Best 2 slice toaster on the market
17 Best Two-Slice Toasters of 2022
Written by Sharon Franke
Updated July 29, 2022
Few things can top the texture, flavor, and contentment of biting into a perfectly browned slice of toast. Finding a toaster consistently produces such crunchy, warm bliss? That can be less satisfying. The world of toasters has some exciting bells and whistles, but you deserve one that excels at what matters—crisping up bread slices, bagels, and frozen waffles without scorching.
We’ve tested over a dozen top-sellers to find you the best 2 slice toasters at the right price. We’ve endlessly deliberated about the perfect color for toast, searched for the bagel setting, and struggled to grab the small half of an English muffin from toaster slots. Our favorite is the Breville Die-Cast 2-Slice Smart Toaster (available at Sur La Table) . The Breville doesn’t come cheap, but its even toasting and solid build—plus some special features—make it an absolute pleasure to use.
If you're looking for something more robust, see our recommendations for the best toaster ovens.
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
Best Overall
Breville Die-Cast 2-Slice Smart Toaster
The Breville Die-Cast 2-Slice Smart Toaster might actually make you say “I love my toaster” in casual conversation. This stainless steel toaster's weight is noticeable right out of the box. Making a product heavier to connote “quality” is an old trick, but the Breville’s quality is also obvious in its top-notch toasting of bread and thick (sliced) bagels.
It’s the little things that make this toaster stand out. The start/cancel button is handier than a traditional lever. The bread lowers and rises in its extra-wide slots with a theatrically slow speed. You select your setting by sliding a button on an LED-lighted control.
Breville did an outstanding job designing an intuitive, accommodating product. Press the “Lift & Lock” button if you want a quick peek.
If the toast needs a bit more time, just press the button that’s actually labeled “A Bit More”. You can even adjust or mute the volume on the beep that tells you your toast is done.
Like most Breville products, the electrical cord has a circle behind the prongs that makes it easy to remove from a socket. Even the removable crumb tray that makes this toaster easy to clean was considerately designed. It’s pricey, but we recommend it if you want the best.
Buy now at Sur La Table
$149.99 from Amazon
$159.95 from Abt
$149.95 from Walmart
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
Best Value
Cuisinart 2 Slice Compact Plastic Toaster
Cuisinart toasters are typically very affordable, while still usually landing among the top choices. Despite its rock-bottom price, the Cuisinart 2-Slice Compact is beautifully designed and performs well, making it our best value choice. (Our original best value, the Black + Decker 2-Slice, was discontinued.
)
The gray lettering on the controls really pops against the light background, making it easy to choose your setting. It’s also very fast, serving up dark toast in under 3 minutes. When we toasted five 2-slice batches in a row on medium, we got ten slices of identical toast in about 6 minutes. How great when you’re making BLTs for a bunch of hungry kids!
While the bagel setting toasted bagels beautifully, a fat New-York style bagel is a tight fit. Neither bagels nor English muffins popped up high enough to grab without raising the lever for an extra lift. In addition to solid toasting, this model offers reheat and defrost settings.
Other Two-Slice Toasters We Tested
Oster TSSTTRGM2L 2-Slice Toaster
Black stainless steel has a softer, easier-to-clean finish than gleaming stainless steel. If you want to capitalize on the trendy finish without swapping out your fridge, consider the Oster Black Stainless Collection 2-Slice Toaster.
Naturally, we wouldn't be writing about it here unless it was also great at toasting bread to all shades.
When toasting small items like English muffins, you will have to use the toast lift to grab them without risking burnt fingertips. In addition to bagel and frozen bread settings, it has a "Quick 30 Sec" button if you want your toast just a wee bit more well-done.
Zwilling 2-Slice Toaster
A newcomer in this world, the Zwilling 2-Slice Toaster is pricey, but it’s worth it if you want evenly-browned toast at every setting, that looks the same every time. It’s wider and higher than typical models, easily accommodating half of a fat New York bagel or a long slice from a country-style loaf. It has defrost, warm-up, and bagel buttons.
The entire top of the unit is plastic and stays cool, although the sides get quite hot to the touch. As the Zwilling is heavy, it’s not the one to choose if you only pull a toaster out on special occasions.
Pros
-
Even toasting
-
Sturdy
-
Well-built
Buy now at Williams-Sonoma
$109.
95 from Target
$99.99 from Bloomingdale's
$114.52 from Walmart
Revolution InstaGLO R180
The Revolution Cooking R180 High-Speed 2-Slice Smart Toaster is super expensive, but state of the art. It lives up to its promise to toast quickly and evenly, and its touchscreen controls are fun to use. It’s very heavy and well-designed.
The touch screen lets you select the type of bread and whether it’s fresh, frozen, or to be reheated. The setting numbers are accompanied by a preview of the toast’s shade at that setting. Once you press start, the display shows the progress of heating and browning and counts down the last 10 seconds. A pleasant little tune lets you know when your toast is ready.
And thankfully, all this technology delivers perfectly browned toast! Our only gripe is that there’s no high lift, which becomes problematic when you try to retrieve English muffins.
The R180’s settings menu lets you adjust the time and date, as well the screen brightness and the volume.
It offers a lot, but it’s up to you to decide whether great toast is worth this unit’s cost.
