A quesadilla needs only three things: a tortilla, cheese and steady heat on both sides. In a restaurant kitchen that heat comes from a flat-top or a comal, and a cook flips each one by hand. At home, an electric quesadilla maker does the flipping for you. It closes like a waffle iron, cooks both sides at once, and presses the tortilla into six sealed wedges that hold their filling when you cut them.
That convenience comes with limits, and they are worth knowing before you buy. Plate size has to match your tortillas, a latch decides how much filling you can use, and some kitchens are better served by a griddle or panini press they already own. This guide names the quesadilla makers worth buying, the honest alternatives, and how to choose between them.
Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what a restaurant kitchen looks for, product specifications and verified buyer reports.
Quick verdict: which quesadilla maker to buy
For most home kitchens, the best quesadilla maker is the Nostalgia Taco Tuesday Deluxe 10-inch: its plate cooks a full-size quesadilla in six sealed wedges, and a two-position latch lets you choose a thin or a thick, well-stuffed quesadilla. If you like a lot of filling, the Elite Gourmet 10.65-inch Cheesy Quesadilla Maker adds deeper pockets. If you would rather not own a single-use appliance, a Lodge cast iron griddle or a panini press you already have will make a very good quesadilla.
The rest of this page explains the differences, so you can match a maker to your tortillas and how often you cook.
Five quesadilla makers and alternatives at a glance
Our five standout picks side by side, one for each kind of kitchen, with the specifications each maker or listing states. All eight options are reviewed in full below.
| Quesadilla maker | Best for | Cooking surface | Fill depth | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most kitchens, standard tortillas | 10-inch, 6 wedges | Two-position latch, thin or thick | View on Amazon | |
Elite Gourmet 10.65-inch Cheesy Quesadilla MakerBest for thick fillings
|
Loaded, well-stuffed quesadillas | 10.65-inch, 6 deep wedges | Deep pockets, two-position latch | View on Amazon |
Nostalgia Taco Tuesday Double Street Taco Quesadilla MakerBest for small tortillas
|
Corn and street-taco tortillas | Two 5-inch plates, 6 wedges each | Light fillings; edge-sealing lip | View on Amazon |
Hamilton Beach Panini Press and Sandwich MakerBest panini alternative
|
Quesadillas plus sandwiches | 8 x 10-inch ribbed plates | Floating hinge adjusts to thickness | View on Amazon |
Lodge 10.5-inch Round Cast Iron GriddleBest stovetop option
|
Cooks who want one pan for everything | 10.5-inch round, flat | No limit; you fold and flip by hand | View on Amazon |
Product images from Amazon. Sizes and features are as stated by each maker or listing; check the listing before you buy.
Our picks for the best quesadilla maker
Five of these eight are dedicated quesadilla makers with wedge plates, in sizes from two small 5-inch plates to an 11-inch plate. The other three are the honest alternatives: a panini press, a multi-use contact grill and a plain cast iron griddle. Each pick explains who it suits, what the maker or listing states, and one reason to skip it.
1. Nostalgia Taco Tuesday Deluxe 10-inch Quesadilla Maker – Thin or Thick, Your Choice
This is the quesadilla maker to buy if you want one that suits most households and most fillings. The 10-inch plate takes a standard large flour tortilla, and when the lid closes, Nostalgia says the shape of the plate divides the quesadilla into six sections and seals the filling into each one, so the wedges come apart cleanly at the table.
The feature that sets it apart from basic models is the latch. Nostalgia fits a two-position latch on the lid, one setting for a thin quesadilla and one for a thicker, more generously stuffed one. That matters because the classic complaint about wedge-plate makers is that a full filling squeezes out of the sides when the lid is forced shut. A latch that sits higher gives cheese, beans or shredded chicken somewhere to go.
Two indicator lights tell you when the unit has power and when it has finished preheating, so there is no guesswork about when to load the first tortilla. The nonstick surface wipes clean, and Nostalgia’s product page says the unit stands upright for storage, which keeps it out of the way in a crowded cupboard.
Use 10-inch tortillas, or slightly larger, rather than small ones. A tortilla that is too small for the plate leaves the filling to spread into the gap, where it burns onto the rim instead of staying inside.
