Comparison Scarlett SC-TM11035 vs FIRST Austria FA-5366

— Toaster. A device for making toast — fried pieces of bread. To do this, the bread is placed vertically in special slots in the top of the toaster. The heat required for roasting is generated by an electric heating element.

— Sandwich. A device primarily intended for making hot sandwiches and closed sandwiches is structured as two halves that open like a book. To prepare the sandwich, the desired ingredients are placed in the lower half, and then the device is closed. Upon activation, the appliance provides the necessary heating to cook the sandwich.

— Waffle maker. Similar in structure to sandwich makers, these devices also consist of two heated halves that are hinged together like the pages of a book. However, these halves have a unique textured surface and, when closed, they come into contact with each other. This design allows the device to create thin, crispy waffles when the batter is cooked between the heated surfaces.

— Cupcake maker. These devices are specifically designed for making cupcakes and similar pastries using sweet yeast or sponge cake dough, often with additional ingredients like fruits or nuts. It's important to note that these devices are typically intended for making small-sized muffins rather than traditional large cupcakes. Muffins generally have a classic round or oval shape, althoug...h there are variations available with nozzles that create more unique shapes.

— For donuts. Devices for baking donuts — sweet cakes, usually round in shape with a hole in the middle. Accordingly, one of the main distinguishing features of such models are the characteristic notches for dough in the form of rings.

— Nut makers. These devices are designed to simplify the preparation of a popular treat called "nuts," which are made from dough and typically filled with boiled condensed milk. The recesses in the cooking surfaces are specifically designed to bake the halves of these "nuts," which are then joined together. Hazelnuts, on the other hand, are not suitable for other purposes and are primarily used for making these particular treats.

— Omelette. Omelette bowls typically have a round shape with a working surface divided into two semicircular recesses. This design makes these devices suitable not only for frying omelettes but also for preparing various other dishes, such as calzone (a closed pizza) and tortillas. The versatility of these bowls allows for the creation of a range of delicious meals beyond just omelettes.

— For hot dogs. This category comprises devices specifically designed for preparing various snacks using sausages, such as hot dogs, corn dogs, and sausages wrapped in dough. Most of these devices have a classic design with two heating halves. They are similar to sandwich makers, muffin makers, and other devices, differing primarily in the shape of the recesses, which are oblong to accommodate sausages with their shells. However, there are also unique models available. For instance, there are specialized devices designed specifically for hot dogs. These devices resemble toasters and feature separate recesses for buns and sausages.

The number of compartments for blanks provided in the design of the toaster. There are models for 1, 2 and 4 compartments. At the same time, some models can be quite large in size, allowing you to cook 2 toasts in one compartment; you should clarify whether the selected model has this feature, it can be done by the number of products (see the relevant paragraph).

The maximum number of individual products that can be cooked in the appliance at the same time.

For toasters, this parameter corresponds to the number of standard rectangular pieces of bread that fit into the device. Accordingly, if the size of the blanks used differs from the standard, then the capacity may be more or less than the claimed one.

If we are talking about a waffle iron, cake-pans or other device of a similar design (see "Type"), then the number of products is usually indicated by the number of notches on the working surface. In this case, note that the larger the capacity, the smaller the size of each product (especially since the working surface area for different models does not differ so much).

The number of roasting levels provided in the device.

This parameter is relevant primarily for models with step adjustment (see "Control"). Each degree of roasting corresponds to a certain fixed power setting in them. Accordingly, the more such steps, the more options the user has, the more accurately he can set the preparing mode. At the same time, we note that even for an advanced model, 8 – 9 steps are considered quite sufficient, a larger number is extremely rare. And for simple household use, more than 5 – 6 steps are rarely required — unless you plan to cook according to specific recipes.

Note that the number of degrees of roasting can also be indicated for equipment with smooth adjustment. However, these are not fixed settings, but only auxiliary divisions on the adjustment scale; they are applied in order to make it easier to navigate for the user. So you can not pay much attention to this moment when choosing a device with smooth adjustment.

The type of control provided in the device.

- Mechanical. Mechanical systems are systems in which the control elements are connected to the working elements of the device directly, without the “mediation” of electronic circuits. For example, the power button in such models directly closes and opens the power circuit, the rotary knob of the thermostat rotates the rheostat, which changes the current strength in the heater, etc. Such control, which is mainly implemented by a rotary switch, is simple, reliable and at the same time low cost. True, it does not allow the implementation of some functions and is not particularly accurate in adjusting individual parameters (timer settings, heater temperature); however, in the case of these shortcomings often turn out to be insignificant. Therefore, most of these devices nowadays use this type of control.

- Push-button. Push-button control is based on electronic circuits. Such systems are more accurate than mechanical ones; more capabilities and modes are provided. On the other hand, such control is more complex and more expensive than mechanical control.

- Touch. A type of electronic control with touch switches. Compared to push-button models, it provides a high level of comfort in operation, and looks more modern and aesthetically pleasing.

— Auto-centering. Function found in toasters (see "Type"). Thanks to auto-centering, each slice of bread is placed in the centre of the compartment during cooking, at the same distance from the heating elements, and toasted on both sides equally.

