Which toasters reviews

To see how each toaster handled breads of different shapes and sizes, we toasted dozens of loaves of basic white bread, bagels, frozen waffles, and English muffins. For our white-bread test, we toasted three back-to-back rounds of Wonder bread slices to see how consistent the toast was from model to model and batch to batch. These multiple batches showed us how well each toaster could regulate its temperature after heating up. In each round, we timed each toaster to see which could brown bread the fastest.

We judged the toast itself on its top-to-bottom and side-to-side evenness, and we evaluated the accuracy of the shade settings—would most breakfast eaters consider these results to be medium, or too light, or too burned? For our update, we revised our testing approach slightly—we toasted bread on the medium-shade setting in back-to-back timed sequences, following the same procedure used by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.

We toasted six batches of bread, allowing the toasters to rest for a different amount of time between each batch. In order, the toasters rested 15 seconds, 60 seconds, 15 seconds, 6 minutes, and, finally, 11 minutes. This revealed how well the toasters regulated their temperature from batch to batch.

We also added sourdough bread to the mix of carbs we toasted to see if the tall slices fit into the slots. The waffles, we hoped, would come out crispy and brown but not scorched or soggy. We toasted English muffins to see which toasters made it easiest to retrieve them without having to stick our fingers in the heated slots. And we took a look at the size of each model relative to others in its class.

These inexpensive toasters browned bread, bagels, and waffles better than all of the competition in their price range. Unlike some other cheap toasters, the Cuisinarts have slots that are wide enough to fit thick, hand-cut bagels without requiring you to push them down yourself.

The plastic controls offer a wide range of toasting settings and feel sturdier than the plastic dials and knobs on some other toasters we tested. The two-slot Cuisinart is also one of the tiniest toasters we tested, making it ideal for kitchens with limited counter space. They beautifully browned the entire slice of Wonder bread, whereas other toasters, like the Osters or Hamilton Beaches we tested, left unappetizing raw halos on top.

When we filled every slot, the four-slot model made slightly lighter toast than the two-slot, but you can easily fix this by turning up the toasting dial. By comparison, all other similarly priced toasters—and even some pricier machines—left bread even whiter and patchier.

The medium setting on both Cuisinarts also popped out a fully done piece of toast after 1 minute 20 seconds—almost half the time it took our previous top pick, the Oster Jelly Bean at 2 minutes 20 seconds.

And the defrost setting on both Cuisinarts produced Eggo waffles that were crispy on the outside but soft and moist on the inside. The slots on the Cuisinarts were wider and deeper than those on most other toasters we tested. The controls on both Cuisinarts are simple. They also have buttons to reheat and defrost your toast, as well as a bagel setting. All the parts you touch and twist stay cool, and they also feel sturdier than the moving parts of other toasters.

We used Wonder bread—which is practically engineered to toast evenly—for our back-to-back tests, following the same procedure used by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. However, some of our long term testers were frustrated by uneven results. Upon retesting, we found the Cuisinart still performed as well as it did during our earlier tests, but it was important to adjust settings for different items this is true of any toaster.

For instance, English muffins had the most decent color on settings 5. Finding the optimal settings for each carb will vary depending on your preferences, so it will take some trial and error to find out what you like best. Thermal data showed that the Cuisinarts heated up faster and reached higher temperatures, whereas the Breville took longer to toast but had better temperature stability overall.

Based on our research, we believe the heating elements in both appliances are probably made well enough to last at least five years. The Cuisinarts have a simple, boxy design, so the two-slot version takes up less space than some of the flashier toasters we tested, like our previous runner-up, the space-inefficient Cuisinart CPT ViewPro Glass 2-Slice Toaster which is now discontinued. If you have a small kitchen and your counter space is at a premium, the Cuisinart two-slice is the way to go.

The four-slice Cuisinart is just 4 inches wider than the two-slice model. Cleaning and maintaining both Cuisinarts is as simple as sliding out the removable crumb tray and wiping it clean similar to other models we tested. The Cuisinarts come with a limited three-year warranty; only the expensive Magimix matches it for having the longest warranty of any toaster we tested.

