Makes tasty little toasted sandwiches. (Russell Hobbs 14607 Sandwich Maker)

Member Name: Darkstar101

Product:	Russell Hobbs 14607 Sandwich Maker
Date:	17/08/09 (107 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Modern looking, easy to use, easy to clean, makes nice sandwiches.

Disadvantages: Feeble locking catch, have to trim a lot off the bread, sandwiches too small and shallow

At the start of the school summer holidays I bought a Russell Hobbs sandwich maker so I could make quick tasty lunchtime snacks for my children. As I wasn't prepared to spend a lot of money on what I thought would be a one-minute wonder, I bought this model from Argos, priced at £17.29. There were similar models available costing less, but I went for the better known Russell Hobbs brand over the Cookworks range because I've had nothing but trouble with Cookworks items in the past. In addition to this, the Russell Hobbs toastie maker came in an attractive black and stainless steel finish which complemented the other appliances in my kitchen.

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The sandwich maker
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Once removed from the box and protective packaging, the appliance itself looked quite small. That's because it is. Manufactured in matt black with a visually appealing brushed stainless steel top, this petite sandwich maker looks good in a modern kitchen. Its non-slip feet effectively grip the kitchen worktop and reduce any potential movement of the appliance during use. On top of the sandwich maker are two indicator lights and straddling the handle is a black plastic locking catch. Inside the toaster are the upper and lower black non-stick toasting plates. The appliance boasts an upright storage facility, which basically means you can stand it on its end when not in use - big deal!

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Using the appliance
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The toaster is simple to use. Before using for the first time it is necessary to wipe down the non-stick surfaces of the toasting plates using a damp cloth. Once plugged in, the manual says that a red "power" light should be visible on the top of the toaster. This light is actually orange, and remains illuminated as long as the appliance is connected to the electricity supply. Adjacent to this power light is a green "ready" light which comes on and cycles on and off with the thermostat, when the green light goes off, the appliance is ready for use - it only takes about 3 minutes to heat up.

To make two rounds of sandwiches, you need to butter 4 rounds of bread and trim the slices to fit the non stick plates - I found I needed to chop about an inch off the end of a standard round of bread. Place the bread butter side down onto the bottom cooking plates and add the filling to the triangular shaped depressions which develop in the bread. Do not overfill because a) the lid will be a nightmare to close and b) the melted filling will ooze out the back of the toasted into the difficult to clean hinged area. Once the filling is in place, put the two remaining slices of bread on top, butter side up and close the lid, securing it shut with the plastic latch located on the handle. After 3 or 4 minutes, the sandwich is done and the result is usually an appetising crispy, golden brown outer shell containing a delicious hot melted filling. Take care when removing the toastie from the appliance because the steam trapped between the cooking plates is released when the handle latch is unlocked. When the sandwich is removed from the toaster, you will need to cut it on the diagonal with a knife because even though the edges are sealed, the separating ridge on the plates doesn't cut deep enough to split the two halves. All the sandwiches I have made have tasted great but please make sure you let them cool down before serving to small children, because the melted filling (particularly cheese) is like Napalm.

After use, let the appliance cool down and wipe the non-stick plates with a damp cloth - I find absorbent kitchen paper works best - it really is that easy to clean. The toaster is a nightmare to clean if melted filling has oozed its way to the hinge area.

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My opinion and criticisms
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Overall, the toaster is easy to use and does make great sandwiches, however I do have a few things to moan about.
Firstly, it is very small and therefore the sandwiches it makes are small and shallow. I object to having to trim the bread so much. With some loaves I have had to remove the crusts and trim an inch off the end to make it fit the plates - a bit of a waste really. When using thick sliced bread, I found the toaster difficult to close with a lot of pressure being placed on the fragile looking hinge at the back of the appliance.
Secondly, I have issues with the plastic locking catch on the handle because it is so flimsy and doesn't always close properly. If I am handling an appliance which gets very hot, I want a catch which shuts securely with a positive click - not some flimsy little catch which looks and feels as though it can spring open at any moment. The catch and hinge mechanisms appear so feeble, I don't expect them to survive for long and I've uncharacteristically made a careful note of where I've put the receipt and product guarantee.

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Conclusion
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This visually appealing item is very easy to use and the non-stick plates are very easy to clean. It does make tasty, albeit small canapé sized sandwiches but I feel it will only be a matter of time before the locking catch and/or the hinge snaps rendering the product useless. With regard to value for money, I feel a little disappointed because although aesthetically pleasing and functional it is on the small side and not mechanically robust enough for my liking.

Summary: Looks good, but not very big or robust.