Posted by Luciana Lawe Davies 18/08/2022

There’s a new appliance on the market, and it’s turning a restaurant favourite into an easy at-home snack. Kmart just launched a $25 samosa maker which can cook 24 samosas in minutes with shoppers already giving it rave reviews. But, how does it compare to ALDI’s sold-out $40 samosa maker which appears in Special Buys from time to time? Here’s our review.

Kmart quietly released this samosa maker by its home and lifestyle brand, Anko. It features non-stick plates, variable temperatures between 150°C-180°C, and make up to 24 samosas at one time. Other notable features include a cool touch handle, skid-resistant feet, power on and ready temperature lights, overheat protection and upright storage. Unlike its ALDI counterpart, the Kmart Anko samosa maker retails for $25, which is nearly half the price! The Kmart samosa maker has some solid reviews online, with users labelling it ‘nothing short of a game changer’ and ‘perfect.’

Ambiano is a trademark ALDI kitchen appliance brand behind some of the budget supermarket’s most popular products, including air fryers, stand mixers and cooking plates. The ALDI Ambiano samosa maker features automatic temperature controls, and a non-stick cooking surface and can make up to 24 samosas at one time. It last retailed for $39.99 in the supermarket’s latest Special Buys and may come back in stock seasonally, so keep your eye out for it in stores or online.

The ALDI Ambiano samosa maker has also received rave reviews each time it has been released, with many shoppers describing it as ‘amazing’ and giving results ‘better than you would get in a restaurant.’ Those who’ve purchased the ALDI model also expressed their happiness at the machine’s ability to make more than just samosas, with some cooking cakes, cupcakes and triangular pies. However, there were a few mentions of the appliance’s failure to completely seal the samosas and an issue with the locking latch.

So, what’s the difference between the two brands? Well, not much aside from price. The comparison table below takes a look at the most significant features of the two brands.

Ultimately, the Kmart samosa maker is half the price of the ALDI version, shares similar features and is available all year round, so it may be a better overall option if you don’t want to wait for those hot pockets of goodness or would like to gift it to someone for a special occasion.

However, if price and time aren’t a deal breaker for you, and you’ve had some good experiences with Ambiano products, it’s worth trying out an ALDI appliance if you can get your hands on one. The two appliance brands share some great features, like non-stick plates for an easy clean-up after dinner, the ability to make 24 samosas (more than enough to share) and the ability to cook a variety of sweet and savoury treats, and an attractive price tag.

It’s important to note that in reviews of the ALDI Ambiano samosa maker, some customers mentioned occasional leaking and an instance of the locking mechanism breaking. While these are individual experiences and not indicative of the entire range, in the case of ALDI products a customer must contact the manufacturer, not the supermarket about faulty or broken goods, which can make it difficult to remedy faulty products.

Kmart on the other hand has a return policy where you can bring your goods back into the store, along with the receipt to receive a refund. This is an easier process that will allow you to either purchase another (functioning) appliance on the day, or walk away with your money in your pocket.

Looking for more Kmart product reviews?

Making samosas in a samosa maker is easy as pie! As a huge added benefit (and unlike the traditional method of deep frying) samosas made in a dedicated maker are cooked with very little oil.

Here’s how it works:

Please note: depending on the machine, the pastry and how long you have cooked the samosas, you may need to use a tool to separate the samosas once they are cooked. Be careful not to scratch the non-stick surface as this will strip it of its non-stick properties.

Whipping up a round of samosas isn’t difficult, and you may even already have the ingredients in your cupboard or fridge. Here is a pretty classic samosa recipe, but feel free to mix it up and throw in whatever flavours, spices and vegetables you fancy.

Note: follow the cooking directions supplied in your samosa maker instructions manual. Cooking times generally vary between three and five minutes.

You can use whatever pastry base you like best, whether it’s store-bought or homemade. Popular pastry dough you can use in a samosa maker include:

What sort of pastry you choose will depend on the type of snack you’re making – just be careful not to mix up your sweet with the savoury!

The world is truly your oyster when it comes to a samosa maker. Think of it like a little oven, that delivers a perfect crisp every time. Don’t be limited to samosas − crack out your machine to create goodies such as cakes, cupcakes, mini calzones, doughnuts, tiny toasties and triangular profiteroles.

With so many options at your fingertips, investing in a samosa maker is a great decision for a burgeoning baker or chronic snacker. No matter which brand or appliance you choose, always make sure to read the warranty and instructions manual carefully, and you can look forward to enjoying a lifetime of homemade goodies.

*Recipe adapted from Recipe Tin Eats

© Copyright 2022 Canstar Blue Pty Ltd ACN 142 285 434 All Rights Reserved

facebook twitter instagram youtube linkedin

To our knowledge, all information in articles on the Canstar Blue website was correct at the time of publication. This information may have changed over time. Refer to the product fact sheet (or relevant similar documentation) before making any purchase decision. Canstar Blue's website terms and conditions apply.