Our two-slot upgrade pick from Breville comes with a one-year warranty. All of the printing is still intact, and none of the labels show any signs of wearing off. The two Cuisinart toasters have virtually no flaws in toasting, aside from occasionally leaving slim pale lines around the edges. The labels printed next to the buttons may wear away, but, again, most toasters we looked at had a similar issue.

And these labels should last longer than the ones printed directly on the buttons of other toasters like the Oster Jelly Bean or the Hamilton Beach Keep Warm , where buttery fingers may constantly be pressing. Unlike the one on the Breville, the bagel setting on the Cuisinarts only adds time to the toasting cycle, without lowering the heat on the outside of the bagel. When the second batch starts, turn the heat down half a level from your normal setting.

Unfortunately, that seems to be the case for just about any toaster. The Bit More also offers more flexible toasting options than our top-pick Cuisinarts.

It allows you to check the degree of doneness mid-toast and offers the option to add 30 seconds more to the toasting cycle. The Breville toasts more evenly than our top-pick Cuisinarts, with uniform browning from top to bottom. This may be because the Breville heats up slower and has better temperature stability for more of the toasting cycle than the Cuisinarts something Ohio State determined in its testing. As with any toaster, to keep the heating elements intact, you should avoid shaking or banging the machine say, to remove crumbs.

But again, electrical failures are probably more likely to occur before the heating elements fail in either model. The Breville also has a helpful printed icon on the top of the toaster to show you which direction to insert a sliced bagel. The Breville also stays cool to the touch even after multiple rounds of toasting, unlike the steel toasters from Oster or Hamilton Beach. The Breville also beeps to alert you when your toast is ready. You can adjust the volume or mute this feature by following the directions in the user manual.

According to Ohio State, the Breville has a more-robust construction with more fasteners than the Cuisinart. Both Signe and Michael said they wish the toaster offered a bit more lift. But as a solution, Michael recommends using mini tongs to rescue stuck pieces of toast just be careful not to hit the heating elements, since this could damage them. To help us understand why modern toasters seem to fail so quickly or start to toast unevenly over time, we wanted to compare them to vintage toasters, which historically have had much longer lifespans—in fact, many of them are still working today.

They broke apart each toaster to compare their structural design, wiring, thermal output, and heating element alloys. You can read more about their in-depth work and see more photos of the insides of toasters in our blog post , but there were a few main takeaways.

That said, the researchers also told us it would be unlikely for the heating elements to be the main or only cause of malfunction. We also tested the toasters with thicker slices of artisan breads to see how they'd stand up to heftier carbs.

To determine the toasters' defrosting and reheating capabilities, we chose frozen waffles as the next marker. Lastly, to evaluate how each toaster dealt with larger objects and sturdier slices we're looking at you, farmers market miche , we chose a stack of sliced bagels for the final challenge.

Two-thirds of the toasters we tested were 2-slice models: this, we reasoned, was standard, and big enough for most uses. But we were also determined to find a 4-slice model—ideal for roommate situations or larger families—that performed well enough to merit giving up some extra space. We used the same tests to evaluate both size models. Almost all toasters are made from a combination of metal these days, often stainless steel and plastic—but depending on price point and manufacturer, the build-quality and aesthetic differences between models can vary enormously.

Before toasting, we held each machine in our hands and watched how sturdily it sat on the countertop: ones that wobbled or squeaked lost some points. We looked for toasters with slots that could accommodate slices of all shapes and size. We also checked to make sure that, once lowered, each item sat deeply in the slots with no portion uncovered and untoasted.

We evaluated whether the machines toasted both sides of the bread evenly and yielded predictable differences when using both the light toast and dark toast settings. If the toaster had a dedicated bagel setting, we used it, though we did not automatically disqualify models that lacked those specifications.

Nowadays, lots of toasters come with a defrost setting—which would seem ideal for items like frozen bread, waffles, and breakfast pastries, but sadly, the results are often either a waffle that's toasted on the outside but icy in the middle or defrosted but depressingly soggy. The goal: finding a machine that offered the best of both worlds.