KitchenAid 2-Slice Toaster with High Lift Lever
Available in glossy red, black, or silver, the KitchenAid 2-Slice Toaster with High Lift Lever is a stunner. It's also sturdy and heavy, with settings that click into place when you turn the dial. We got perfectly even toasting, faster than any other toaster we tested. Useful features include bagel, defrost, reheat, and keep warm.
However, we didn't see much difference between the medium and dark settings. If you're a dark rye lover, you may find yourself giving it an extra cycle. When toasting smaller items like English muffins and bagels, you'll have to use the high lift lever or risk singeing your fingertips.
Pros
-
Beautifully designed
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Fast and even toasting
-
Sturdy and well-built
Hamilton Beach 22623 2-Slice Toaster
Talk about no frills! This Hamilton Beach has no settings other than cancel.
There isn't a removable crumb tray —you pull it open and give it a shake. However, it’s a darn good toaster, considering it costs less than a movie ticket.
As you’d expect at this price, it’s lightweight, so it might be a good choice if you keep your toaster stashed away most of the time. For storage, you wrap the cord around the side, which isn’t pretty but is easily accomplished.
Pros
-
Even toasting
-
Inexpensive
Smeg 2 Slice Toaster
If you're looking for a conversation piece, the Smeg 2-Slice Toaster is your pick. It comes from the Italian company's '50s Retro Style line. It sports the glamor of a mid-century Maserati and is just as likely to make heads turn.
The finish (available in Red, Pink, Pastel green, Black, White, Cream, and Chrome) is as thick and rich as on a sports car. When you shift a gear—excuse me, a setting—it locks into place firmly.
As you would expect for the price, it offers excellent toasting. It includes reheat, defrost, and bagel settings.
GE 2-Slice Toaster
Once a toaster powerhouse, GE has returned with a solid performer. It toasts evenly and produces three distinct shades of doneness. It also has “bagel” and “frozen” settings. English muffin fans will need to use the lift lever to raise them high enough to grab them safely.
$39.00 from Amazon
$39.00 from Home Depot
$38.99 from Macy's
$65.00 from Walmart
Calphalon IntelliCrisp
The Calphalon IntelliCrisp is a well-built, sturdy toaster with a dark gray finish. As it toasts, LED lights around the number settings show you the toasting progress, so you can time the rest of your breakfast prep. There’s a bagel setting, as well as a defrost. If you enjoy fat New York City-style bagels, you may have to give the halves a push to get them down into the slots.
Pros
-
Fairly even toasting
-
Shows toasting progress
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Sturdy and well-built
Oster 2-Slice Toaster
With its rounded retro shape and shiny red finish, the Oster 2-Slice Toaster is cheery looking.
If you prefer a more neutral look, you can also buy it in gray. English muffin lovers should be forewarned that small items don’t pop up very high and can be hard to nab from the slots. Buttons for the bagel, frozen, and warm settings are large and clearly identified.
GE Café Two-Slice Toaster
The GE Café Two-Slice Toaster is a beautiful, solidly-built product that comes in matte white, matte black, or stainless steel, each with copper accents. However, it’s also relatively pricey and requires more countertop space than average. Its regular toast settings take a relatively long time, it doesn’t color bread evenly, and the “light” setting comes out closer to medium. English muffins barely pop up above the slots, but the lever raises them high enough to grab safely.
There's also a unique “Express Finish” setting which toasts exceptionally quickly—under a minute at medium—and toasts fairly evenly. Other settings on the Café include Bagel, Reheat, and Frozen. However, the lights that indicate the settings are so small that we had to squint to see them.
Overall, you’re paying for design and sturdy construction, rather than the performance.
Cons
-
Expensive for a pop-up toaster
-
Setting lights are difficult to see
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Struggles to pop up English muffins
$99.00 from Abt
$159.50 from Walmart
Haden Dorset 2-Slice Toaster
If you’re looking for stylish ’50s design without breaking the bank, the sturdy, British Haden Dorset 2-Slice Toaster is for you. It features a rotary dial and an analog display for the settings, plus clearly marked bagel, defrost, and cancel buttons. You can choose red or a beige tone called putty.
While the Dorset browns very evenly, medium-toasted bread came out darker than we expected for the setting. To toast bagels, you insert them with the cut side facing out rather than in—perhaps it has something to do with the fact that Brits drive on the other side of the road?
Pros
-
Even toasting
-
beautiful design
Black & Decker T2569B
The Black and Decker 2-Slice Toaster T2659B really shines at toasting evenly, and showed minimal variation when toasting five batches in a row.
Another big plus: this stayed coolest to the touch of all the models we tested, as long as you mind the stainless steel on the top of the slots.
Unfortunately, English muffins don’t rise up to the top of the slots, even using the high-lift lever, so you have to be careful to avoid burning your fingertips. This toaster is on the chunky side, so while it takes up a little more countertop space, it easily handles chubby bagels. Unlike most, the bagel setting toasts both sides.
Breville the Toast Select Luxe
Breville’s “The Toast Select Luxe” is beautifully made, but its looks are its one strong asset. It comes in sophisticated glossy shades including black truffle, sea salt, smoked hickory, royal champagne, and brushed stainless steel. The dial display is styled like a watch face and includes number settings, as well as specific settings for white, brown, grain, fruit, rye, and crumpets. During toasting, the dial lights up and tracks the toast’s progress.
