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Hamilton Beach® first introduced a single version of their popular Breakfast Sandwich Maker and it took off in leaps and bounds. Their newer Dual model is also getting terrific reviews and I wanted to see why. Can you really make a five-minute egg sandwich with this thing?

Product Description:

Hamilton Beach® Dual Breakfast Sandwich Maker, Type ST30 Model 25490

• Make just 1 or 2 sandwiches
• Ready to eat in 5 minutes

• Audible count-down timer
• Quick and easy recipes included
• Use fresh eggs, veggies; note that meat must be precooked
• Easy cleanup - all removable parts are dishwasher safe
• 1200W
• For more detail: Hamilton Beach U.S. or Hamilton Beach Canada
• MSRP: $44.99 U.S.
• Find more recipes for the Breakfast Maker at Hamilton Beach
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Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.

How the Breakfast Sandwich Maker Performed:

Even though it's a dual maker, this little appliance is very compact with a 7.5" x 10.5" footprint and it also fits easily inside a cabinet or deep drawer. It's quick to use, so if you're going to make singles most of the time, you could even save more space with the smaller unit.

At first glance, you can't help notice all the pieces to this maker, but thankfully, they clean up well if you use an oil spray (recommended by the manufacturer) and parts can be washed in the dishwasher too. We preferred to hand wash; that was fairly quick, when done right after use.

This unit is fun to use. But beware, it does get hot so watch your fingers and older kids should be supervised if they're using it. You can customize the egg toppings, which makes everyone happy - so definitely a crowd pleaser.

We used regular English muffins and homemade gluten-free buns in our tests and they worked well.   I loved being able to make a gluten-free breakfast sandwich, something that cannot be found in fast food joints in my area. That is definitely a plus for this family.

The manual says it takes 5 minutes to make the sandwiches and that is true. We did though reduce it to four minutes and the eggs cooked fully, plus buns were nicely browned. Count on an extra minute or two to cool it down enough to add cheese.

The way the egg, veggies and meat are lined up, the egg cooks right into the top bun - I was skeptical, but was fine. And we pierced the egg yolk. Once assembled, the bottom half separates easily so you can add cheese at that end. Do NOT try to put cheese within the sandwich during cooking - it must be added later.

There's a lot of heat in the cooked sandwich, so let it sit a bit or careful when digging in. Why is this better than frying an egg and adding it to a toasted bun? Made in this machine, the whole thing holds together better than trying to make something similar using a skillet. That's because the egg melds into the top bun which helps the stack stay intact. A much better sandwich experience.

We used extra large eggs with no problem - though large or smaller is recommended. If you're creative, you can concoct some really interesting sandwiches. We added spices, a little salsa, bacon bits, onions, pepper rings, choice of ham and other precooked thinly-sliced meat.

Do not press down when closing the lid; just lower it. Otherwise, the egg will ooze out and will result in more to clean. That easily happens too if your bun is very thick. Remember to grease both top and bottom (ring) edges and both sides of the dividers too. Use a nylon, plastic or silicone spatula to remove the sandwich - no metal. Unplug after use; there's no on/off button.

Overall, this is an awesome appliance that delivers one or two custom breakfast-style sandwiches. Just be aware - there will be parts to clean. We highly recommend it (hubby wanted to give it a 7 out of 5). For singles or the dorm room, the smaller (single) unit may be a better fit. But for those who want two to go, this is the machine for you.

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