Why we like it
- 10-inch plate that cuts six sealed wedges
- Two-position latch for thin or thick quesadillas
- Separate power and preheated indicator lights
- Stands upright for storage, according to Nostalgia
- One-year limited warranty, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | TCTEQM10RD |
|---|---|
| Plate diameter | 10 inches |
| Wedges | 6 |
| Power | Not stated |
| Nonstick (as stated) | Nonstick cooking surface; coating type not stated |
| Indicator lights | Two: power and preheated |
| Cleaning | Wipe the cooking surface clean |
| Warranty | 1-year limited |
Why we recommend it
It covers the widest range of cooks: a 10-inch plate for the tortillas most supermarkets sell, a latch that handles both a quick cheese quesadilla and a loaded one, and clear lights for when it is ready. For a family that makes quesadillas once or twice a week, it is the simplest place to start.
Skip it if you mostly use small corn tortillas; they will not fill a 10-inch plate, and the double 5-inch Nostalgia below suits them better.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Latch adjusts for thicker fillings
- Six neat, sealed wedges
- Clear ready light
- Stores upright
Cons
- Wattage not stated
- Coating type not stated
- Too large for small corn tortillas
2. Elite Gourmet 10.65-inch Cheesy Quesadilla Maker – Deep Pockets for Loaded Fillings
If your quesadillas tend to carry as much filling as cheese, look at this one. Elite Gourmet describes the 10.65-inch nonstick plate as having deep pockets, and pairs it with an adjustable two-position locking latch for thin or thick stuffed quesadillas. Closing the lid sections the quesadilla into six wedges, as on the Nostalgia.
Deeper wedges are the practical answer to the most common problem with this kind of appliance. Food Network’s testers found that quesadilla makers struggled with thick, heavily stuffed quesadillas unless they pressed down on the lid, which could squeeze the filling out. More room inside the plate, plus a latch that holds the lid at a set height, gives a loaded quesadilla a better chance of staying sealed.
The indicator lights are easy to read: Elite Gourmet says the red light shows the unit is heating and the green light shows it is preheated and ready. The listing puts cooking time at under five minutes. To clean it, wipe the plates with a damp cloth, then stand the unit upright to store it.
Why we like it
- 10.65-inch plate with deep pockets
- Two-position locking latch for thin or thick quesadillas
- Red heating light and green ready light
- Stands upright for storage
- One-year limited warranty from Elite Gourmet
Key specifications
| Model | EQD125 |
|---|---|
| Plate diameter | 10.65 inches |
| Wedges | 6, with deep pockets |
| Power | Not stated |
| Nonstick (as stated) | Nonstick cooking plates; coating type not stated |
| Indicator lights | Two: red heating, green ready |
| Cleaning | Wipe with a damp cloth |
| Warranty | 1-year limited |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you build quesadillas with beans, meat and vegetables rather than cheese alone. The deeper plate and locking latch are designed for exactly that, and the plate is a touch larger than our top pick.
Skip it if you want a maker with a long track record; this is a newer Elite Gourmet model, and we found few details beyond the brand’s Amazon listing.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Deep wedges hold more filling
- Locking latch with two heights
- Easy-to-read red and green lights
Cons
- Newer model with few published details
- Wattage not stated
- Coating type not stated
3. Elite Gourmet 11-inch Quesadilla Maker – The Biggest Wedge Plate Here
The EQD-118 is a long-running, no-frills model with the largest single plate on this list. Elite Gourmet lists an 11-inch nonstick cooking surface that makes six wedges in just under five minutes, which suits the large burrito-size flour tortillas many families keep on hand.
It has two touches that help with cleanup. A drainage rim around the plate and a drip tray underneath catch anything that runs out, such as oil from chorizo or juices from a saucy filling. The nonstick plate wipes clean, and Elite Gourmet asks you not to use abrasive cleansers on it. Like the others here, it stands upright for storage.
What it lacks is an adjustable latch. That makes it best for classic quesadillas, cheese with a modest amount of filling, rather than the thick, stacked kind. Food Network’s review of Elite Gourmet’s smaller 8-inch model praised the nonstick plates for browning all six segments evenly and noted the two indicator lights; this larger model has the same six-wedge plate and two-light layout, according to its listing.
Home Depot’s listing for this model gives its power as 900 watts. Elite Gourmet’s Amazon listing does not state a figure.
