Who this is for

Small-kitchen banana-toastie regulars

You mainly make banana toasties and need to put the appliance away between uses. A deep-fill design and a seal around the filling matter, but so does checking whether the closed toaster fits your storage space.

Cooks who prioritise clean-up

You regularly use banana, chocolate or other sticky fillings and would value plates that can be removed for washing. Check the exact model: removable and dishwasher-safe are separate features to confirm.

One-appliance snack makers

You would use waffle or grill plates as well as sandwich plates often enough to give the extra components a storage place.

What matters when choosing

Check where the toaster will live before comparing extra functions. Then decide whether easier cleaning or additional plate types justify the space those choices may require.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Storage space Compare closed dimensions with your shelf or cupboard; check for upright storage and a place for the cord. I need to put the toaster away after use rather than leave it on a crowded worktop. Around 40% of consumers put compact storage first.
Filling and clean-up Look for deep-fill and cut-and-seal plates; confirm whether the exact model has removable, dishwasher-safe plates. With banana or chocolate in the sandwich, I want the filling contained and the plates manageable to clean. For around 40% of consumers, this is the primary concern.
Additional uses Check which sandwich, waffle or grill plates are included and where unused plates will be stored. If I also make waffles or grilled snacks, I would use the extra plates enough to keep them. Around 20% of consumers prioritise those additional uses.

Buying pitfalls

  • Filling a deep-fill toaster to the edges

    Deep-fill plates still need room to seal the bread. Filling at the edges can leak and leave more to clean.

    Follow the instructions for your model. The Breville VST082 manual specifies a 2 cm gap around the filling; keep sliced banana within that border.

  • Measuring only the closed appliance

    A toaster may fit on a shelf but be awkward to lift out or open, while interchangeable plates need somewhere to go.

    Measure the storage area and check the appliance’s closed dimensions, upright-storage arrangement and space needed for any separate plates.

  • Assuming non-stick means removable

    Cleaning depends on the exact plate design: fixed plates are cleaned in place, while only plates specified as removable can be taken out.

    Check the model’s plate and cleaning instructions before choosing it for sticky fillings; confirm dishwasher suitability separately.

Brands and model ranges to consider

Breville

The VST091 and VST082 offer different approaches to deep-fill toasties and upright storage.

  • Breville specifies cut-and-seal plates and cord storage for the fixed-plate VST091; the VST082 has removable, dishwasher-safe plates.
  • Choose by the exact model’s cleaning arrangement rather than assuming both have removable plates.

Russell Hobbs

The Cook@Home 24530-56 is a two-portion deep-fill model; the Creations 26810 adds interchangeable plate types.

  • Russell Hobbs specifies upright storage for the 24530-56 and sandwich, waffle and grill plates for the 26810.
  • The 26810’s additional plates also need storage when they are not in use.

Salter

The EK2017S is a two-portion deep-fill model that Salter presents as suitable for banana and chocolate fillings.

  • Salter specifies non-stick deep-fill plates and dimensions of 24.5 × 10.5 × 29.3 cm, which you can compare with your storage space.
  • Confirm the cleaning method in the instructions for this model rather than assuming its plates can be removed.

Tower

The T27031 is a cut-and-seal deep-fill toaster; the T27020 is a separate model with interchangeable sandwich, waffle and grill plates.

  • These model choices let you compare a dedicated toastie format with additional plate types.
  • Do not assume the T27031 has the T27020’s interchangeable plates.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Common questions

Can I put banana in a deep-fill sandwich toaster?

Yes, if the model is suitable for sweet fillings and you leave room for the bread to seal. Salter lists banana among the fillings for its EK2017S; for the Breville VST082, follow its manual’s instruction to leave a 2 cm gap around the filling.

Are removable plates worth choosing for banana toasties?

Removable plates are worth considering if cleaning sticky fillings is a priority. Breville specifies removable, dishwasher-safe plates for the VST082, whereas the VST091 has fixed plates; check the cleaning instructions for whichever model you choose.

What should I measure before buying a sandwich toaster?

Measure where the closed toaster will be stored and allow room to lift it out and open it. Compare those measurements with the dimensions of the exact model, and account separately for any interchangeable plates.

How should I clean a sandwich toaster after making banana toasties?

Switch it off, unplug it and let it cool before following the exact model’s cleaning instructions. The Breville VST082 manual says not to immerse the main body, cord or plug, and not to use steel wool, abrasive cleaners or metal utensils.