— Heating. Operating mode of the toaster (see "Type"), in which the product is not fried, but only slightly warmed up. This function can be useful, for example, to reheat previously cooked toast.

— Defrosting. Toasters often include a specialized function, found in their features (see Type), for toasting frozen bread. Frozen bread cannot be directly fried, as it requires defrosting first. The toaster's defrost mode provides a convenient way to defrost frozen bread quickly and efficiently.

— High lift. Possibility of lifting cooked toast above the standard height. This feature is useful when toasting small slices of bread that would otherwise be difficult to remove from a hot toaster.

— One-sided frying. Possibility to toast on one side only. This function can be useful, for example, when making toast from a piece of bread — on the one hand, it no longer needs to be fried.

— Readiness indicator. An external indicator, typically in the form of a light, is used to signal the completion of cooking in certain toasters...(see Type). It's worth noting that in traditional toasters, this function is relatively uncommon. Instead, the completion of toasting is indicated by the toast popping up from the compartments accompanied by a noticeable click and sometimes an additional sound.

— Overheat protection. Safety system that automatically turns off the device when the heating element or body reaches a critical temperature. This allows user to avoid unpleasant consequences, ranging from a breakdown of the device and ending with a fire.

— Grid for heating buns. Device for warming baked goods that cannot fit inside the toaster's main compartment, like rolls or croissants. It is installed on top of the toaster and uses hot air generated by the heating elements to heat the food.

— Sandwich grill. The toaster is equipped with a unique grill-like grate that enables the frying of sandwiches. This miniature grill securely holds the sandwich on both sides, preventing any ingredients from falling out. By placing the sandwich on this grate, it can be cooked in the toaster until it reaches the desired consistency.

— Sandwich mold. Sandwich makers are equipped with distinctive triangular notches on their plates, specifically designed for making classic closed sandwiches. However, these versatile notches can also be used for baking and other purposes. These types of nozzles are commonly found in sandwich makers and can also come included with waffle makers and similar devices.

— Waffle maker. A device for making waffles has the form of two plates with a characteristic relief surface (for example, “in a square”). Such a device can be equipped not only with the actual devices for cooking waffles (see "Type"), but also with other types of kitchen appliances — in particular, sandwich makers.

— A waffle maker designed specifically for making Vienne...se waffles has a distinct heating element design. The resulting baked goods from the waffle maker resemble large, thick, and fluffy wafers. Unlike traditional waffles, Viennese waffles have a softer texture. They are commonly used as a base for making pies or served with additional creams, powdered sugar, and other toppings.

— A waffle maker designed for making thin waffles features a unique heating element that produces thin cakes with small waffle patterns. These thin wafers are commonly used to create tubes filled with boiled condensed milk (toffee) or other types of cream. Thin waffles serve as a base for making multi-layer waffles, pies, cakes, and various other dishes.

— Grill. A device consisting of plates, or a single plate, with a ribbed surface. It is designed to leave distinctive grilled stripes on the food when heated. Grills are commonly found in sandwich makers and occasionally in other devices with similar designs (see "Type"). This feature is primarily used for light frying and heating purposes, such as making hot sandwiches or stuffed pita bread. While it is theoretically possible to use the grill for more substantial tasks like cooking steaks, not all models offer this capability.

— For nuts. A specialized attachment for making nut-shaped cakes is equipped with recesses for half of the nuts on one side, while the other side acts as a press to form the "shells." This type of nozzle is commonly found in hazelnut makers, but it can also be present in other kitchen appliances for creating various nut-shaped treats.

— For cupcakes. Cupcakes in this case usually mean muffins — products of a relatively small size, with a rounded top and a slightly tapering base. In addition to cake makers, nozzles of this type are found among sandwich makers (see "Type").

— For donuts. Nozzles of this kind typically feature ring-shaped notches, specifically designed for baking distinctive donuts or "bagels." However, there are alternative options available, and certain devices can be equipped with multiple attachments to create donuts in various shapes. These types of nozzles are utilized not only in donut makers but also in certain cupcake makers and sandwich makers.

— For an omelette. The traditional shape of omelettes is typically semicircular, and the recesses in this type of nozzle also have a similar shape. It's worth noting that with some clever techniques using such a nozzle, you can prepare other dishes as well, such as calzone or pasties. The versatility of the nozzle allows for experimenting with different fillings and ingredients to create a variety of delicious meals.

— For cookies. Replaceable plates or attachments for baking a variety of shaped cookies. Sandwich makers, some muffin makers and waffle irons can be equipped with similar shapes.

In addition to those listed above, modern kitchen devices can be equipped with other types of nozzles.

A special coating inside of a sandwich maker or similar device (see "Type") that prevents the product from sticking even if it is overcooked and burnt. Note that there are several varieties of non-stick coating, some of them scratch quite easily and require careful handling; these details should be clarified in the instructions for the device. However, all such surfaces are comfortable to use and easy to clean anyway.

A special device that holds together the halves of a sandwich maker or other similar device (see "Type") and prevents them from opening during operation.