Gorenje SM 701

Mini grill

The well-known Slovenian company Gorenje offers not an ordinary sandwich maker for making sandwiches, but a mini-grill at an affordable price. It consists of two corrugated surfaces without traditional divisions into triangles, therefore it allows you to cook a wide variety of products: sandwiches, shawarma, ordinary toast with beautiful stripes, and some even use it as an electric grill for roasting meat, fish and vegetables. However the device is not intended for these purposes: the power is not so high (700 W), and for obvious reasons there is no tray for oil and fat. But for heating, for example, pancakes or pizza (on the one hand), it is quite suitable.

The plates themselves are not too big, but they can accommodate two square-shaped toasted bread sandwiches. They have a non-stick coating, as a result of which the products do not burn, and there is no need to use oil. However they are not removable, which makes cleaning difficult: after using the plate, it is necessary to wipe it with a cotton cloth, that is, you cannot wash them under running water. Fortunately, the coating is easy to clean, it is not difficult to remove leaked melted cheese. There is a clip-lock, but it is better not to use it when cooking thick sandwiches, so as not to damage the device.

Without buttons and modes

The sandwich maker works quite simply and clearly, and even a child will understand the controls, since there are no buttons on the case. Switching on and off occurs through a socket, which is not very convenient, there is only one mode. But they added two indicators with different colours: one signals the inclusion, the other — that the plates have warmed up to the required temperature and are ready to work. But, unfortunately, there is no timer: you will have to time yourself and check whether the sandwiches are ready.

Ease of use and storage

Despite the simplicity of the device, the manufacturer took care of the ease of use and storage. During operation, the upper part of the case may become hot, but the handles remain cool and will not burn your hands. It is also convenient to use them as a carrying handle. Although the grill itself does not take up much space, it can be stored both horizontally and vertically, so it will have a place in the closet and on any countertop. And at the base there is a cord winder to save even more space. However the cord itself is a bit short — only 70 cm, so you will either have to choose a place at the outlet, or use an extension cord.