Why we like it
- 11-inch plate, the largest single plate here
- Six wedges in just under five minutes, per the listing
- Drainage rim and drip tray catch spills
- Power and preheated indicator lights
- Stands upright to store
Key specifications
| Model | EQD-118 |
|---|---|
| Plate diameter | 11 inches |
| Wedges | 6 |
| Power | 900 W (Home Depot listing) |
| Nonstick (as stated) | Nonstick plate; coating type not stated |
| Indicator lights | Two: power and preheated |
| Cleaning | Wipe clean, no abrasive cleansers; drip tray |
| Warranty | Not stated in the listing |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you buy large flour tortillas and want the widest wedge plate available, with a drip tray to keep the counter clean. It is a straightforward, single-purpose tool from a brand whose quesadilla makers have been reviewed favorably.
Skip it if you like thick quesadillas: with no adjustable latch, a heavy filling is more likely to be pressed out of the sides.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Largest single plate on the list
- Drip tray and drainage rim
- Quick, by the listing’s timing
Cons
- No adjustable latch
- Needs large tortillas to fill the plate
- Warranty not stated in the listing
4. Nostalgia Taco Tuesday Deluxe 8-inch Quesadilla Maker – Same Latch, Smaller Footprint
This is our top pick scaled down. The 8-inch plate still forms six sealed wedges, and Nostalgia keeps the two-position latch for thin or thick quesadillas, which is unusual on a maker this size.
Eight inches matches the small “fajita-size” flour tortillas that many stores sell, and Food Network’s testers recommended a smaller maker if you are unsure which size to buy, because a tortilla that is smaller than the plate lets the plates press the filling out. A compact plate is more forgiving of the tortillas you happen to have.
The rest of the design follows the 10-inch model: a light for power and another for preheated, a nonstick surface that wipes clean, a drip tray underneath according to Nostalgia’s product page, and upright storage. For one or two people, or for quick after-school snacks, it is all the quesadilla maker you need.
Why we like it
- 8-inch plate that suits small flour tortillas
- Two-position latch, like the 10-inch model
- Power and preheated indicator lights
- Drip tray underneath, per Nostalgia
Key specifications
| Model | TCTEQM8RD |
|---|---|
| Plate diameter | 8 inches |
| Wedges | 6 |
| Power | Not stated |
| Nonstick (as stated) | Nonstick cooking surface; coating type not stated |
| Indicator lights | Two: power and preheated |
| Cleaning | Wipe clean; drip tray |
| Warranty | 1-year limited |
Why we recommend it
It suits small households, dorm-size kitchens and anyone who buys 8-inch tortillas. You keep the adjustable latch of the larger Nostalgia in a unit that takes up less counter and cupboard space.
Skip it if you feed a family; one 8-inch quesadilla at a time means a lot of rounds for four hungry people.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Adjustable latch at a compact size
- Forgiving with small tortillas
- Drip tray and upright storage
Cons
- One small quesadilla at a time
- Wattage not stated
- Coating type not stated
5. Nostalgia Taco Tuesday Double Street Taco Quesadilla Maker – Two Small Quesadillas at Once
Most quesadilla makers are built around large flour tortillas. This one is built around the small ones. It has two side-by-side 5-inch cooking surfaces, each molded into six wedges with an edge-sealing lip, so you can cook two street-taco-size quesadillas at the same time.
That size makes it the best fit here for corn tortillas, which are usually sold small. A corn quesadilla folded or sandwiched on a 5-inch plate is the closest an appliance gets to the small quesadillas cooked on a comal, and two at once keeps a batch moving. Nostalgia says it preheats in one to three minutes, with an indicator light that switches off when the plates are ready.
The handles are cool-touch, the upper and lower plates are nonstick and wipe clean, and the whole unit is compact and light enough for an apartment, office or RV, according to the listing. Keep fillings light: a 5-inch wedge plate has little room for more than cheese and a spoonful of something else.
Why we like it
- Two 5-inch plates cook two quesadillas at once
- Six wedges per plate with an edge-sealing lip
- Preheats in one to three minutes, per Nostalgia
- Cool-touch handles
- Compact enough for small kitchens
Key specifications
| Model | TTEQMDBL5RD |
|---|---|
| Plate diameter | Two 5-inch plates |
| Wedges | 6 per plate |
| Power | Not stated |
| Nonstick (as stated) | Nonstick upper and lower plates; coating type not stated |
| Indicator lights | Preheat light, switches off when ready |
| Cleaning | Wipe the nonstick plates clean |
| Warranty | Not stated in the listing |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if your household eats corn tortillas or likes small, snack-size quesadillas. Two plates side by side solve the speed problem that usually comes with a small maker.
