Benchstar Single Infrared Quartz Element Salamander Griller Toaster And Timer QT-1

The Benchstar QT-1 is a compact infrared quartz salamander griller and toaster that toasts top and bottom at once across four heating elements. Infrared quartz heats in seconds rather than minutes, so it is ready on demand rather than left running, and a timer control makes results repeatable. The opening is 355 mm wide with 90 mm from the tray to the top, and at 1.7 kW it runs from a standard 10 A outlet.

Why operators choose the QT-1

• Toasts top and bottom simultaneously — one pass instead of turning product, which roughly halves the handling per item
• Heats up in seconds — switch on at the order rather than idling all service — the practical reason infrared costs less to run
• Four heating elements — even coverage across the opening rather than a hot centre and cool edges
• Infrared quartz for fast, even cooking — radiant heat reaches the food directly instead of heating the cavity first
• Low electrical cost — 1.7 kW on demand, and no warm-up period to pay for
• Timer control — a set cycle any staff member can repeat
• 355 mm wide opening with 90 mm clearance — takes flatbreads, rolls and plated items rather than only slices
• Compact 440 x 245 mm footprint and 8 kg — the smallest and lightest salamander in the Benchstar range

Specifications

Venue suitability

The QT-1 suits cafes, sandwich bars, delis, food trucks and clubs toasting and finishing at modest volume, where a full-size salamander is more heat and more bench than the menu justifies. It is the entry point to the Benchstar salamander range and the only one that runs from a standard outlet.

Compare the full range of commercial salamanders or see more from Benchstar.

Installation & delivery

It runs on a standard 240 V supply through a normal 10 A power outlet, so no dedicated circuit and no hard-wiring are needed. Allow 440 x 245 mm of heat-tolerant bench with clearance above for rising heat and clear access at the front of the 355 mm opening. At 8 kg it is a one-person lift. Dispatched from our Sydney HQ with partner warehouses in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth for faster delivery Australia-wide. Backed by a 12-month return-to-base warranty — the unit is returned for service rather than attended on site. See our warranty information page for full terms.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Does the QT-1 need special wiring? A: No. It runs at 1.7kW through a standard 10A outlet, so no dedicated circuit or electrician is required. It is the only salamander in the Benchstar range that plugs straight in.

Q: What does infrared quartz actually change? A: It heats in seconds rather than minutes, and radiant heat reaches the food directly instead of warming the cavity first. In practice that means switching on per order rather than idling all service, which is where the running-cost saving comes from.

Q: Can it toast both sides at once? A: Yes. Four heating elements toast top and bottom simultaneously, so product does not need turning.

Q: What size items fit? A: The opening is 355mm wide with 90mm from the tray to the top, which takes flatbreads, rolls and plated items as well as slices.

Q: How does it compare with the ES and AT salamanders? A: The QT-1 is the compact infrared model at 1.7kW on a standard 10A outlet. The ES-2800L needs 15A, the ES-5600L is hard-wired on 25A, and the AT-937E is hard-wired at 4kW — all are larger, higher-output units for sustained finishing.

Q: What warranty applies? A: Twelve months, return to base. The unit is returned for service rather than a technician attending on site — reasonable on a benchtop appliance you can transport, but worth factoring into downtime planning.