George Foreman Toastie Makers: Using a Health Grill for Toasties
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George Foreman doesn't really make a classic sealed toastie maker; its UK range is built around health grills with ridged plates that also press sandwiches. A George Foreman grill makes a very good panini-style toastie with crisp stripes, but it won't seal the edges into triangles, so runny fillings can escape. Buy one if you want a grill first and toasties second; buy a sealed toastie maker if toasties are the main job.
Quick answer: For grilling plus pressed toasties, the George Foreman Medium Removable Plates Grill is the sensible pick because the plates go in the dishwasher. If you want something larger, look at the Immersa range. If you mainly want sealed cheese toasties, skip George Foreman and get a Breville deep fill instead.
On this page
The George Foreman range for toasties
The UK George Foreman range is organised by size, often in "portions", and by whether the plates come out. Model codes change regularly, so check the current listing.
| Type | Plates | Best for | Typical price band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small/compact fixed-plate grill | Fixed, ridged | One person, occasional paninis | Usually £20–£35 |
| Medium removable plates grill (e.g. 24330) | Removable, ridged, dishwasher safe | Couples; easy-clean toasties and grilling | Usually £40–£60 |
| Immersa health grills (e.g. 28310 Medium) | Removable, dishwasher safe | Regular grilling with toasties on the side | Usually £50–£80 |
| Large/indoor-outdoor grills (e.g. 22460) | Large removable plate | Families, barbecue-style cooking | Usually £70–£110 |
How a George Foreman grill handles toasties
A sealed toastie maker and a contact grill do different things to a sandwich. Understanding that is the whole buying decision. We go deeper in toastie maker vs health grill.
No sealed edges
Toastie makers have shaped wells with raised edges that crimp the bread shut. George Foreman plates are flat with ridges, so the sandwich is pressed rather than sealed. Hard cheeses, ham and thinly spread fillings are fine. Baked beans, tuna mayo or very generous cheese will ooze out.
The slope
Most George Foreman grills sit at a slight tilt so fat runs into a drip tray. That is good for burgers and less good for melted cheese, which can creep downhill. Some models can be levelled; on others, keep fillings a centimetre from the crust and use slightly less cheese than you would in a sealed machine.
Floating hinge and thick bread
Larger George Foreman models typically have a hinge that rises to sit evenly on thick food. That makes them better than a toastie maker for sourdough, ciabatta, bagels and loaded paninis. A sealed toastie maker struggles with anything thicker than medium sliced bread. If panini-style sandwiches are your thing, also see our best panini press guide.
Timing
Once preheated, a pressed toastie usually takes around 3–5 minutes on a George Foreman grill, depending on bread thickness and the model's power. Butter the outside of the bread lightly; the ridges give you crisp stripes.
Recommended George Foreman grills for toasties
George Foreman Medium Removable Plates Grill
The medium removable plates grill is the best all-rounder for people who want burgers, chicken and halloumi as well as pressed toasties. The plates unclip for the dishwasher, which solves the classic George Foreman complaint of scrubbing grease out of fixed ridges. It is sized for roughly two toasties at once.
- Dishwasher-safe removable plates
- Grill and panini in one
- Handles thicker breads
- No sealed edges
- Sloped plates can let cheese run
- Bulky compared with a toastie maker
George Foreman Immersa Medium Health Grill
The Immersa range is designed around easy cleaning, with removable plates listed as dishwasher safe. Choose this if you will use the grill several times a week and want toasties as a bonus.
- Removable dishwasher-safe plates
- Fat drains away from food
- Costs more than a dedicated toastie maker
- Pressed rather than sealed toasties
Breville Deep Fill Sandwich Toaster (VST041)
Not a George Foreman, but the right answer if you were looking for a "George Foreman toastie maker" mainly to make toasties. Deep wells and cut-and-seal edges keep fillings inside. See the Breville Deep Fill review.
- Properly sealed triangles
- Cheaper than most George Foreman grills
- Can't grill meat well
- Fixed plates
Reliability, cleaning and warranty
George Foreman grills have a long track record, and the most common owner complaint is cleaning fixed-plate models: grease and cheese get stuck in the ridges. That is why we suggest removable plates. On fixed-plate models, wipe with a damp cloth or the supplied scraper while warm (unplugged), and never use metal tools. Our cleaning guide covers burnt-on cheese.
Warranty terms are typically a couple of years and may be extended by registering online; some larger models carry longer guarantees. Check the specific listing and keep your receipt.
Watch out: Waffle and sandwich plate accessories have been sold for some George Foreman models in the past, but availability is patchy. Don't buy a grill expecting to add toastie plates later unless the listing confirms compatible plates are sold in the UK.
George Foreman vs a dedicated toastie maker
| George Foreman grill | Sealed toastie maker | |
|---|---|---|
| Toastie shape | Pressed, striped, open edges | Sealed triangles |
| Wet fillings (beans, tuna) | Leaky | Good, especially deep fill |
| Thick bread | Good with floating hinge | Limited |
| Other uses | Meat, fish, veg, halloumi | Toasties, eggs, hash browns |
| Price | Usually higher | Usually lower |
For the panini side of this decision, read toastie maker vs panini press. For a ranked list across every type, see the best toastie maker guide.
Where to buy
George Foreman grills are widely stocked at Argos, Currys, supermarkets and Amazon, and the range shifts with seasonal promotions. Check our where to buy hub and the Currys guide for how each retailer handles returns and click and collect.
Getting better toasties from a George Foreman
- Use medium sliced bread or sturdier. Thin bread presses flat and dries out on ridged plates; sourdough and bloomer work well. See best bread for toasties.
- Grate the cheese. It melts faster and more evenly than slices, before the bread over-browns.
- Lower the lid gently. Let the weight of the lid do the work instead of pressing down, which squeezes filling out of the open edges.
- Put the narrow end uphill. On sloped models, angle the sandwich so the thickest part of the filling sits at the higher side.
- Butter, don't oil. A thin layer of butter or mayo on the outside gives a better crust; see butter or mayo for toasties.
FAQs
Can you make a cheese toastie in a George Foreman grill?
Yes. Butter the outside, keep the cheese away from the edges, and close the lid gently. It comes out pressed and striped rather than sealed, a bit like a panini.
Does George Foreman make a sandwich maker?
George Foreman's UK range is built around grills. It has occasionally sold models with interchangeable plates, but there is no mainstream George Foreman sealed toastie maker we can confirm as current.
Do I need to preheat a George Foreman for toasties?
Yes. Preheat until the ready light shows, usually a few minutes, so the bread crisps before the filling overheats and leaks.
Why does cheese run out of my George Foreman toastie?
The plates slope and don't seal. Use less cheese, grate it finely, and keep it in the middle. Our leak-stopping guide has more fixes.