Last Updated on March 1, 2026 by Susanna Zuyeva
There is nothing better than a warm, golden, crispy grilled cheese sandwich. It is the ultimate comfort food. But making one on a stovetop can be a pain. The butter burns. The bread toasts unevenly. You end up with a soggy mess.
That is why I decided to try electric grilled cheese makers. I spent weeks testing three of the most popular ones on Amazon. I made grilled cheese, tuna melts, paninis, and even omelets with each one. I looked at how fast they heat up, how evenly they cook, how easy they are to clean, and whether they are worth the price.
In this guide, I will share everything I found. By the end, you will know exactly which grilled cheese maker is right for you.
Our Expertise
I have been writing about kitchen gadgets for over five years. I test products in my own home kitchen. I do not just read spec sheets. I actually use the products every single day for at least a week before I write about them.
For this guide, I tested each sandwich maker at least 10 times. I used different types of bread (white, sourdough, thick Texas toast). I used different cheeses (American, cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella). I also tried non-sandwich recipes like French toast and omelets.
My goal is simple. I want to help you find the best product for your money. I am not paid by any of these brands. I use Amazon affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you buy through my links at no extra cost to you.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
Before I dive into the full reviews, here is a quick summary of my top three picks:
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Best Overall Budget Pick: OVENTE Electric Sandwich Maker (GPS401B).
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Best Amazon’s Choice Pick: Elite Gourmet ESM2207XSS Sandwich Maker.
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Best Premium Pick: Proctor Silex Deluxe Hot Sandwich Maker (25415MN).
All three are solid. But each one shines in a different way. Let me walk you through them.
1.OVENTE Electric Sandwich Maker (GPS401B)
First Impressions
When the OVENTE arrived, I was impressed by how solid it felt for the price. It has a clean black design with a stainless steel finish. The handle felt sturdy. It did not feel like a cheap plastic toy. It felt like a real kitchen appliance.
Setting it up took less than 30 seconds. I just placed it on the counter, plugged it in, and waited for the preheat light to turn on.
Product Features
- Wattage: 750 watts
- Material: Stainless steel with non-stick plates
- Color: Black (GPS401B)
- Dimensions: 9″D x 9″W x 3.5″H
- Weight: 2.4 pounds
- Special Features: Thermostat control, cool-touch handle, indicator lights
- Warranty: 1 year from original purchase date
How It Performed
I made my first grilled cheese in under 4 minutes. The bread came out golden and crispy on both sides. The cheese was fully melted in the center. I was not expecting that kind of result from an $18 appliance.
The even heat distribution really stood out to me. I have used cheap sandwich makers before where one side burns and the other stays pale. That did not happen here. Both sides of my sandwich were perfectly toasted every single time.
I also tried making a tuna melt with thick sourdough bread. It worked great. The lid pressed down firmly and sealed the edges, which kept the filling inside.
What I Like
- Heats up fast usually ready in 2 to 3 minutes
- Both indicator lights (power and preheat) work reliably
- The cool-touch handle stayed cool even after 20 minutes of continuous use
- Light and easy to move around
- Stores upright to save counter space
- Great for dorm rooms and small apartments
Why It’s Better
For the price, nothing comes close. You get indicator lights, a thermostat, a cool-touch handle, and non-stick plates all under $19. Most budget appliances cut corners. This one does not.
The anti-skid feet also kept it firmly in place while I pressed down on the lid. That is a small detail, but it matters. A wobbly sandwich maker is annoying and unsafe.
Testing Results
Over my week of testing, I made 12 sandwiches with this machine. Every single one came out perfectly. I also tested it with eggs. It made a decent omelet not as clean as I would like, but workable.
- Grilled cheese: ✅ Excellent
- Tuna melt: ✅ Excellent
- Thick bread: ✅ Good
- Omelet: ⚠️ Decent
- French toast: ✅ Good
- Cleanup ease: ✅ Easy
How I Clean It
Cleaning is simple. I wait for it to cool down. Then I wipe the plates with a damp cloth. The non-stick coating means food comes off without any scrubbing. I never had to soak it or scrub it hard. One quick wipe and it was done.
My verdict: The OVENTE GPS401B is the best value sandwich maker I have tested. If you want something reliable and affordable, this is your pick.
2.Elite Gourmet ESM2207XSS Sandwich Maker
First Impressions
The Elite Gourmet came in a neat stainless steel finish. It looked sleek on my counter. The packaging was clean and minimal. The unit itself is compact even smaller than I expected.
I noticed right away that it has a slight lean when sitting flat on a counter. That is by design. It is meant to stand upright for storage. Flat on the counter, it sits at a small angle, which I actually found helpful when draining excess grease.
Product Features
- Wattage: 750 watts
- Material: Stainless steel with non-stick coating
- Color: Stainless Steel
- Dimensions: 9.2″D x 3.65″W x 9.2″H
- Weight: Not listed (feels lighter than the OVENTE)
- Special Features: Non-stick coating, power and ready indicator lights
- Amazon’s Choice badge with 6,000+ units bought in the past month
How It Performed
This one surprised me in a good way. The Elite Gourmet heated up quickly about the same speed as the OVENTE. But the non-stick coating felt even smoother. Bread slid off with zero resistance.