Skip it if you use large flour tortillas or like a hearty filling; neither fits a 5-inch plate.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Sized for corn and street-taco tortillas
- Two quesadillas per round
- Quick preheat
Cons
- Little room for filling
- No adjustable latch listed
- Wattage and warranty not stated
6. Hamilton Beach Panini Press and Sandwich Maker – Two Quesadillas, Plus Sandwiches
A panini press is the most common alternative to a quesadilla maker, and this Hamilton Beach model is a sensible one. Its 8 by 10-inch top and bottom plates, Hamilton Beach says, fit two quesadillas, one large sandwich or two regular sandwiches, and the plates are ribbed to leave grill marks.
The useful part for quesadillas is the floating top plate. Instead of closing to a fixed gap, the lid rises to sit evenly on whatever is underneath, thin or piled high, so a thick quesadilla is pressed evenly rather than squeezed at the hinge end. The lid also locks in place above the food to melt cheese on an open-face sandwich, or locks fully open for reheating.
The plates have a PFAS-free ceramic nonstick coating, according to the listing, and wipe clean once cool. A green light comes on when the press is ready, and Hamilton Beach recommends six minutes of preheating for best results. A storage latch keeps it closed so it can stand in a cupboard.
What you give up is the wedge. A panini press does not seal or cut the edges, so you slice the quesadilla yourself, and the filling is held in by melted cheese rather than a molded rim. Our quesadilla maker vs panini press comparison goes into that choice in more detail.
Why we like it
- 8 x 10-inch plates fit two quesadillas
- Floating top plate adjusts to the filling’s thickness
- PFAS-free ceramic nonstick plates, per the listing
- Green ready light
- One-year warranty
Key specifications
| Model | 25460 series (listing part 25460AG) |
|---|---|
| Plate diameter | Not round: 8 x 10-inch ribbed plates |
| Wedges | None; slice by hand |
| Power | Not stated in the listing |
| Nonstick (as stated) | PFAS-free ceramic nonstick |
| Indicator lights | Green ready light |
| Cleaning | Wipe plates clean when cool |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you want one appliance for quesadillas, grilled sandwiches and paninis, and you value the floating lid for thick fillings. Two quesadillas per round also makes it quicker than a single-plate maker for a family.
Skip it if you want neat, sealed wedges with no knife work; only a dedicated quesadilla maker does that.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Handles thick fillings evenly
- Two quesadillas at a time
- PFAS-free ceramic plates
- Useful for sandwiches too
Cons
- No wedges or sealed edges
- Ribbed plates, so no smooth finish
- Six-minute preheat recommended
7. Cuisinart Griddler Indoor Grill and Panini Press – Opens Flat Into a Griddle
The Griddler is for cooks who would rather own one countertop appliance that does several jobs. Cuisinart lists three ways to use it: as a contact grill, as a panini press, or opened flat as a full grill, which doubles the cooking surface. For quesadillas, the closed press works like the Hamilton Beach, and the open position lets you cook several at once and flip them by hand, the way you would on a comal.
The cover is hinged and floating, so it adjusts to the thickness of the food, and adjustable front feet tilt the unit for better grease drainage. Power On and Ready-to-Cook lights show when it is up to its preset temperature.
The cleanup is the strongest point. The plates are removable, have a ceramic nonstick surface and, according to the listing title, are dishwasher safe, which no wedge-plate maker on this list offers. Cuisinart backs it with a three-year limited warranty, the longest of the electric options here.
Why we like it
- Contact grill, panini press or open flat grill
- Removable, dishwasher-safe ceramic nonstick plates
- Floating cover adjusts to food thickness
- Power On and Ready-to-Cook lights
- Three-year limited warranty
Key specifications
| Model | GR-11NAS |
|---|---|
| Plate diameter | Not round: rectangular plates; opens flat to double the surface |
| Wedges | None; slice by hand |
| Power | Not stated in the listing |
| Nonstick (as stated) | Ceramic nonstick, removable plates |
| Indicator lights | Two: Power On and Ready-to-Cook |
| Cleaning | Plates are dishwasher safe |
| Warranty | 3-year limited |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you want quesadillas, grilled vegetables, paninis and burgers from one appliance, and you dislike scrubbing plates by hand. Opened flat, it is the closest electric equivalent to a griddle on this list.
