Last Updated: February 2023
If you love the warm, soft and cheesy goodness of a quesadilla, then chances are that a quesadilla maker will be an appliance that will be worth while having in your kitchen. While you can certainly use a traditional pan or skillet to cook quesadillas, if you want them to be prepared to absolute perfection, you are going to want to invest in one of these handy appliances.
Resembling a round waffle iron, a quesadilla maker is an appliance that is specifically designed to cook quesadillas. They feature a bottom pan and a top lid. On the inside portion of the bottom pan and the top lid are metal plates. Heat is distributed through these plates from a heating element, and that heat is then applied to the tortilla and distributed through the tortillas and the ingredients that are placed between them inside the appliance. Additionally, the metal plates have triangle shaped slates, which create separations in the tortillas, eliminating the need for you to cut the finished product.
The advantage of this appliance over a traditional pan or skillet is that it offers a more consistent temperature and cooks both the top and bottom of the quesadilla simultaneously, eliminating the need to flip the tortillas over midway through cooking, thus ensuring that both the top and bottom are cooked to the same degree of doneness (if you have ever overcooked one side of a quesadilla on a traditional pan or skillet, you know what an advantage even cooking will provide.) Another advantage of this appliance is that it keeps the tortillas pressed together while they are cooking, and seal the edges, thus reducing the chances that the ingredients inside will seep out.
While this may seem like a pretty straightforward appliance to purchase, finding the best one for your specific needs can actually be a bit of a daunting experience. Why? – Well, because there are just so many options out there. In order to help make your search for finding the best quesadilla maker an easier one, we have decided to put together this useful buyer’s guide for you.
In this buyer’s guide, you will find a wealth of information related to quesadilla makers, which will help make finding the best one for your needs a bit easier. We highlight the things that you should know when you are shopping for a quesadilla maker, we discuss the factors that you should consider, and we even share our top five picks for the best quesadilla makers that are currently on the market. After reading this guide, we are confident that you will be able to find the best quesadilla maker for your specific needs.
So, without further ado, let’s start talking about quesadilla makers!
What You Need to Know About Quesadilla Makers
First things first: Let’s discuss what makes for a good quality quesadilla maker, and what makes one, for lack of better words, poor quality. It is important that you are able to discern the elements that make for a high quality appliance and the elements (or lack of elements,) that make for a poor quality appliance. If you aren’t able to do that, you could very well end up purchasing a product that will not deliver you the results that you are expecting.
THE GOOD
There are a number of elements that the best quality quesadilla makers will offer.
Non Stick Plates
The best quesadilla makers offer non stick plates. Non stick plates are coated with a material that prevents ingredients place in the appliance from sticking to them. Often, Teflon, or some other type of material, is used to coat the plates.
Non stick plates are important for three reasons: 1) They will prevent the food from sticking to the plates, which will prevent the quesadillas from burning; 2) They will make it a lot easier to remove the cooked quesadillas from the appliance, and 3) They will make cleaning far easier.
Removable Cooking Plates
The best quesadilla makers also feature removable cooking plates. With removable cooking plates, you simply push a button and the plates come out of the appliance. This makes for the easiest cleaning possible, and prevents the need to have to expose the housing and the electrical components that are housed within it to water, which can help to avoid damaging the unit.
Indicator Lights
Another feature that the best quesadilla makers offer are indicator lights. These lights will allow you to know when the appliance is turned on, when it has reached the ideal temperature setting, and when the quesadilla has finished cooking. In other words, indicator lights make using this appliance a whole lot easier.
Temperature Settings
You may not want to cook all of your quesadillas at the same temperature, which is why an adjustable temperature setting is a feature that the best quesadilla makers will offer. With this element, you can adjust the temperature of the cooking plates, setting them to reach the ideal temperature for the type of quesadilla you want; set it lower for softer quesadillas, and higher for crispier quesadillas.
LED Display
Yet another element that the best quesadilla makers will offer is an LED display. This display will allow you to easily see the temperature settings.
Locking Devices
To ensure safety, you may want to look for a quesadilla maker that offers a locking device. When the lock is activated, the quesadilla maker will not be able to be opened until the lock is deactivated. This can eliminate the potential for burns.
Cool Touch Housing and Handles
Because this appliance has heating elements and hot plates, the housing and any handles that it may have can become hot. To avoid burns, look for a product that features handles and a housing that are constructed of materials that are heat resistant and will remain cool to the touch, thus reducing the chances of sustaining a burn.
THE BAD
There are also features, or lack of featurs, that indicate that a quesadilla maker is less than great quality. Here’s what to look out for and avoid buying.