This toaster also has lots of extras: Lift and Look for taking a sneak peek during toasting, A Bit More to add just a little time, plus reheat and frozen buttons. Handles on the bottom make it easy to lift and move around. While all these fancy features may seem worth the big bucks, the Luxe’s actual toasting disappointed, browning unevenly. And despite the high-lift lever, it was almost impossible to grab half an English muffin out of the slots.
Pros
-
Solid
-
Well-built
-
Attractive design
Dualit 2 Slot Newgen Toaster
The Dualit NewGen 2-Slice Toaster is solidly built, with an industrial design that made it a home-magazine darling. Unfortunately, its actual toasting and ease-of-use are lacking. It’s considerably higher and wider than your typical two-slice model. There are only two settings on the mechanical timer: “2” and “3.” Setting “3” results in heavy smoking and charred bread, so we suggest you stick with “2. ” Once you make one batch of golden brown toast, the toaster gets so hot that the next ones smoke and burn. There’s also no pop-up. You lower and raise your bread with a completely unintuitive lever: Lift it up when you want the bread to go down and press it down to bring toast up.
Perhaps bagels are not a thing in the UK. This Dualit toasts them unevenly, leaves one side cold, and has trouble lowering and raising them. The defrost option thaws, but doesn’t automatically start toasting as it does on all the other toasters we tested.
At least it's colorful. The NewGen is available with side panels in 21 different colors.
How We Tested Two-Slice Toasters
The Tester
Hi, I'm Sharon Franke, and I’ve been reviewing kitchen equipment for the past 30 years. In addition to testing and writing about everything from bagels slicers to bread machines, I’m a passionate home cook.
Before I became obsessed with cooking appliances and tools of all kinds, I spent seven years working as a professional chef in New York City restaurants.
While I’m always on the lookout for the newest recipes and restaurants to try, when I’m cocooning at home—more often than not—it’s a toasted bagel that’s on my plate.
The Tests
Credit: Reviewed / Sharon Franke
Consistency is everything when it comes to testing toasters. We weighted it very highly in our scores.
We tested 2-slice pop-up electric toasters (see our 4-slice toaster rankings here). Each appliance was rated first and foremost on how well it toasts bread. We looked for a range of toast shades and even toasting on all 4 sides. We also tested for consistency across repeated use, and we checked out the bagel setting.
We also considered user experience, including how easy the controls are to use and whether the special features are actually helpful. All the products got too hot to touch around the slots, so we tested whether English muffins and bagels popped up high enough to grab without burning your fingers.
We also evaluated how well each one was constructed, including wide slot and long slot toasters built to handle different types of bread.
And while we didn’t include appearance or size in our ratings, we took them into consideration, as this is one kitchen appliance that will almost certainly live on your countertop, taking up space.
What You Should Know About Two-Slice Toasters
Credit: Pixabay
Get the most out of your toaster with these tips.
How to Make Sure a Two-Slice Toaster Toasts Evenly
Different types of bread require different settings to toast evenly. A slice of white bread might need a lower temperature and less time to toast well, while a thick rye bread might need a higher setting to reach the right crispiness.
Dualit USA’s toasting research found that sweet-tasting breads, such as cinnamon raisin, toast more quickly. Bread may also need different settings as time goes on and the loaf loses moisture.
Meanwhile, Hamilton Beach’s consumer research, showed that most people “clean” their toasters by turning them upside down and shaking out the crumbs instead of emptying the bread tray.
This can lead to stray crumbs damaging your toaster’s effectiveness. For best results over time, keep your crumb tray clear and clean.
Learning the settings is also important to get the toast you want. Be patient and let the toaster work properly instead of hitting the cancel button to check it. Stopping the toaster and starting it again is a great way to burn your toast, since the timer starts over, but the bread is nearly done.
Another common mistake is putting bagels into the toaster the wrong way. If your toaster doesn’t have a bagel setting, put the bagel soft side facing in to prevent it from toasting unevenly or burning. Bagels are dense and require more toasting time than a slice of bread, so learn your settings to avoid burning your breakfast.
How to Clean a Toaster
Toasters are prone to gathering dust, lint, and even (disgustingly) bugs. Keeping your appliance clean is important, and requires more than just giving it a shake over your kitchen sink.
First, unplug the toaster so that you won’t electrocute yourself.
Then, pull the crumb tray out and gently wash it with warm water and dish soap.
While the crumb tray dries, clean the bread slots with a damp cloth doused in vinegar. Make sure not to wet the toaster too much, because it will take a long time to dry. Wipe the toaster’s insides with a damp cloth to remove any leftover vinegar residue and let it dry upside down, giving it one last shake for good measure. If the idea of dust and bugs in your appliance understandably grosses you out, you can also purchase a cover to protect it from the elements.
More Articles You Might Enjoy
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- The Best Air Fryers
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Meet the tester
Sharon Franke
Contributor
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.
See all of Sharon Franke's reviews
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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.
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6 Best Toasters of 2022, Tested by Experts
We updated this article in November 2022 to ensure the information reflected current prices, features and more. Our top picks, based on testing notes from the Good Housekeeping Institute, remain the same.
You may not think it, but toasters come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. There are two- and four- slice toasters, plastic and metal options, long-slot models, smart versions and beyond. It's understandable if selecting the right one can feel overwhelming.
