Engineering:Pie iron
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A pie iron, also called a pudgy pie iron, sandwich toaster, snackwicher, toastie maker, sandwich maker, or panini grill is a cooking appliance that consists of two hinged concave, round or square, cast iron or aluminium plates on long handles. Its "clamshell" design resembles that of a waffle iron, but without the checkered pattern. Pie irons are used to heat, toast and seal the sandwich.
Name
The most common types in most countries are electrically heated counter-top models, and names vary from place to place. In the United Kingdom, the pie iron is referred to as a "toastie maker" or "toasted sandwich maker".
Origins
In the U.S., the Tostwich is possibly the earliest toasted sandwich maker, dating back to before 1920. However, it was not patented until 3 March 1925 (applied for on 26 May 1924). It was invented by Charles V. Champion, whose other inventions include a corn-popping machine for the mass production of popcorn.[1]
Operation
Modern versions of the pie-iron are commonly more domestic, if not necessarily more refined, with subdivisions allowing pairs of bread slices to be clamped together around fillings to form pockets or stuffed sandwiches. A combination of heat and pressure seals the bread at the outer edges.
Campfire versions are still made of cast iron and can be cooked over coals, open flames, or a stove, but lightweight aluminium stove-top versions are made, generally being coated with a non-stick surface (PTFE) both as a cleaning aid and to allay fears regarding aluminium in the diet. Once the device is hot, the sandwich can be assembled "inside-out", where the buttered side of the bread faces outwards against the metal plates and the filling sits inside. This produces a crunchier sandwich and helps prevent the bread from sticking.[2] Alternatively, bread can be placed inside unbuttered, which produces a chewier sandwich.[2]
Regional variants
In 1949, in Australia, the original Jaffle-brand jaffle iron, to be heated over a fire, was designed and patented by Surfoplane[3][4] inventor, Dr Ernest Eric Smithers,[5] from Bondi, Australia.[6] The original Jaffle-brand jaffle iron only sealed the sandwich around the edges, and did not cut it in half. This allowed more filling and or a whole egg.[7] However, since the introduction of the Breville Snack'n'Sandwich Toaster in 1974, most electric jaffle makers in Australia split the sandwich in half.[8]
In 1974, Cuisinart made an Australian electric jaffle iron.[9] Rights acquired by John O'Brien for Australian cookware company Breville in the 1970s[10] mean that the name Breville is sometimes used there eponymously to describe both the device and the toasted, sealed sandwich product.[11]
In the UK, the appliance is notorious for being little-used. A survey in 2005 suggested that 45% of British adults own, but do not use, sandwich toasters.[12]
In India, open flame toasters are used to toast sandwiches. They are often called "Bombay sandwiches" in Mumbai.[13] A similar American utensil is trademarked "Toas-Tite".[14]
See also
- Toast sandwich
- Toaster
- Waffle iron
- Griddle
- List of sandwiches
References
- ↑ "Catlin's Own Inventor", Shirley Nesbitt, 2000, accessed 26 December 2007
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Toasted sandwich; Butter the outside or not?". 2015. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=1512576.
- ↑ "A Paipo Interview with John Ruffels". https://mypaipoboards.org/interviews/JohnRuffels/JohnRuffels_2011-0305.shtml.
- ↑ "Surfoplane surf mat". https://collections.sea.museum/en/objects/180496/surfoplane-surf-mat.
- ↑ "The Advent of the Surfoplane phenomenon on our beaches led to an increase in lifesavers responses, a fatality, along with lives being saved". 30 October 2022. https://www.pittwateronlinenews.com/SURFOPLANES-Dangers-and-Summer-Hires-History.php. "Issue 560"
- ↑ "1949 Jaffle craze hits Australia". 18 September 1940. https://australianfoodtimeline.com.au/jaffle-craze/.
- ↑ O’Connell, Jan (18 September 1940). "1949 Jaffle craze hits Australia". https://australianfoodtimeline.com.au/jaffle-craze/.
- ↑ O’Connell, Jan (21 September 1970). "1974 Breville Snack'n'Sandwich Toaster". https://australianfoodtimeline.com.au/breville-snacknsandwich-maker/.
- ↑ Leigh, Wendy (5 October 2024). "Why Australian Grilled Cheese Is Called A Jaffle". https://www.tastingtable.com/1676930/jaffle-australian-grilled-cheese/.
- ↑ "From the Vault: Toasted Sandwich Maker". The New Inventors. ABC Television. http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s1115454.htm.
- ↑ "The Original 4-Slice". Breville Product Information. http://www.breville.com.au/cooking/sandwich-makers/the-originaltm-4-slice.html.
- ↑ "£9bn wasted on unused gadgets for our homes". 12 September 2005. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1498205/9bn-wasted-on-unused-gadgets-for-our-homes.html.
- ↑ "Is the Bombay Sandwich really from Mumbai?". Condé Nast Traveller. July 2020. https://www.cntraveller.in/story/bombay-sandwich-recipe-where-to-eat-mumbai-food.
- ↑ Fabricant, Florence (14 February 2012). "The Return of the Toas-Tite". The New York Times: p. D6. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/15/dining/the-return-of-the-toas-tite-for-pressed-grilled-sandwiches.html.
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