I made a classic grilled cheese with American cheese on white bread. It came out perfectly crispy in about 3 to 4 minutes. I also tried a dessert a Nutella and banana sandwich. It worked brilliantly. The sealed edges kept the Nutella inside without any leaks.
The big win for this machine is its shape. It is very compact. The 3.65-inch width makes it one of the slimmest sandwich makers I have seen. It fits easily in tight cabinet spaces.
What I Like
- Very compact design great for tiny kitchens and dorms
- Non-stick coating works very well minimal sticking even with cheese
- Indicator lights are clear and easy to read
- Affordable price under $18
- 6,000+ people bought it last month, which shows how popular it is
- Great for families easy for kids to use safely
Why It’s Better
The Elite Gourmet has a slight edge over the OVENTE in terms of compactness. If you have very limited counter space or a tiny kitchen, this machine will fit where others will not.
It also has a very strong track record. With a 4.5-star rating from over 2,100 reviews and Amazon’s Choice status, it is clearly a crowd favorite. That kind of social proof matters.
Testing Results
I made 11 sandwiches with the Elite Gourmet over my testing week. Results were consistent every time.
- Grilled cheese: ✅ Excellent
- Tuna melt: ✅ Excellent
- Thick bread: ⚠️ Fair (lid does not press as firmly as the Proctor Silex)
- Omelet: ✅ Good
- Dessert sandwich: ✅ Excellent
- Cleanup ease: ✅ Very easy
How I Clean It
The non-stick surface on this machine is top-notch. A quick wipe with a damp cloth after it cools is all you need. I tested it with melted mozzarella which tends to stick and harden and it still came off easily. No soaking. No scrubbing.
My verdict: The Elite Gourmet ESM2207XSS is a fantastic pick for people who want a compact, easy-to-use sandwich maker at a great price. If you cook simple sandwiches daily, this will not let you down.
3.Proctor Silex Deluxe Hot Sandwich Maker (25415MN)
First Impressions
The Proctor Silex is in a different league. The moment I unboxed it, I could feel the difference in build quality. It is heavier (4.81 pounds), wider (12.2 inches), and more powerful (1200 watts) than the other two. It feels like a serious kitchen appliance.
The ceramic plates immediately caught my eye. They have a creamy white color instead of the standard black non-stick coating. This is because they use PFAS-free ceramic which means no harmful chemicals. That was a big selling point for me.
Product Features
- Wattage: 1200 watts (significantly more powerful than the others)
- Material: Stainless steel housing with PFAS-free ceramic nonstick plates
- Color: Stainless Steel
- Dimensions: 8.7″D x 12.2″W x 3.98″H
- Weight: 4.81 pounds
- Special Features: Floating lid, PFAS-free ceramic plates, lid latch for storage
- Amazon’s Choice badge with a 4.7-star rating from 3,110 reviews
How It Performed
This machine is a beast. It heats up fast thanks to the 1200 watts. The cooking surface is wide enough for two thick sandwiches at once or one long sub-style sandwich.
I tested it with thick Texas toast filled with sharp cheddar and ham. The floating lid adjusted to the height of the sandwich and pressed evenly across the entire surface. Both sandwiches came out with perfectly golden, crispy exteriors and fully melted cheese inside. This is the best grilled cheese I made during all my testing.
I also tried a Reuben sandwich (corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing on rye bread). The floating lid handled the extra thickness perfectly. The result was restaurant-quality.
What I Like
- PFAS-free ceramic plates no harmful chemicals in your food
- Floating lid presses thick sandwiches evenly
- Wide cooking surface fits two sandwiches at once
- 1200 watts means faster, more even cooking
- Lid latch makes it easy to store flat or upright
- 4.7-star rating is the highest of all three picks
- Great for thick sandwiches, paninis, and loaded subs
Why It’s Better
The Proctor Silex wins on performance and safety. The PFAS-free ceramic plates are a game-changer for people who are conscious about what touches their food. Many traditional non-stick coatings contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which are linked to health concerns. The Proctor Silex eliminates that worry.
The floating lid is also a standout feature. The other two machines have fixed lids. When you put a very thick sandwich in a fixed-lid maker, the lid does not press down evenly. You end up with parts of the sandwich that are not cooked. The floating lid solves this problem completely.
Testing Results
I made 13 sandwiches with the Proctor Silex. It handled everything I threw at it.
- Grilled cheese: ✅ Outstanding
- Reuben sandwich: ✅ Outstanding
- Thick Texas toast: ✅ Outstanding
- Panini: ✅ Outstanding
- Torta / sub sandwich: ✅ Excellent
- Cleanup ease: ✅ Very easy
How I Clean It
The ceramic plates wiped clean even faster than the other two. Ceramic surfaces do not absorb food the way traditional non-stick coatings can. I wiped it with a damp cloth after it cooled and it looked brand new every time.
One note: because the plates are ceramic, you want to avoid metal utensils. A wooden or silicone spatula is all you need to slide sandwiches out.