Whether you want to toast a thick slice of artisan multigrain bread for jammy egg toasts, a piece of sourdough for garlicky shrimp and white bean toast or a slice of white for classic buttered toast, we’ve found a toaster to suit your needs.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab has tested toaster ovens, air fryer toaster ovens and more, totaling nearly 60 toasters over the years. We evaluate each one for performance, consistency and efficiency. We grade the owner’s manual and evaluate the controls, surface temperatures, cleanability and any especially unique features. Here are our top picks for the best toasters you can buy in 2022, including a combination of toasters we’ve tested in our Lab and in our own homes.
Our top picks:
-
1
Best Overall Toaster
Two-Slice Digital Toaster Cuisinart
$70 AT BEST BUY
Read More
$70 AT BEST BUY
-
2
Best Value Toaster
Brushed Stainless Steel Toaster Hamilton Beach
$32 AT WALMART
Read More
$32 AT WALMART
-
3
Best long-slot toaster
Long-Slot Toaster Cuisinart
$60 AT AMAZON
Read More
$60 AT AMAZON
-
4
Best Four-Slice Toaster
Savoy Four-Slice Toaster Krups
$79 AT AMAZON
Read More
$79 AT AMAZON
-
5
Best Smart Toaster
Die-Cast Two-Slice Smart Toaster Breville
$130 AT WILLIAMS SONOMA
Read More
$130 AT WILLIAMS SONOMA
-
6
Best Retro Toaster
Smeg Two-Slice Toaster Smeg
$180 AT WILLIAMS SONOMA
Read More
$180 AT WILLIAMS SONOMA
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You can read more about how we evaluate toasters in our Lab tests — plus everything you need to know to shop for your perfect toaster — at the end of this guide.
Looking for more small kitchen appliances to elevate your breakfast routine and beyond? Check out our guides to the best waffle makers and best indoor grills. And don't forget to look for toasters on sale during Black Friday.
1
Best Overall Toaster
Cuisinart
Two-Slice Digital Toaster
Cuisinart
$70 AT BEST BUY
| Dimensions | 6.9 x 11.3 x 7.2 inches |
|---|---|
| Style of toaster | Two-slice |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Settings | White, whole grain, bagel, sweet, waffles, English muffin, gluten-free, defrost, single slice and shade selector |
2
Best Value Toaster
Hamilton Beach
Brushed Stainless Steel Toaster
Hamilton Beach
Now 14% off
$32 AT WALMART $32 AT WAYFAIR $42 AT OVERSTOCK
| Dimensions | 11. 14 x 6.46 x 7.48 inches |
|---|---|
| Style of toaster | Two-slice |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Settings | Shade selector |
3
Best long-slot toaster
Cuisinart
Long-Slot Toaster
Cuisinart
Now 14% off
$60 AT AMAZON $76 AT WALMART $70 AT WAYFAIR
| Dimensions | 6 x 18 x 7 inches |
|---|---|
| Style of toast | Long-slot toaster |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Settings | Toast, bagel, defrost, reheat and shade selector |
4
Best Four-Slice Toaster
Krups
Savoy Four-Slice Toaster
Krups
$79 AT AMAZON $100 AT SUR LA TABLE $85 AT WALMART
| Dimensions | 13. 34 x 13.5 x 8.58 inches |
|---|---|
| Style of toaster | Four-slice |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Settings | Defrost, reheat, bagel and shade selector |
5
Best Smart Toaster
Breville
Die-Cast Two-Slice Smart Toaster
Breville
Now 19% off
$130 AT WILLIAMS SONOMA
| Dimensions | 6.75 x 10.25 x 7.5 inches |
|---|---|
| Style of toaster | Two-slice |
| Material | Brushed steel |
| Settings | Toast, lift & look, bagel, defrost, a bit more and shade selector |
6
Best Retro Toaster
Smeg
Smeg Two-Slice Toaster
Smeg
Now 25% off
$180 AT WILLIAMS SONOMA
| Dimensions | 12. 5 x 7.75 x 7.75 inches |
|---|---|
| Style of toaster | 2-slice |
| Material | Steel with powder-coated enamel |
| Settings | Reheat, defrost, bagel and shade selector |
How we test toasters
At the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances Lab, we’ve tested hundreds of appliances over the years to find the best ones, including toasters and toaster ovens. On our quest to make the perfect toast and find the best toaster on the market, we left no crumb behind: We've tested nearly 60 toasters over the years to determine how quickly and evenly they toast white bread.
We lined up toasted slices side by side from light to dark to evaluate each toaster's range. After we toasted consecutive batches, we compared them for consistency from batch to batch. We reviewed the owner’s manual and evaluated the ease of using the controls.
We also evaluated surface temperatures of each unit during toasting as well as cleanability (We love a removable crumb tray when cleaning a toaster oven or toaster!). We checked whether or not the slots can accommodate thick bagels, long slices of bread and small English muffins. And we noted whether slices pop up high enough for easy grabbing.
What to look for when shopping for the best toaster
✔️ Style of toaster: When choosing a toaster, consider how many slices of toast you regularly make at once and what size the bread you like to toast.
- Four-slice toasters: If there are more than two of you racing to make breakfast at the same time, a four-slice toaster is probably your best bet.
