermediary services, heh, it's like gumtree for foodies! ;-P

D Terd said...

£50 on a toastie machine? You'd have to be mad. Got a great one for £8.

Agree that cheese is (nearly always) essential.