Best Sandwich Press NZ: Which to Buy
Toastie maker or panini press? The sealed-edge vs flat-plate decision matters more than the brand name. Here's how to pick the right one.
Sealed-edge toastie makers vs flat panini presses
Sealed-edge toastie makers (the classic Kiwi "jaffle iron" style, moulded triangle or square plates) crimp the bread edges together, sealing fillings inside so nothing leaks out. This is the better choice if you're making genuinely stuffed sandwiches — baked beans, spaghetti, extra cheese — because the seal holds everything in. The trade-off is you're limited to specific bread sizes that fit the mould, and thick artisan bread often doesn't seal properly.
Flat panini presses use flat or ridged plates without a sealing edge, working with any bread shape and thickness — ciabatta, sourdough, wraps, even meat and vegetables for grilling. They give you the classic grill-mark panini crust but won't contain a runny filling the way a sealed toastie maker will. Many flat presses also double as a grill for chicken, steak or halloumi, which is a genuinely useful bit of extra function if you have limited bench appliances.
Non-stick plate durability: the part that actually breaks
The non-stick coating is the single most common failure point on cheap sandwich presses — after 6-18 months of regular use, budget models often start sticking and flaking, especially if you use metal utensils on them (don't). Mid-range and premium models (Breville, Sunbeam, Russell Hobbs at Noel Leeming, Harvey Norman or JB Hi-Fi) use thicker, more durable coatings and sometimes offer removable plates that go in the dishwasher, which both extends life and makes cleaning far less of a chore.
Capacity for families
Single-sandwich presses are compact but slow if you're feeding more than two people — you'll be making toasties in shifts on a school morning. Family-size presses that fit 2-4 sandwiches at once cost more upfront but save real time if you're regularly feeding a household of four or more. If it's mainly for one or two people, don't pay extra for capacity you won't use.
- Filling-heavy toasties (baked beans, extra cheese): go sealed-edge to avoid mess.
- Variety of bread types, or want a grill function too: flat panini press is more flexible.
- Family of 4+: look for multi-sandwich capacity to avoid cooking in batches.
- Removable plates: genuinely worth it for easy dishwasher cleaning and coating longevity.
- Floating hinge: lets the top plate adjust to thicker fillings — useful if you like a stuffed sandwich.