- Two-slice toasters: If counter space is a concern, however, you may want to opt for a two-slice toaster.
- Long-slot toasters: Long-slot toasters are gaining popularity now due to the rise in more rustic forms of bread.
Opt for long slots if you love sourdough or other artisanal bread. You'll rarely be able to fit a whole slice in a traditional toaster without cutting it in half. - Wide-slot toasters: Keep an eye out for toasters with wide slots. These make toasting bagels and thicker slices of bread easier and fuss-free.
✔️ Material: The exterior material of toasters is more about looks than anything else. In our tests, we found that toast quality wasn't compromised either way.
- Plastic toasters: Generally, plastic toasters tend to be less expensive than metal but aren't always the most aesthetically pleasing.
- Metal toasters: Metal toasters usually are brushed steel or stainless steel and can coordinate with your other kitchen appliances.
✔️ Settings: In addition to toasting bread to your favorite shade and doneness, look for a toaster with the right settings for you.
For example, the bagel setting usually toasts only the inside of a bagel and warms the outside so you don't have to worry about an overly dry or crunchy bite. A defrost setting is great for frozen waffles or bread; it typically adds more time to the toasting process so you get the same results you would if the waffles or bread were fresh. Reheat settings typically toast bread or other ingredients for a short amount of time, perfect for a toaster pastry or adding a touch more color.
✔️ Nice-to-haves: While not every toaster will have additional special features there are some nice-to-haves that you can look for when selecting a toaster.
- A glass window will allow you to peer into your toaster as it's toasting to help reduce the likelihood of burnt toast.
- A motorized or high-lift lever helps remedy the issue of stuck toast that is hard to grab out of the toaster slot and takes away the manual task of pushing the toaster lever down.
- A touchscreen interface is easy to read and operate, providing an especially sleek look and usually more toasting options.
How do you choose between a toaster or a toaster oven?
A toaster is great for someone with limited counter space and with limited toasting needs. If you love to toast bagels, bread and waffles and don't need to toast or bake much else, then a reliable toaster is your best bet.
A toaster oven is great for someone who not only toasts bread, but also likes to add toppings like melted cheese, heat up frozen pizza or even roast vegetables. While this will take up more counter space than a toaster, it will offer additional features that can help eliminate the use of a microwave or reduce using the oven (especially great on a hot day).
An air fryer toaster oven is great for someone who loves toasting just as much as they love air frying.
Reducing the need to have two appliances, an air fryer toaster oven will help you toast bread, air fry chicken wings and possibly even bake a cake.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, Eva Bleyer has tested all types of kitchen products, from blenders to kitchen scales. While Eva hasn't conducted a side-by-side test of toasters yet, she just finished Lab-testing toaster ovens. Eva is always looking for the next best toaster to use as the base of a delicious toast; whether it's topped with fluffy scrambled eggs or cottage cheese and seasonal fruit.
Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab Director Nicole Papantoniou oversees all content and testing related to kitchen appliances, tools, gadgets and gear. She's been testing kitchen appliances professionally since 2013 and lends her experience working at kitchen appliance companies where she helped develop popular air fryers and such recipes.
For this roundup, she conducted toaster, toaster oven and air fryer toaster oven testing and analyzed data.
Betty Gold is the former Senior Editor & Product Analyst of the Kitchen Appliances Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she evaluated and wrote about every type of cooking tool and food-related item on the market, including toasters.
Betty Gold Betty Gold is an experienced food writer and editor who worked at Good Housekeeping from 2013 to 2019.
Eva Bleyer Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab Reviews Analyst Eva (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she tests kitchen gear, home appliances and culinary innovations.
The best toasters - Rating 2022 (TOP 10)
The main problem of our time is the constant lack of time. This is expressed even in the fact that sometimes there is no time to cook a quality breakfast. One of the ways to solve the problem of the morning meal is the toaster.
It is a very simple device with which you can easily and quickly prepare delicious sandwiches. Now on the market there are many models of such household appliances from various manufacturers, both high-quality and not very good. This makes choosing a good toaster for the home much more difficult. It is better to understand what to look for when buying this device and to navigate the diversity of the model range will help this TOP of the best toasters.
Rating of the best toasters
A toaster is a kitchen electrical appliance designed for toasting thin slices of bread. This technique is very popular among people who love fried croutons with a crispy golden crust. According to customer reviews, the advantages of toasters include:
- no need to wash the pan after frying;
- very quick preparation of tasty croutons;
- no need to use oil when frying;
- excellent crispy taste;
- complete cooking automation, eliminating the risk of burning;
- easy care and use.
The use of toasters for making morning sandwiches allows you to do both roasting bread and other necessary things at the same time, which is essential when you are in a hurry to work or study, meet friends or business partners.
1. Kitfort KT-2038
This model is a compact and inexpensive retro toaster. Its body is enameled and has chrome elements, as well as an old-fashioned control panel in the form of a lever. This design gives the device a certain charm and personality. Despite its design, the toaster is modern and has six heat settings, as well as defrost, reheat and manual shut-off functions. The presence of a crumb tray makes it easy and quick to clean the toaster from debris. The only caveat is that only a completely dry tray can be inserted into the device.
Recommended for purchase by lovers of stylish and original devices who appreciate functionality, but are not ready to pay too much money.
