Chipotle, limes, avocado, pinto beans, salsa, melted cheese….mmmmm! Mexican food is like no other, and it seems to have reached every corner of the world in some sort of way. Whether its authentic Mexican recipes or a bit of quick tex-mex tacos, Mexican food is almost always a crowd pleaser. If you’re thinking of having a go at making your own Mexican food, or you already have but you’d just like to make the process slick and clean, a quesadilla maker is just what you’re looking for!
If you’re aiming for the fresh, authentic flavors of Mexico, we have a couple of tips on how to get there whilst cutting a few corners, so you don’t have to spend all day in the kitchen. Grab
your immersion blender out of the cupboard and put in it a bowl of avocado, red onion, coriander, a squeeze of lime, and a few chili flakes to make a smooth and creamy guacamole. All your friends will be begging you for your secret recipe of the best guac in town!
Also…cheese. Lots and lots of cheese. Cheese for the nachos, cheese for the dip, and cheese for the filling. And, of course, you want cheese for the topping as well. Grating a tower of cheese can be a pretty tedious job though, so why not check out
a box grater to collect all the cheese so you have less cleanup afterwards.
And, finally, margaritas!!! Sip that tangy, sweet, fresh cocktail with a touch of salt around the rim of the glass after each mouthful of delicious quesadilla. To make sure everyone has a fair share of the good bit (we’re referring to the tequila), shake it up in
your best cocktail shaker and pour into chilled cocktail glasses.
Price
You’ll be pleased to know it won’t cost you an arm and a leg to become the next best chef in your neighborhood. At the lower end of the price range, you can get a good quesadilla maker for around $20 with a non-stick lining, so you can easily slide out the perfectly cut up segments of a quesadilla as soon as they’re ready to be served. If you have a few more dollars to spare, for around $90 you can expect the same non-stick design with a seal that ensures the filling stays put when cooking. And a cool-touch handle makes it much easier to handle the maker once the food is ready.
Be wary of any cheap quesadilla makers as their construction won’t be able to stand multiple uses and the test of time compared to the higher quality products on the market.
Features
It’s hard not to think about all the food, various fillings and toppings you can add onto your quesadilla once you have your hands on one of these. But if you just bare with us a little longer, we’ll let you know what to look out for when choosing this magical creation.
Here are the important things to think about:
- Non-stick Surface - A good quality non-stick surface will make the preparation and the cleaning up so much easier.
- Signal Lights - Indicator lights let you know when it’s ready to put the food in and when the food is cooked.
- Storage - Check out the different storage options to make sure you have room in your cupboards – some can close securely and be stored vertically.
- Lock-lid - This stops the fillings from bubbling over the edges. This means less mess to clean up and more filling for you to devour.
- Segment Cutter - Many designs cut your quesadilla up and seal the edges of each slice whilst cooking, so it’s easy to pick up without dropping food everywhere.
- Grease Drip Tray - With that much cheese involved, it’s inevitable there will be some grease dripping from the maker. But a removable grease drip tray simply means it won’t drip on your work surface. It makes cleanup easier as you can remove it and clean it separately.
- Handle – A handle that can stay cool ensures your safety and stops any accidental burning when your food is ready. Non-slip designs ensure that you have full control over the machine, and it won’t crash to the floor and ruin all of your food.
Construction and Design
When it comes to the construction of your quesadilla maker, you should make sure you check out ones with a non-stick surface and maybe one with a segment cutter too. Here’s why.
Non-stick Surface
A non-stick surface is a must-have when it comes down to any baking tray, cake tin, or pan. A quesadilla maker is no different. Take a look at the quality of the product and customers’ reviews to make sure that the non-stick surface will last for many quesadillas to come.
Segment Cutter
Well-designed segment cutters and sealed lips around the edge will ensure that all the filling is kept inside the tortilla and that you have perfectly cut and even slices to share. This makes it easier for everyone to pick and choose a slice from all of the fillings you have to offer.
Performance and Ease of Use
The performance and ease of use of your quesadilla maker will depend on a few things like signal lights, storage and whether it has a grease drip tray. Let’s see why these things are important to look out for.
Signal Lights
Indicator lights give you the confidence that you will have perfectly cooked quesadillas each time. Some also indicate when the temperature is hot enough to start cooking, giving you more time to prepare some nacho nibbles whilst your friends and family wait for the main course.
Storage
As much as you love Mexican food, I’m sure you don’t want your maker out on the work surface taking up space all the time. The majority can be closed and stored in a cupboard in their normal position. There are some that close securely enough so you can store them on the side which will save you storage space.
Grease Drip Tray
Even the cleanest cook makes a mess when in the middle of creating the next best culinary invention of the decade. The grease drip tray is available from a couple of our featured products and means you can simply remove the tray from under the appliance once you’re all done and discard of the unwanted substance in no time.
We’re sure you don’t want to end up buying something that doesn’t do what you want, so we advise that you take time to consider your particular needs. Then compare your needs with what each quesadilla maker offers. That way you’ll get what’s best for you.
Now that you have taken time to read these reviews, the ball is in your court. Get your quesadilla maker and have a night inspired my Mexican flavors. And don’t forget the tequila!
