What does the name of one of Christopher Columbus’s ships have to do with those modern day Tex-Mex cheese tortillas? Absolutely nothing is the answer, save for the vague Spanish connection of Queen Isabella and the flag of Spain under which Columbus sailed. The popularity of this dish, which translates into “little cheesy thing,” is indicated by the many products available on the market today. There are a number of different quesadilla makers out there, but for the sake of brevity, we will concentrate on the top three: Salton, Oster and Rival.

All three appliances are within the same price range; namely, 25-$35.00. The Salton Quesadilla Maker comes only in red and with a manual that is literally loaded with recipe ideas. This machine is very easy to use and it takes 4 to 5 minutes to bake your favorite quesadilla on this machine. The 900-watt unit accommodates 10-inch tortillas and filling ingredients such as cheese, salsa and thinly shredded pieces of cooked meat, poultry or vegetables.

It is recommended that fillings be spread as evenly as possible so that the edges of the tortilla can seal together. Remove the quesadilla with a plastic or wooden spatula only. The Salton Quesadilla Maker also features an on/off power light and “ready” light as well as a steam guard and non-stick cooking plates, which provide effortless food release. Clean by using a damp cloth and store in a vertical position. The Salton Quesadilla Maker comes with a one year warranty and measures approximately 12 by 12 by 6 inches. It costs around 30 dollars

The Oster Quesadilla Maker has many similar features, including a “ready light”, which indicates when it’s time to cook. It also can be cleaned easily with a damp cloth, but this machine is a few dollars less than its competitor. There is however, little if any difference between the two other than the fact that the Oster Quesadilla Maker boasts that it can turn tortillas out a little quicker than the Salton (in less than two minutes at a time). Is this a horse race? Perhaps, perhaps not.

The Oster Quesadilla Maker guarantees a perfect golden exterior and a luscious and gooey cheese filling for your quesadillas every time you use it. It also promises perfect tacos, flatbreads, fried eggs, pancakes, sandwiches, fajitas, and anything else you can think to try and dare to pronounce upon its non-stick surface. It has cool-touch handles, is easy to clean and can be stored vertically. (Sound familiar?)

The Rival Quesadilla Maker is a fun appliance that claims to turn out perfect quesadillas in less than 10 minutes. This slower claim to fame is one of the differences between this appliance and the others of its ilk. Like its competitors, it bears similarity in design to a waffle-maker, but the 12-inch round contact grill of the Rival Quesadilla Maker bears decorative designs on both the upper and lower griil plates. Bringing out the artist in you as well as the effective chef, these designs help to crimp the edges of the quesadilla and divide it into six sections while imprinting festive patterns on each of the slices.

Truth be told, does anyone really need a quesadilla maker anyway? The answer, my friends, is not blowing in the wind. It lies deep within your cheesy soul.

Get one of these and perhaps like Columbus, you will discover a whole new world!

www.salton.com

www.oster.com

www.rivalproducts.com