Though we appreciate options, we hate redundant design clutter. In approaching each toaster, we judged whether the machines' controls were practical and comprehensive. We also considered whether the interface seemed self-explanatory good or would require a close reading of the manual bad. Even if you don't live in a tiny apartment, chances are your kitchen counter is still valuable real estate. With that in mind, we favored toasters that seemed thoughtfully designed and conservatively proportioned.

If price isn't your main concern and you're looking for a well-built toaster that delivers consistent results and has high-tech but not intimidating touches, get the Breville Die-Cast. Both the 2-slice and 4-slice models of the Breville outperformed similar toasters in the same price category, so choose the size that fits your household needs. If you're looking for a more affordable option that performs nearly as well as the Breville, go for the Professional Series or the Oster.

Finally, if you want a machine that has a retro luxury feel and produces evenly browned, if a little crispy, slices of bread, get the Smeg 2-slice toaster. We drank a lot of coffee to find the best machine for caffeinating your mornings.

We found the best conventional and gooseneck electric tea kettles on the market. We scrubbed the pulp from 13 leading models to find the best juicers on the market. A good toaster oven should be able to do everything your big oven can do, just in a cuter, more compact package.

Sharon has been testing kitchen equipment for the past 30 years. Before becoming a cooking tools maven, she worked as a professional chef in New York City restaurants for seven years. Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own.

Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes. We'll help you find the best stuff and love the stuff you own. Popular Search Terms washer review dishwasher cameras tv air fryer refrigerator review mattress sony lg. Money All Money Credit Cards. Accessibility All Accessibility. Written by Sharon Franke.

Our Favorite Two-Slice Toasters of Best Overall. Pros High-quality construction Helpful electronic controls. Cons Expensive for a pop-up toaster. Buy now at Sur La Table. Best Value. Pros Very affordable Fast and even toasting Beautifully designed. Cons Lightweight and narrow Not compatible with thick bagels and muffins.

Related content feature Ordering a Thanksgiving meal kit? Don't miss these deadlines. Credit: Pixabay. Pros Attractive black stainless steel finish option Even toasting. Cons Struggles to pop up English muffins. Zwilling 2-Slice Toaster. Pros Even toasting Sturdy Well-built. Cons Expensive Takes up a lot of space. A pleasant little tune lets you know when your toast is ready. Pros Digital touchscreen Toasts quickly Shows toasting progress.

Cons Very expensive Can't toast lightly No high-lift function. Buy now at Williams-Sonoma. Pros Beautifully designed Fast and even toasting Sturdy and well-built. Cons No difference between medium and dark settings. Hamilton Beach 2-Slice Toaster. Pros Even toasting Inexpensive.

Cons No special settings Crumb tray isn't removable. Smeg 2 Slice Toaster. Pros Very beautifully designed Even toasting. GE 2-Slice Toaster. Pros Sturdy and well built Even toasting Consistent toasting. Calphalon IntelliCrisp. Pros Fairly even toasting Shows toasting progress Sturdy and well-built. Cons Bagel halves are a tight fit. Oster 2-Slice Toaster. The bagel, frozen, and warm buttons are large and clearly identified. Pros Fairly even toasting Cheerful design. Pros Attractive design and sturdy construction Quick toasting setting.

Cons Expensive for a pop-up toaster Setting lights are difficult to see Struggles to pop up English muffins. Hamilton Beach Keep Warm Toaster. Pros Very affordable Very even toasting. Cons Unattractive design. Haden Dorset 2-Slice Toaster. Pros Even toasting beautiful design.

Cons Unintuitive toasting bagels Browns a little dark. On the bagel setting, it extends the time but toasts on both sides of the bagel. Pros Very affordable Sides stay cool to the touch. Cons Lightweight. Pros Even toasting Sides stay cool to touch.

Cons Struggles to pop up English Muffins. Breville the Toast Select Luxe. Pros Solid Well-built Attractive design. Cons Toasts unevenly Very expensive Struggles to pop up English muffins. Pros Very affordable Easily accommodates a fat bagel. Cons Browns toast unevenly Lightweight.