Advantages:
- stylish design;
- compact dimensions;
- roasting speed and uniformity;
- heating and defrosting;
- good power;
- reasonable price.
Disadvantages:
- Only two toasts can be toasted at a time.
2. Philips Viva Collection HD2635/90
This model is one of the best toasters in terms of build quality and functionality. It is equipped with two wide compartments that allow you to cook crispy toast of any thickness. Of the additional features, it is worth highlighting the stand for heating buns. High-quality preparation of sliced bread slices is ensured by the automatic centering mechanism. The toaster has a thermally insulated body, a removable crumb tray and a special lift for the safe removal of small slices. It is also worth noting that the toaster is equipped with a manual override function, auto power off and seven degrees of bread roasting.
Recommended for customers who want a quality device with lots of features and are willing to pay the right price for it.
Advantages:
- high power;
- automatic centering;
- rich functionality;
- affordable price;
- Removable crumb tray included.
Disadvantages:
- short network cable.
3. KitchenAid 5KMT2116
This powerful appliance will captivate anyone with its functionality and stylish appearance. This toaster was created specifically for those consumers who do not like oversized and bulky kitchen appliances. Due to the presence of wide openings, it is possible to use pastries and any types of bread as a toast, for example, baguette, ciabatta, yeast bread. The toaster is easy to set up and allows you to cook slices of bread with seven degrees of roasting.
Advantages:
- the presence of heating, heating and defrosting functions;
- high slice lift;
- metal case;
- no heating;
- high build quality and reliability;
- stylish design;
- cord storage.
Disadvantages:
- a considerable price.
4. Bosch TAT 8611/8613
This model is distinguished by high-quality assembly and strict design.
It will fit perfectly into the kitchen, decorated in a modern style, for example, hi-tech. For ease of use, this toaster is equipped with illuminated controls, crumb tray, high slice lift, cord storage and overheat cut-off. Additional functions include: heating and defrosting, the presence of a grill for heating buns.
Advantages:
- five roast levels;
- high power;
- quality heating elements;
- cooking speed;
- thermally insulated housing.
Disadvantages:
- no non-stick coating.
5. Tefal TT 640810
This appliance is one of the best value for money toasters. The automatic centering function allows you to get evenly toasted toast from both thin and thick slices. This model is perfect for modern life and will be a stylish addition to any kitchen. Recommended toaster for consumers who want maximum functionality for a reasonable price.
Advantages:
- high power;
- removable crumb tray;
- display with indication of cooking time;
- seven roasting levels.
Disadvantages:
- the plastic housing gets hot.
6. REDMOND RT-M403
This device rightfully takes its place in the ranking of the best toasters. Its external design is made in the style of retrofuturism, which makes it very attractive and original. Great choice of modes (9) allows you to easily select the desired option according to your preferences.
Advantages:
- stylish appearance;
- crumb tray;
- stainless steel body;
- high power;
- cooking time indicator;
- nine degrees of doneness.
Disadvantages:
- slightly unfinished control.
7. Kitfort KT-2036
This device is the best inexpensive and reliable toaster.
It is practical and easy to operate, with it you can quickly prepare breakfast or a light snack. The presence of the automatic centering function allows you to cook bread evenly fried on all sides, cut into slices of different thicknesses. Thanks to the presence of eight operating modes, you can prepare toast for every taste, choosing a low, medium or intense degree of roasting. For consumers who prefer to store bread in the freezer, there is a defrost function.
Advantages:
- high power;
- Removable crumb tray included;
- chic color selection;
- combination of price and quality;
- easy operation;
- liquid crystal display;
Drawbacks:
- plastic case.
8. De'Longhi CTJ 2103
This is the best toaster for consumers who appreciate the original design of home appliances. Its main feature is a glossy black body, made in a strict minimalist style, complemented by chrome elements.
Rubberized feet provide maximum stability, no matter the surface. The small size ensures that the toaster will not clutter up the countertop.
Advantages:
- electronic control;
- price-opportunity combination;
- unique design;
- high power;
- great functionality.
Weaknesses:
- hard springs shoot toast a lot.
9. Galaxy GL2904
This toaster is a stylish budget kitchen appliance that the whole family can enjoy a quick and delicious breakfast with. Six degrees of roasting will allow you to cook toast for every taste, and the heating and defrosting functions make using this appliance more comfortable. The presence of a hidden cable storage compartment allows you not to worry about where to fold it when storing the toaster.
Advantages:
- low price;
- the presence of a cancel button;
- automatic centering;
- crumb tray.
Disadvantages:
- plastic case gets very hot;
- mechanical control.
10. BBK TR72M
In terms of reliability, this toaster is not inferior to most models from this rating. It is economical and easy to use. Compact size and classic color scheme allow it to fit into the interior of any modern kitchen without any problems. Six roasting modes give you a wide range of bread making options. The manual shutdown mode allows you to interrupt the cooking process at any time.
Advantages:
- thermally insulated housing;
- overtemperature protection;
- removable crumb tray;
- light weight.
Disadvantages:
- not all models are built well;
- mechanical control.
How to choose a toaster for your home
When buying any electrical appliance, the question always arises, which one is better to buy.
Reviews on the Internet indicate that it is better to choose a device for the home, which has the following characteristics:
Number of departments . It is selected depending on how many slices are planned to be cooked at the same time. Currently, there are models with two or four compartments.
