Sandwich Or Contact Grills

As an early teenager I was kind of addicted to ham and cheese grilled sandwiches. A must have in a certain department store's lunchroom, whenever my mum and I went to Amsterdam. 

Later, around 15 years old, 1978 or so, on visiting a classmate I got them home made and loved them even better and without the ham! Because you had to put some butter or margerine on the outside of the bread to avoid sticking. Yummie. So young I had never seen a sandwich iron.

So I had to have one. Mum said ok and this is what I bought. I took it with me when I moved out and still have it. It's functional as ever though one of the handles is loose. Just a matter of careful use.

Only because I found one in front of my door an electric contact grill came to my house some years ago. It's the one on the left, made by Tomado, but the letters washed off from cleaning. But for how often I used it I never cared to check why the brown tape was there. Obviously nothing loose there. Maybe a sharp edge or so. It worked fine and I was happy to not to have to deal with the loose handle especially with the turning around. My only problem is the non-stick surface. I don't like it and don't need it. I still grease the bread anyway, because it's tastier. But they are multi-functional and it's been very handy for for example vegetable burgers. Though I buy those seldomly, only when on a really good discount and of a kind that I like. Then they can make a tasty quick snack. As a serious meat replacement I don't need them.

The thing was a placetaker on my kitchen top though. And then recently I noticed that my bread wasn't colouring evenly anymore. Darker on one side than on the other. And the cheese didn't really get that hot. But I forgot if it ever did because that's how often I used it.

The other day I took one home from a recycling spot at the supermarket. It's kind of recent that people can leave devices there and I only noticed shortly. But the compartments are small and fill up quickly. Placed on top I take things home occasionally for cash at the recycling shop, if they fit in the bag with the groceries. I know it doesn't add anything to the recycling process as they were there in the right spot already. But yeah, sorry, I can use the money.

So I thought the Tristar was broken. Only at home I noticed it looked almost new and tried it out, hoping to have a replacement. Well, wow, it heated up so quickly my sandwich almost stuck. The only deficiency is that it doesn't have the suspended top that all others seem to have, to level on whatever you put in. As the space between top and bottom isn't big enough for a sandwich it get's squeezed a bit in the back. Maybe that's why it was 'trashed'. I can live with it.

The final decision for replacement was the size. The heating surface suffices, and minus two cm in front and five on the side is welcome in my small kitchen. 

PS: a way to avoid contact with your food and the non-stick surface is using PFAS-free baking sheets or aluminium foil. Saves cleaning too! But I'll spare me the costs of that. For the few times of use and at my age I don't worry too much.