No Non Stick Plates
If you want to make the best quesadillas, you are going to want to choose an appliance that has non stick plates. Sure, you could get away without having non stick plates and spray the heating plates with a non stick spray; however, what happens when you forget the spray? You could end up burning your food, the food could get stuck inside, and clean up will be a lot more challenging.
No Temperature Settings
Some quesadilla makers don’t offer temperature settings, rather, they simply plug in and the heating plates warm up to one constant temperature. This gives you less flexibility and will not allow you to cook your quesadilla to your exact liking.
No Cool Touch Housing and Handles
You definitely want to avoid getting burned when you use your quesadilla maker, which is why cool touch handles and housing are important. If the appliance doesn’t offer cool touch materials on the housing and the handles, look for another option.
Best Quesadilla Makers in 2023
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The purpose of this buyer’s guide is to help you find the best quesadilla maker to meet your specific needs. To help you do just that, we have scoured the market and compared the features and the reviews of various products offered by several manufacturers. We have also tested the products out ourselves. After doing such extensive research, our findings have lead us to select the following five quesadilla makers as the best that are currently available on the market.
The Hamilton Beach 25409 Quesadilla Maker
His is a simple, yet totally efficient quesadilla maker, which comes as no surprise, since Hamilton Beach has long excelled at creating exceptional appliances. Their 25409 Quesadilla Maker has an attractive bright red, cool touch housing, which will certainly grab your eye. Open up the quesadilla maker and you will find that that are two non stick cooking surfaces, which are separated into six wedges, allowing you to make quesadillas that are cut into six even triangles.
This quesadilla maker heats up fast; in fact, your quesadillas will be cooked to perfection in just about five minutes, which means that you will be able to enjoy your favorite snack or meal in no time. The power and preheat lights let you know when the appliance is plugged in, and when it has warmed up and is ready to use. The lid locks securely closed, reducing messes and minimizing the chance of sustaining a burn.
The George Foreman GFQ001 Quesadilla Maker in Red
The George Foreman product line is famous for making healthy foods, and their quesadilla maker certainly lives up to that reputation. Heating up in less than five minutes, this appliance will be ready to cook your favorite snack or meal in no time. The 10 inch plate offers plenty of space to make quesadillas that will satisfy even the most ferocious appetite.
Thanks to the 6 deep dish pockets, you can pack your tortillas with as many ingredients as you like, making a full meal in no time. The cooking plates are also non stick, so you can ensure that your quesadillas won’t stick to the surface, reduce the chances of burning, and make cleaning up after you are done using it as easy as possible.
The press and seal lines lock in the fillings and reduce the chances of having them seep out, making less of a mess. A slip resistant grip ensures that the appliance will stay in place, and the power on and ready indicator lights let you know that the appliance is plugged in, and when it is ready to use.
The Nostalgia EQM200 Fiesta Series Six Wedge Electric Quesadilla Maker with Extra Stuffing Latch
If you like to make thick quesadillas that are jam packed with ingredients and flavors, than the Nostalgia EQM200 Fiesta Series Six Wedge Electric Quesadilla Maker with Extra Stuffing Latch is a great choice for you.
Offer non stick cooking plates that are divided into six wedges, this quesadilla maker seals off the tortillas into six individual slices, locking in the ingredients and preventing them from seeping out. The extra stuffing latch provides can be sealed in two positions for think or thick stuffed quesadillas.
A removable drip tray catches any ingredients that may seep out, preventing a mess on your countertop and making clean up a lot easier. The non stick plates are easy to wipe clean, too. A ready light lets you know that the appliance is on and when it has been preheated.
The Black and Decker Quesadilla Maker
Black and Decker is famous for producing the highest quality appliances, and their quesadilla maker is a true testament to the company’s commitment to quality. Offering eight inch non stick plates with six deep dish quesadilla pockets, you can make your favorite quesadillas to absolute perfection in this appliance. The non stick coating ensures that your quesadillas will not stick to the cooking plates, will prevent them from being burned, and will make clean up a cinch; just wipe them down and that’s it!
When the lid closes down on the tortillas, it will create six sealed quesadilla pockets, which will prevent the ingredients from dripping out. The removable drip tray collects anything that may possible drip out, avoiding a mess on the countertop.
The Santa Fe QM2SFR Quesadilla Maker
With the Santa Fe QM2SR Quesadilla Maker, you will be able to make those restaurant quality quesadillas that you love so much right in the comfort of our own home. The appliance can fit tortillas that are up to 12 inches in diameter on its non stick cooking plates. Because the cooking plates are non stick, you don’t have to worry about the potential for your ingredients to get stuck inside, clean up is easier, and you also reduce the chances of having your quesadillas burn.