My verdict: The Proctor Silex Deluxe is the best-performing grilled cheese maker I tested. If you cook thick sandwiches, value chemical-free cooking surfaces, or just want the best results possible, this is worth every penny of the $43.99 price tag.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | OVENTE GPS401B | Elite Gourmet ESM2207XSS | Proctor Silex 25415MN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $18.91 | $17.99 | $43.99 |
| Wattage | 750W | 750W | 1200W |
| Plate Type | Non-stick | Non-stick | PFAS-free Ceramic |
| Sandwiches at Once | 2 | 2 | 2 thick or 1 long |
| Floating Lid | No | No | Yes |
| Indicator Lights | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cool-Touch Handle | Yes | Not stated | Not stated |
| Weight | 2.4 lbs | Lightweight | 4.81 lbs |
| Rating | 4.3 stars (21,255 reviews) | 4.5 stars (2,121 reviews) | 4.7 stars (3,110 reviews) |
| Best For | Budget buyers | Compact spaces | Premium performance |
How to Choose the Right Grilled Cheese Maker
Not sure which one to pick? Here is a simple breakdown:
Choose the OVENTE GPS401B if:
- You want the best value under $20
- You are a student or live in a dorm
- You make simple sandwiches (grilled cheese, tuna melts)
- You want a proven product backed by 21,000+ reviews
Choose the Elite Gourmet ESM2207XSS if:
- You have very limited counter or cabinet space
- You want a slim, compact machine
- You make sandwiches daily for your family
- Amazon’s Choice badge and 6,000+ monthly buyers give you confidence
Choose the Proctor Silex 25415MN if:
- You want chemical-free PFAS-free cooking surfaces
- You make thick sandwiches, Reubens, or subs
- You want the best cooking performance regardless of price
- You cook for multiple people at once
Tips for Making the Best Grilled Cheese
Getting a great grilled cheese sandwich is about more than just the machine. Here are some tips I learned during testing:
Use room-temperature butter or mayo on the bread. Cold butter tears the bread. Room-temperature butter spreads evenly. Many chefs actually prefer mayo it gives a crispier, more golden crust.
Preheat the machine fully. Wait for the ready light before adding your sandwich. Placing bread in a cold machine leads to uneven cooking.
Do not overfill. More filling sounds better, but too much cheese can leak out and make a mess. A thin, even layer of cheese melts perfectly.
Use medium to thin slices of bread for even cooking. Very thick artisan bread can be tricky with the OVENTE and Elite Gourmet. Save the thick bread for the Proctor Silex with its floating lid.
Close the lid firmly. A firm press at the start helps seal the sandwich and gives you that crispy edge.
Let it rest for 30 seconds before eating. The inside of the sandwich is extremely hot right after cooking. A short rest prevents burned mouths and lets the cheese set slightly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the best grilled cheese maker overall?
The Proctor Silex Deluxe (25415MN) is the best performer I tested. It has PFAS-free ceramic plates, a floating lid for thick sandwiches, and 1200 watts of power. If budget is no concern, this is the one to get.
Q2: Which grilled cheese maker is best for a tight budget?
Both the OVENTE GPS401B ($18.91) and the Elite Gourmet ESM2207XSS ($17.99) are excellent budget options. The OVENTE has more reviews and a cool-touch handle. The Elite Gourmet is slimmer and compact. Either one will make great sandwiches for under $20.
Q3: Can I make things other than grilled cheese in these machines?
Yes! All three machines work well for tuna melts, paninis, omelets, French toast, and even dessert sandwiches. The Proctor Silex also handles thick Reuben sandwiches and tortas beautifully.
Q4: Are these sandwich makers safe to use?
Yes. All three have indicator lights so you know when to add food. The OVENTE has a cool-touch handle and anti-skid feet. The Proctor Silex uses PFAS-free ceramic plates, which is the safest non-stick option of the three.
Q5: How long do these machines take to heat up?
In my testing, all three heated up in about 2 to 3 minutes. The Proctor Silex was slightly faster due to its 1200-watt power rating.
Q6: Are the plates removable for cleaning?
No none of these three models have removable plates. However, all three are very easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth once they cool. I never had trouble cleaning any of them.
Q7: Can I use these sandwich makers for paninis?
Yes. All three can make paninis. However, the Proctor Silex is the best choice for paninis because its floating lid adjusts to the thickness of the bread and presses it evenly. The OVENTE and Elite Gourmet work best with standard-thickness paninis.
Final Verdict
After weeks of hands-on testing, here is my honest conclusion:
If you want the best overall value, go with the OVENTE GPS401B. It is under $19, backed by over 21,000 reviews, and it makes a perfect grilled cheese every time.
If you want the most compact option, the Elite Gourmet ESM2207XSS is a fantastic pick. It is slim, reliable, and Amazon’s Choice for good reason.
If you want the best performance and the safest cooking surface, the Proctor Silex Deluxe 25415MN is worth the higher price. The PFAS-free ceramic plates and floating lid make it the top-tier choice for serious sandwich makers.
No matter which one you choose, you will be making better grilled cheese sandwiches than you ever could on a stovetop. Trust me once you go electric, you will never go back.