Skip it if you only make quesadillas; it uses a preset temperature, takes more space than a wedge-plate maker, and does not seal or cut the edges.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Dishwasher-safe removable plates
- Three cooking modes
- Longest warranty here
Cons
- No wedges or sealed edges
- Bulkier than a quesadilla maker
- Preset temperature only
8. Lodge 10.5-inch Round Cast Iron Griddle – The Restaurant Way, on Your Stove
Before there were quesadilla makers, there was the comal, and it is still how quesadillas are cooked in most Mexican kitchens. Lodge’s 10.5-inch round griddle is a flat cast iron comal in all but name: pre-seasoned, ready to use, and rated for stovetops, the oven, a grill and a camp stove, according to the listing.
Cooking on it takes a little more attention than pressing a lid, but you gain control. Lay the tortilla on the hot, lightly oiled surface, add cheese to one half, fold it when the cheese starts to soften, and turn it once so both sides crisp. There is no limit on filling, the tortilla can be any size up to the pan, and you decide how dark the outside gets. Food Network noted that griddle-style tools handle thick, heavily stuffed quesadillas better than closed makers.
It does far more than quesadillas. The same pan warms tortillas, toasts dried chiles and chars tomatoes for salsa, as our guide to the best comal for tortillas explains. The finish is iron and oil only, and the listing describes it as free from PFOA, PTFE and PFAS. Hand wash it, dry it and wipe on a little oil.
Why we like it
- Pre-seasoned and ready to use
- No limit on filling or tortilla size
- Works on stovetops, oven, grill and camp stove
- Iron and oil finish with no synthetic coating
- Lifetime limited warranty, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | L9OG3 |
|---|---|
| Plate diameter | 10.5 inches |
| Wedges | None; fold and cut by hand |
| Power | None: stovetop, oven, grill or camp stove |
| Nonstick (as stated) | Seasoned cast iron, no coating; PFOA, PTFE and PFAS free |
| Indicator lights | None |
| Cleaning | Hand wash, dry, oil lightly |
| Warranty | Lifetime limited |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you have a free burner and would rather own one pan that makes quesadillas, tortillas and salsa than a single-use appliance. It is how a restaurant kitchen does it, scaled to a home stove.
Skip it if you want a hands-off, set-and-wait tool; a griddle needs you to watch, fold and flip, and cast iron is heavy and needs a slow preheat.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Any filling, any tortilla size
- Uncoated, seasoned surface
- Useful for much more than quesadillas
Cons
- Needs attention while cooking
- Heavy, slow to preheat
- One quesadilla at a time
How to choose a quesadilla maker
Five things decide whether a quesadilla maker suits your kitchen. Brand matters less than you might expect; most wedge-plate makers share the same basic design, and the differences are in size, latch and cleanup.
1. Plate size and your tortillas
Match the plate to the tortillas you actually buy. An 8-inch plate suits small flour tortillas, a 10- to 11-inch plate suits the large ones, and two 5-inch plates suit corn and street-taco tortillas. Food Network’s testers found that a tortilla smaller than the plate leaves the plates pressing the filling out, so when in doubt, buy the smaller size; a tortilla slightly larger than the plate simply gets trimmed by the sealing edge.
2. Wedges, latch and filling depth
The six-wedge plate is what makes a quesadilla maker worth owning: it seals the edges and scores the quesadilla so it pulls apart cleanly. The weak point is thick fillings. A plain hinge closes to one fixed gap, and a generous filling gets pushed out of the sides. A two-position latch, as on both Nostalgia Deluxe models and the Elite Gourmet Cheesy maker, or deeper wedge pockets, gives more room. If you like your quesadillas really loaded, a panini press with a floating lid or a griddle handles them better.
3. Indicator lights and heat
Almost every quesadilla maker has a fixed temperature with no dial, so the ready light is your only guide. Two lights, one for power and one for preheated, are the most useful arrangement. Few listings state wattage; where they do not, judge speed by the cooking time the maker gives, usually a few minutes per quesadilla.
4. Cleaning
Wedge-plate makers have fixed plates. You wipe them with a damp cloth once they have cooled, and a drip tray, where there is one, catches oil and runaway cheese. If hand-wiping bothers you, the Cuisinart Griddler’s removable plates go in the dishwasher. Whatever you buy, use wooden or silicone tools on nonstick plates and avoid abrasive cleansers, as Elite Gourmet advises.