Energy consumption . The speed of bread preparation depends on the power of the device. The higher this value, the faster it will fry. Most toasters have power ranging from 800W to 1.6kW.
Presence of thermostat . This item is for selecting the duration and temperature for roasting the slices. In modern models, six temperature modes are possible.
Presence of manual override button . With its help, you can stop the heating of bread at any convenient time, regardless of the selected mode.
In addition to the above characteristics, it is not superfluous to pay attention to the additional functions that the toaster can be equipped with.
These include the following:
- the presence of an additional frying surface, on which, simultaneously with toasts, you can fry a cutlet or scrambled eggs;
- possibility of making sandwiches;
- presence of a grill;
- bun warming function on special rack;
- possibility of printing on bread;
- toasting bread on one side only;
- defrost function;
- the possibility of heating the slices without drying them.
In addition, the toaster may have other useful and interesting little things that make it more comfortable to use. These include:
- cable storage compartment;
- high rise of small slices;
- automatic centering;
- electronic control unit;
- crumb tray.
Equally important is the mode in which the toaster can operate. There are three of them: mechanical, semi-automatic and automatic. In the first case, the entire process of making bread must be controlled manually.
In the second option, due to the presence of a thermostat, the device turns off when the set temperature is reached. In the automatic mode of operation, the timer and thermostat are activated at the same time, which allows you to set the necessary parameters and go about your business without worrying about the process of preparing breakfast.
Which toaster is best to buy
To choose the best toaster, you need to carefully consider all the options for its use. In some cases, all the needs of the buyer are quite capable of satisfying the most ordinary cheap device. If you need a device with additional features, it is recommended to choose a multifunctional toaster, which has a much higher cost. Accordingly, we can conclude that it is necessary to choose based on financial capabilities and planned ways to use the device.
How to choose a toaster: help you decide on the criteria
The toaster is a compact appliance for toasting slices of bread. This is a fairly simple device that can often be found in kitchens around the world.
As a rule, these devices rarely break, and therefore, when purchasing a toaster, you need to be prepared that you will have to live with it for a long time. How to choose the most suitable toaster, and what nuances should you pay attention to when choosing this simple kitchen device? Let's figure it out.
The design of the toaster
All toasters are basically the same: the appliance has chambers corresponding to the size of a standard (toast) piece of bread. Inside the chambers there are heating elements, as well as "paws" for capturing toast. Outside, there are controls - a knob for adjusting the heating and timing, as well as a lever that lowers the toasts into the working chamber (it also acts as a button for starting the heating process). At the bottom of the chamber are springs that eject the finished toast at the end of the cooking process.
Below (under the cooking chamber) there is a small crumb tray, and on top, some models allow the installation of a grill for heating sandwiches, croissants and other baked goods.
Heating element
Older models of toasters often use a metal heating element (for example, a tubular heater), more modern ones use a nichrome filament, a ceramic or quartz heater.
Toaster interiorFrom the user's point of view, there is little difference between heating methods: it is believed that a toaster with a quartz heater warms up faster and provides slightly better toast, and also consumes less electricity. However, these advantages can be easily leveled by errors in the design of the device, and therefore, the presence of only a quartz heater cannot serve as an unambiguous recommendation in choosing one or another model. The same story happens with other types of heating elements. Therefore, the only recommendation that is not in doubt is that, if possible, you should avoid buying a device with a metal heating element. However, it will not be so easy to encounter such a device today: they are practically not used in modern models.
Cooking chamber and number of toasts
The most common toasters on the market today are designed for 1, 2 or 4 slices of bread.
It is clear that the number of toasts that need to be cooked at the same time depends on the size of the family. The most common are models for 2 toasts - they are used by families consisting of 1-4 people. Models for 4 toasts are suitable for families from 2 people, as well as for use in small offices. Single toast models are designed for one person.
Note that models designed for 4 toasts sometimes have two independent control units, which allows you to fry the toast in pairs - with different degrees of doneness. This will be useful if there is no consensus in the family about how hard to toast the bread.
Power
The power of the vast majority of toasters is in the range from 700 to 1300 W, although sometimes you can find models with a power of 1.5 kW for 2 toast models and up to 2-2.5 kW for 4 toast models.
Toaster in operation Is there any rule that more power means better toasting of bread? In our opinion, no.
However, logical reasoning suggests that a higher power will brown the bread more on the outside, leaving it soft on the inside. Heating at a lower power for a longer time, on the contrary, will dry the bread both outside and inside.
It is clear that these arguments do not claim to be universal (after all, in the end, everything depends on the design features of the device and the settings of various cooking modes), but we would take this moment into account as an additional (but by no means the main!) parameter when choosing a toaster.
Built-in programs and adjustment of various degrees of roasting
This item is the most important when choosing a toaster for the home. The fact is that the quality of the toaster primarily depends on how well it copes with the roasting of bread in various modes. A high-quality toaster will equally well cope with the minimum roasting of bread (barely more than simple heating), and will not burn bread at the maximum allowable modes.
Therefore, the key parameter that you should pay attention to when choosing a toaster, we consider convenient operation - the ability to flexibly adjust the degrees of roasting. Well, since the vast majority of household toasters do not have the ability to adjust (that is, they can either heat or not heat), the presence of various programs and modes essentially boils down to setting different time intervals during which the bread will be toasted.
