The Ultimate in Toasted Sandwiches

The Tower Deep Fill 3-in-1 Sandwich Maker with Toasted and Grilled Sandwich plus Waffle Plates.  

Product Description. 

This Tower T27032 Deep Fill 3-in-1 snack maker is another in the line of these multifunctional kitchen appliances that comes complete with interchangeable top and bottom waffle, sealed toastie and panini grill plates.

The non-stick plates allow the snacks to be released easily and can be totally removed to make cleaning easier.

With power and ready, red and green indicator lights, easily interchangeable plates and a locking latch, this snack maker is simple to operate.

It has 900W of power and large 28.5cm x 15.2cm plates for thicker waffles and tasty paninis up to 25cm long.

The Tower T27032 Deep Fill 3-in-1 snack maker in this review is black with what is described as a rose gold coloured stainless steel cover. 

At the time of writing, there is another Tower model available with the model number T27020. This model appears to be a little more expensive from most outlets. 

The main difference we can tell is that the interchangeable plates are of a non-stick coated ceramic material, the plate release buttons are slightly different and the cover is a silver coloured stainless steel. The plates appear to be of the same large size with the "press pattern" of the toastie plates a little different, but we have no feedback in this review of the effectiveness or otherwise of the ceramic coating.

Product Review.

Out Of The Box...

The Tower Deep Fill 3 in 1 sandwich maker is a very reasonably priced, multifunctional machine that grills snacks for every meal time with the 3 extra-deep interchangeable plates, each specifically designed for deliciously packed toasties, paninis or waffles.

The removable plates, mean you get a versatile product with an easy clean non-stick cooking surface for fast and simple maintenance. 

It’s simple design is similar to most other 3 in 1 machines on the market, with a locking handle, stainless-steel cover, as well as the standard indicator lights and automatic temperature control to ensure precise grilling every time.

It is compact and doesn’t take up too much space and yet the sandwich plates are large at 28.5cm x 15.2cm compared to most of the other basic toastie maker machines.

At First Use...

Upon using for the first time, there was a smell of smoke to start with but we put this down to the elements being new, and found that this gradually diminished after several uses.

This particular model took about five minutes to warm up and is ready for use when the green indicator light on the top of the toastie maker goes out.

The interchangeable plates are easy to switch by just pushing in the two tabs above the plates, and they release very easily. To refit the plates after cleaning or to place in a different plate, then simply place the edge nearest the hinge first then the edge nearest the locking tabs clicks into place.

They appear to be reasonably effective as a non-stick coating, but although the instructions say these are dishwasher safe we preferred to either wipe with a cloth or remove and hand wash with soapy water (take care not to scratch).

This machine has a lock in the handle which secures the lid when cooking toasties or waffles.

Also, the lid is relatively light, so will not squash the fillings when you’re toasting paninis. 

Useful Observations...

We found the Tower Deep Fill 3 in 1 snack maker simple to use and after starting with a simple cheese toastie, were soon experimenting with different fillings. 

With the toastie plates in place it was found that they required quite a good sized slice as opposed to some of the more basic models where you often had to cut off the crusts to fit. We had to experiment with a few different loaves as ideally the width of the slice needs to be 14cm approx.

The cooking time is dependent on personal preference and how golden brown you prefer your toastie but this will range from 4 to 7 minutes as a guide. The green light will turn on and off as the thermostat keeps the plates at the proper temperature.

As a tip we found that with this "deep fill" model it was best to ensure they were not underfilled as it may result in uneven browning.

With the grill plates in place and warmed up as normal these are ideal for making great paninis and grilled sandwiches. Simply place your chosen sandwich on the bottom plate and bring down the top plate with a little pressure on to the top of your panini or sandwich and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. 

This should provide a nicely crisp surface with clearly defined grill lines while the filling should be nicely warmed through without squashing out and lightly melted in the middle. As with anything, the cooking times can depend on the thickness of the bread and the density and type of filling, so it is best to check as you go. 

With the waffle plates fitted, and using a standard shop bought waffle mixture, we found a good rise and these were cooked on the outside but a little undercooked inside. This may be due to the deeper plates, and so to achieve a more even cooking it would be necessary to experiment with different mixtures and different cooking times.

In Summary

If you’re looking for a well priced sandwich maker that gives you the option to do paninis and waffles, then the Tower T27032, at £25 to £35 is well worth considering. 

The aforementioned T27020 model with ceramic plates is a little more expensive at £35 to £40.

The toastie and grill plates are, in our opinion, the two best features, offering the opportunity to make all sorts of perfectly toasted and grilled sandwiches.

The waffle plates are a handy third option but a little more difficult to achieve the perfect option every time. However, you would not be looking at this machine if waffles were your main reason for purchasing as there are plenty of specialist waffle makers on the market.