The Cookworks Sandwich Toaster

Reason for Purchase ~ ‘A Sandwich short of a picnic’...not anymore!

This is a ‘new kid on the block’ for me. My daughter has owned a Breville older one for a while; the grand-tots love creating their own concoctions, which she then toast! I wanted to furnish the tots....and myself with the same fun when they visit! As I know it would end up being one of those gadgets I wouldn’t bother to use on a daily basis, I ‘Argoosed’ this inexpensive one!

The Product ~ ‘The Toast Of The Town’!

The Sandwich Toaster is just 100watts less than my George Foreman grill, at 700 watts. The apparatus can make two toasted sandwiches at a time. Also like my GF Grill, it has cord storage, but I’m far too lazy to take the extra moment taking advantage of this feature after use! The rest of the product’s features I have added under the following ‘Usage Experience’.

Usage Experience ~ ‘Knuckle Sandwich’...no, how ‘bout these instead?!

Again, just the same as my GF grill, the toaster works by toasting both sides of the prepared sandwich at the same time by compacting the bread within the two heated upper and lower plates. As an example of usage, ‘here’s one I prepared earlier’! :D

1) Unless i need to first grill such foods as bacon first, I plug in the gadget, stating the obvious, sorry! Next, I ask the tots which bread they fancy from the container; white is the popular choice! Under supervision, I help the grand-tots butter just one side of two slices of the bread; one set per grand-tot. My eldest grand-son loves bacon and cheese, so this is how we set about preparing this.

2) Because I need to grill the bacon, I don’t turn on the gadget till the three slices of fat free back bacon is half way cooked, about 3 minutes. Once plugged in, which is displayed by a red power ‘on’ indicator, I turn the bacon for the remaining time. While the bacon is grilling and the Cookworks is heating, I open up a packet of ready grated mild cheddar (purchased especially for when the tots visit, for them to make pizzas and toasted sarnies!) I take out the food scales and get my grand-son to weigh out 1oz/30gm of the cheese; cooking can be a fun learning experience!

3) I then have my grand-son place the buttered side of the bread faced down on a plate. I pop the slightly cooled bacon evenly on the unbuttered slice. I then ask my grand-son to evenly spread the cheese over the bacon and cover the unbuttered other slice of the bread on top of the filling. I then very carefully, place the prepared sandwich on the hot plate of the sandwich toaster. I close the lid via the handle, which is like the external surfaces, cool to the touch. The handle has a practical locking clip. After a few moments, the green ‘ready’ indicator light pops on.

4) Upon lifting the lid, the first thing we notice is the wonderful aroma of bacon and sizzling cheese. The toasted bread has an attractive golden glaze and neat sealed edges. At times, if the filling has been a little too excessive, it is seen oozing out from the edges of the sandwich and onto the hot plate. I always tell my grand-tots to wait a few moments for their toasties to cool a little, as the sandwiches come out piping hot! ‘Try some Nan’ I am enthusiastically offered; lots of mmmm and ooohhs follow from both of us! The bacon is soft and warm and the cheese is perfectly melted. The taste is so scrumptious, the bread being crispy but moist. I use thick sliced bread to ensure a softer and doughy result. This particular recipe remains a firm favourite of my grand-sons!

5) As for the other grand-tots, we alternate on their latest fads. The following are some of the chosen delights: Cheese and ham, using 2ozs grated mild cheese and I slice of ham, folded/ Hotdog delight, made with ‘American style baby hot dogs’, these are perfect for little fingers to place on the bread, readymade. And 2ozs mild cheese, with a little ketchup spread on the inner slices/But the sandwich maker isn’t just for bread and savoury fillings. The grand-tots love pancakes with their chosen fruit filling too! As a tip, I use mild flavours for children as this is better for their little taste buds and tummies. Whilst, I love spicy fillings and happy to pay the consequences! :D There are numerous excellent sites online that provide vast amounts of sandwich toaster recipes and ideas. Sometimes, certain fillings take a little longer to cook according to taste, so the non-slip feet helps the device stay in place while the lid is lifted to test the filling!

Cleaning and Maintenance ~ ‘Warm As Toast’!

As the toaster has non-stick plates, cleaning is a synch! I simply use kitchen paper towel to remove and excess food debris and then wipe the surfaces with a moistened sponge, ensuring no harsh cleaning substances have been added. Before storing upright, I dry with some kitchen paper towel. The school holidays have meant that this new addition to my gadgets hasn’t has much time in the cupboard; a very popular tool!

Would I Recommend? ~ ‘You’re Toast’!

Going by the grand-tots Mmmms, yes, most definitely. I really don’t think I’ll use it much for me, but it will be out on the arrival of four VIP’s! :D The Cookworks Sandwich Toaster - 2 Slice, new device from Argos, with the order number of 423/5541 is only £9.99 and this current price is valid, as guaranteed by the company, to remain until 20/01/2012

Summary: Cheap and fun way to try out a wide variation of tasty ingredients in a toasted sandwich format. A winner with the grand-tots: D