5. Single-use appliance or something more versatile
Food Network put it plainly: quesadilla makers are “really meant to do just one thing well.” That is fine if you make quesadillas every week, and the speed and neat wedges are worth the cupboard space. If you make them now and then, a panini press, an indoor grill or a comal will do the job and earn their space with other meals. Our comal vs cast iron skillet guide helps if you go the stovetop route.
How we chose these eight quesadilla tools
We started from what a Mexican kitchen wants from a quesadilla: a crisp, evenly browned tortilla, cheese melted all the way through and a filling that stays inside. We then looked for electric quesadilla makers sold on Amazon in the United States from identifiable brands, checked each one was in stock, and confirmed sizes, wedge plates, latches, lights, cleaning and warranty on the brand’s Amazon listing or the maker’s own product page; where a figure came from a retailer instead, the review says so. We added three alternatives, a panini press, a contact grill and a cast iron griddle, because many kitchens already own one and they handle thick fillings better. We used Food Network’s published quesadilla maker review for how these tools behave with different tortillas and fillings. We left out unbranded makers, near-identical models from the same maker and anything that was out of stock or low in stock when we checked. We have not cooked on every model listed here, and we do not claim to; where we describe how a design behaves, we say whose findings those are.
Getting a good quesadilla out of any of them
The appliance does half the work. The rest is in how you build the quesadilla.
- Preheat fully. Wait for the ready light, or, on a griddle, for a drop of water to skitter and vanish. A tortilla on a half-hot plate dries out before the cheese melts.
- Shred the cheese. Shredded cheese melts faster and more evenly than slices. Oaxaca cheese pulled into strings, Chihuahua or Monterey Jack all melt well; our guide to Mexican cheeses explains which melt and which crumble.
- Keep wet fillings moderate. Salsa, beans with a lot of liquid or juicy meat make a soggy quesadilla and run out of the edges. Drain them, and serve salsa on the side.
- Leave a margin. Keep the filling an inch or so from the edge so the plate can seal the tortilla on a wedge-plate maker.
- Brush lightly with oil or butter if you want a crisper, golden outside. The nonstick plates do not need it to release.
- Let it rest a minute before cutting, so the cheese sets slightly and the wedges hold together.
Quesadilla maker questions, answered
Is a quesadilla maker worth it?
If you make quesadillas often, yes: it cooks both sides at once, needs no flipping and cuts six neat wedges, which children and guests appreciate. If you make them occasionally, a skillet, comal or panini press you already own does the job. Our guide to what a quesadilla is covers the traditional, comal-cooked kind.
What size tortilla do I need for a quesadilla maker?
One the same size as the plate or slightly larger: 8-inch tortillas for an 8-inch maker, 10-inch for a 10-inch maker. Smaller tortillas let the filling escape around the edges.
Can you use corn tortillas in a quesadilla maker?
Yes, but most corn tortillas are small, around 5 to 6 inches, so they suit a small plate such as the Nostalgia double 5-inch maker. Warm them first so they bend without cracking.
Is a panini press better than a quesadilla maker?
It depends on what you cook. A panini press handles thick fillings and also makes sandwiches, but it does not seal or cut wedges. A quesadilla maker does one job neatly. Our quesadilla maker vs panini press guide compares them in detail.
How do you clean a quesadilla maker?
Unplug it, let it cool until warm, then wipe the plates with a damp cloth or paper towel. Do not immerse the unit or use abrasive pads on nonstick plates. Empty and wash the drip tray if it has one.
Our final word on quesadilla makers
Buy the Nostalgia Taco Tuesday Deluxe 10-inch if you want one quesadilla maker that handles most tortillas and both thin and thick fillings. Choose the Elite Gourmet Cheesy maker if you stuff your quesadillas generously, and the Nostalgia double 5-inch if you cook with corn tortillas. If you would rather not add a single-use appliance, a panini press with a floating lid or a cast iron comal will make an excellent quesadilla, the way restaurant kitchens have always done it.
A quesadilla maker is one part of a home taco night. Our guide to taco bar supplies covers the warmers, holders and serving pieces that go with it, and if you make your own tortillas, see the best electric tortilla maker.
Related guide: Quesadilla maker alternative.
And if you would rather someone else did the cooking tonight, see the menu or call to order.