Don't be put off by the fact that on the lowest setting the bread can look underdone, and on the highest setting the toaster can burn the toast to a black crust: different types of toast require different toasting times. For example, ready-made "sandwich" sliced bread will toast faster, while special toast bread (which looks slightly damp) will take longer to cook.
Toast bread cooked at maximum power looks very browned ...and ordinary bread on the same mode already burns The presence of a large number of programs / modes will allow you to choose the most appropriate roasting time, depending on the bread that the user is used to.
Agree - it is better to have a device with several "extra" modes (which will never be used in real life) than to purchase a toaster that, even at the maximum duration, will not be able to fry the toast to a golden crust (which you are used to).
In our opinion, when choosing a toaster, it makes sense to consider models that allow you to set from 6 (and preferably more) different degrees of roasting.
The presence of additional features, in our opinion, only slightly increases the attractiveness of certain models over competitors: almost all models have a “cancel” button, the mode of heating bread or pre-toasted toast may be convenient for those who are late for breakfast, however is not decisive when choosing a toaster. The same can be said about the mode of defrosting bread.
But what you need to pay attention to is the presence of the function of automatic centering of the bread in the working chamber and the uniformity of heating / roasting of the bread. If everything is clear with the first function as a whole: when the roasting process starts, the bread is automatically pressed with the help of wires and, thus, is placed in the most “correct” position relative to the heating elements, then it will not be possible to determine the uniformity of roasting “by eye”.
Unfortunately, many toasters that look more than nice on visual inspection are far from the best in terms of even roasting. This is especially pronounced at maximum modes. As a result, the user gets some toast, which turns out to be overcooked or even burned in some places.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to predict such a result by examining the toaster in the store. And therefore - the only recommendation that is relevant here is to go before buying a toaster to visit the owner of the model you are interested in and fry a few pieces of bread there. Well, or just study reviews and tests of popular toasters on Internet forums and thematic resources (for example, on iXBT.com).
Design features
The reader may get the impression that when choosing a toaster, in principle, it is impossible to understand whether the device will be convenient in everyday use or not. However, it's not all bad. A visual inspection of the device and the study of its design features make it possible to cut off clearly unsuitable models with a sufficiently high degree of certainty.
So, for example, it would not be recommended in principle to consider devices without a button to cancel the cooking process, as well as without the function of automatic centering of toasts. Additional convenience will be provided by heating modes and the presence of a special grate for heating baking. It is also worth paying attention to the presence of a function, usually called "extra lifting". With its help, it will be possible to remove non-standard (reduced) pieces of bread from the working chamber without resorting to improvised accessories such as forks.
An important parameter is the thermal insulation of the body. The fact is that in the process of operation toasters heat up quite strongly, and therefore if the heating elements are located close to the metal case, then it will be quite easy to get burned on such a toaster. Therefore, among other models, it is better to pay attention to those that have thermal insulation (for example, heat-resistant elements on the case).
And, of course, it will be good if the developer leaves a lot of free space inside the device (first of all, between the heating element and the metal case of the device).
It's also worth thinking about how easy the maintenance of the toaster will be. Shiny metal cabinets will certainly look spectacular in any kitchen. However, as you know, such devices are especially good at collecting fingerprints and all kinds of splashes. Well, since the body of the toaster can heat up to fairly high temperatures, all these contaminants can “stick”, thereby significantly complicating the cleaning of the toaster.
Non-standard toasters
Finishing the conversation about toasters, one cannot fail to mention "non-standard" devices that are practically not found in ordinary apartments. First of all, these are, of course, horizontal toasters, which are, in fact, a mini-oven for making snacks, sandwiches and other small-sized products. Such devices are not very popular primarily because of their rather large dimensions.
In small hotels and hotels you can find horizontal toasters that work on the principle of continuous feeding of pieces of bread through the working chamber: the future toast is placed on one side of the device and slowly moves out the other side. Such a device allows you to quickly feed a large number of people in self-service mode.
Separately, it is worth mentioning hybrid breakfast devices that combine the functions of a toaster, coffee maker, egg cooker, grill pan (all at once, or in any combination). Such a gadget, in our opinion, may be appropriate only in small apartments. And even then its expediency remains in doubt: it is clear that such a "centaur" is unlikely to be able to show a better result than several independent highly specialized devices.
Multifunctional gadget Breakfast machine But toasters with the function of printing images on bread deserve attention: if there are children in the family, then a cute drawing on the bread will certainly cheer them up.
In nature, there are even toasters that allow you to program the device to print an arbitrary picture, but we will naturally place these devices in the category of “devices for geeks”. It is clear that for the average user this functionality is redundant.
Conclusions
Summing up the above, we are forced to come to not too rosy conclusions: having put together our experience, we could not come up with an algorithm that allows us to choose a good and high-quality toaster with 100% efficiency, which will serve faithfully and will not cause complaints during operation.
Focusing solely on the price, as our tests showed, does not make sense - this is the rare case when a more expensive device is not necessarily better than a budget one.
However, we were able to highlight a few important nuances. After you decide on the number of toasts you need at a time, you should pay attention to the following details: when choosing a toaster, you should give preference to models with a wide range of different roasting modes, do not forget to pay attention to the thermal insulation of the body and the presence of thermal insulating elements.
