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At a budget price, the Nostalgia MyMini promises a fast breakfast without dirtying a pan. In our kitchen, the preheat light shut off before the plate was truly hot, and that one quirk shaped every result below. If you are comparing every option, our electric griddle reviews cover the full-size models too.
Key takeaway. Our rating: 3.8 out of 5. Skip it if you cook for more than one person or want any control over the heat.
Closed-lid eggs came out well on the MyMini, and cleanup took almost no effort. The plate runs one fixed heat, so pancakes and tortillas are where it falls short. For the price, it earns its counter space if you cook small.
The MyMini is a hinged, dual-sided griddle with a nonstick plate on both the top and the bottom. Close the lid and it cooks both sides of an egg or a sandwich at once. It is marketed for dorms, apartments, offices and campers, and we think that is the right audience.
The orange (MGD5OR) and red (MGD5RD) versions are both confirmed, and specs may differ by color, so check the listing before you order. Pick one up through the buy buttons on this page, where the return protection is straightforward.
The MyMini suits a student who needs a fast breakfast, an RV cook with a small electric hookup, and anyone who wants one egg without a frying pan. It does not suit families or anyone who likes cooking on a hot, adjustable surface.
| Cooking surface | 5-inch plate, top and bottom |
|---|---|
| Cooking area | 19.6 sq in |
| Power | 550W |
| Weight | 15.5 ounces |
| Dimensions | 5.25 x 6.75 x 3.5 inches |
| Colors | Orange (MGD5OR), red (MGD5RD) and others |
| Cord | Attached; length is not published in retailer listings |
| Warranty | 1-year |
| Controls | Power and preheat lights, no temperature dial |
Next, a word on how we score a single-serve griddle. We judge the egg results first, then capacity, how the heat behaves without a dial, how easily the plate cleans, and whether the price justifies the counter space. Pancakes, sandwiches and tortillas get their own checks because the closed lid treats each differently.
At 15.5 ounces and 5.25 x 6.75 x 3.5 inches, the MyMini fits easily into a cabinet or camper drawer. The compact body stores easily, which is the main reason it works in a dorm room. It also saves dirtying a pan, a small win when your sink is shared.
The 5-inch nonstick plate is the whole show. A light oil seasoning helps food release. The handle stays cool to the touch, so lifting the lid is not a worry.
The housing is not sealed. We keep raw frozen meat off it, because liquid from a thawing patty can run into the body and ruin the heating element. The cord is the other weak spot: it can slide under the feet and tilt the unit, which lets runny egg flow over the edge. Keep the cord clear of the base.
Plug it in and the preheat light comes on, then shuts off in about 1-3 minutes. Here is the catch we found: the light goes off before the plate is truly at full heat. Batter and the first egg benefit from a little extra time on the plate.
There is no temperature control, so heat output is fixed. Searing a burger or melting cheese on a muffin is not realistic. At 550W it is plenty for eggs and not enough for much else.
Warning. The plate and lid get hot, and there is no auto shut-off in the features we could confirm. Never leave it running unattended, keep it away from kids, and unplug it as soon as you finish cooking.
Eggs are where the MyMini shines. Closed-lid eggs came out well, and over easy or over medium works if you close the top. It does need watching, or the egg overcooks.
One egg at a time fits cleanly. Two eggs, or an egg with shredded cheese, overflow the 5-inch plate.
Here is how a two-egg breakfast went. We waited for the preheat light to shut off, gave the plate a little extra time, then cooked the first egg evenly with the lid closed. The second egg went on right after and cooked noticeably slower, because the plate had cooled after the first load and reheated slowly even with the lid shut. We stood over it the whole time, since an over easy egg overcooks fast if you wander off.
If you are cooking two eggs, plan on giving the second one extra time rather than trusting the first egg's timing.
Pancakes are hit and miss. The closed lid traps steam, so they come out rubbery or underdone on top, and some need flipping to cook through. Thin mini pancakes from a mix do better, so pour small and keep the batter loose.
Breakfast sandwiches are the happier story. An egg, a slice of ham and a toasted English muffin half fit the plate neatly, as long as you give the plate a minute of extra heat first.
Quesadilla tortillas barely crisp under the closed lid and take a long time. A tortilla is the weakest use we found. Hashbrowns and small cookies fit the manufacturer's list of intended foods, and the keto crowd will like that a single egg or a thin chaffle fits the plate. Stick to small, simple foods and the MyMini behaves.
For most dorm cooks, easy cleanup matters after the meal. There is no removable plate, so cleanup is a wipe job. The nonstick surface wipes clean once it has cooled, and a light oil seasoning helps release. Never submerge it, and keep water out of the body.
Tip. For stuck-on egg, steam it loose. Lay a damp paper towel on the warm plate, close the lid for a minute, then wipe. The steam softens the residue so you never scrub the coating.
Here are the main strengths and drawbacks.
The closest rival is the Dash Mini Maker, covered in our Dash Mini Maker round griddle review. The Dash is even smaller, with a 4-inch plate, and some eggs do not fit it. It cooks a runny dippy egg in about 70 seconds, wipes clean with a damp paper towel, and suits single pancakes and keto chaffles.
We prefer the MyMini for eggs and sandwiches because the extra inch matters, and its 550W against the Dash's 350W gives it more punch. Choose the Dash if you want the smallest footprint and mostly make single pancakes.
| Product | Surface size | Nonstick | Cleanup | Wattage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nostalgia MyMini | 5-inch (19.6 sq in) | Yes, top and bottom plates | Wipe, no removable plate | 550W |
| Dash Mini Maker | 4-inch | Yes | Wipe with damp towel | 350W |
After weighing the MyMini against the Dash, the remaining question is whether either one fits your household. If you cook for a family or want any heat control, look at our guide to the best electric griddles instead.
Yes. The plate cools after the first load and reheats slowly even with the lid closed, so give the second egg extra time rather than copying the first.
Both fit the manufacturer's intended foods, and a thin chaffle fits the 5-inch plate. Keep the portions small and simple.
It is a modest load for a small electric hookup, but we have not confirmed how it behaves on a specific inverter, so check your inverter's rating first.
Orange (MGD5OR) and red (MGD5RD) are both confirmed, but specs may not carry across every color variant, so check the listing.
A 1-year warranty.
Yes. At 15.5 ounces with a compact body, it stores easily. Let the plate cool fully before you pack it away.
It can slide under the feet and tilt the unit, which lets runny egg flow over the edge. Keep the cord clear of the base.
If the MyMini does not fit, the choice comes down to size. The Dash Mini Maker is the better pick when you want the smallest footprint and mostly make single pancakes. For anything bigger than one serving, step up to a full-size griddle from our guide above. Whichever you pick, route the cord away from the base and give the plate a minute of extra heat.
Browse our tested guides and find the right appliance for the way you cook.