The power and ready indicator lights let you know when the appliance is on, and when it is warm and ready for you to ready to use. It also comes complete with a built in drip tray, which will collect any ingredients that could possibly drip out, eliminating a potential mess on your countertop.
This appliance also comes backed by a 1 year limited warranty, and a book of tasty recipes.
Our Consumer Guide to Quesadilla Maker
Though we have offered what we deem to be the best quesadilla makers that are currently available on the market, we know that they may not suit your needs. As such, you may be looking to purchase another quesadilla maker that we haven’t listed in this buyer’s guide. Since the goal of our guide is to help you find the best quesadilla maker for your needs, we want to provide you with further information that will help you find the best possible product on your own. For that reason, we have created this consumer guide portion of this buyer’s guide. Here, you will find pertinent information that will help you find the best possible product to fit your specific needs.
Things to Consider When Purchasing a Quesadilla Maker
There are a number of factors that you are going to want to take into consideration when you are shopping for a quesadilla maker. These factors include how quickly the appliance prepares quesadillas, how easy it is to use, and the cost, among other things. By taking these factors into consideration, you will be able to choose the best possible quesadilla maker for your specific needs.
Here’s a look at some of the factors that we think are the most important to bear in mind when you are shopping.
The Size of the Quesadilla Maker
One of the most important factors that you are going want to take into consideration is the size of the quesadilla maker. The size of the appliance will not only indicate the size of the quesadillas that it can make, but it will also determine how much room it will take up on your kitchen countertop, and in your kitchen cabinets when stored away. If you are short on space, you may want to opt for a smaller size so that it doesn’t take up too much room on your countertop, and so that it doesn’t take up too much space in your cabinets.
The Speed at Which it Heats Up
You should also consider the amount of time the quesadilla maker will take to heat up. You obviously don’t want to stand around waiting for a long time for the appliance to heat up. The faster it heats up, the faster it will be ready for you to use.
The Speed of Cooking
Another important factor to take into consideration is the speed at which the appliance will cook your quesadillas. It should be able to cook your quesadillas in just a few minutes; usually six minutes or less. If it takes any longer than that, it is probably safe to say that the unit isn’t the best quality.
The Durability of the Quesadilla Maker
You also want to make sure that your quesadilla maker is as durable as possible. Obviously, the more durable it is, the longer it will last, as it will be able to withstand the high temperatures and excessive use. The most durable models will come will be constructed of durable materials that can stand up to high temperatures. Avoid plastic materials, as they are more likely to melt.
The Fill Pockets
You should also take into consideration the size of the quesadilla pockets. The deeper the pockets are, the more ingredients you can put into the quesadilla, something that is important if you want to make thick quesadillas that are stuffed with lots of cheese and other ingredients.
The Cost of the Quesadilla Maker
Yet another important factor that you are going to want to take into consideration is the cost of the quesadilla maker. These appliances generally aren’t too expensive, but the price can range, which is why it is important to set a budget before you start shopping. Generally, the larger the quesadilla maker is and the more features it offers, the more expensive it is going to be.
Features Quesadilla Makers Can Offer
While quesadilla makers don’t really offer a lot in the way of features, they do offer some. These features are intended to improve the function of the appliance, and make it easier to use. As we said above, the more features that a quesadilla maker offers, the more expensive it is going to be. It is important to understand what these features offer so that you can determine whether you want or need them, and if the added cost will be worth the investment.
Here is a look at some of the top features that quesadilla makers can offer.
Non Stick Cooking Plates
As mentioned above, the best quesadilla makers offer non stick cooking plates; however, not all of them offer these plates. Non stick plates are definitely worth your while, as they will make cooking and cleaning a whole lot easier.
A Drip Tray
Though most quesadilla makers are designed to seal the wedges that are created in the tortilla shut, there is always a chance that the ingredients inside will seep out. In the event that this does happen, there is the potential for a mess to be made, as the ingredients can seep out of the appliance and onto the countertop. A drip tray will catch any ingredients that do seep out, preventing them from dripping onto the countertop and keeping the space a whole lot cleaner.
Cool Touch Housing and Handles
Since a quesadilla maker contains a heating element and cooking plates, the exterior of the unit can become hot, which could potentially lead to burns. In order to prevent burns from happening, you may want to consider a cool touch housing and cool touch handles. This feature will keep these exterior elements from getting hot, which will prevent the potential for being burned.
