Best home toasters


6 Best Toasters of 2023, Tested by Experts

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1

Best Overall Toaster

Cuisinart 2-Slice Digital Toaster with MemorySet

1

Best Overall Toaster

Cuisinart 2-Slice Digital Toaster with MemorySet

Now 20% Off

$56 at Amazon$70 at Home Depot$60 at Walmart

Credit: Cuisinart
Pros
Cons

We have tested many Cuisinart toasters over the years, all of which have received high testing scores. This one offers a more digitized experience by housing most of the settings on a screen on the front of the toaster. "It offers different settings for different types of bread (white, whole grain, bagel, sweet, waffles, English muffin and gluten-free), which is helpful now that people are eating more than just packaged white bread, which toasts differently than something baked with less sugar and preservatives for example," says Nicole Papantoniou, Director of the Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab. "In general, most of these settings are differentiated by more or less time." There is also a shade selector that allows you to choose anywhere from lightly toasted to dark (levels one through seven) and options for defrosting and toasting single slices. Clean-up is also easy with a removable crumb tray. This model comes in a four-slice option as well if you have a larger family or want a separate set of slots designated for gluten-free bread without any contamination.

Dimensions6.9 x 11.3 x 7.2 inches
Style of toasterTwo-slice
MaterialStainless steel
SettingsWhite, 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

2

Best Value Toaster

Hamilton Beach Brushed Stainless Steel Toaster

$42 at Walmart$25 at Wayfair$25 at JCPenney

Credit: Hamilton Beach
Pros
Cons

This Hamilton Beach is a super basic but affordable model with seven toast shade options. Papantoniou especially loves that the stainless steel exterior makes it a bit more elegant-looking than other basic toasters that are usually plastic. While this model does not feature different bread settings like the Cuisinart pick above, it does feature extra-wide slots for thick-cut Texas toast or bagels. (Take note: You may have to adjust the shade setting or for thicker or frozen pieces of bread.)

This model also features family-friendly cool-touch sides to avoid burns. There is also a handy slide-out crumb tray for easy clean-up.

Dimensions11.3 x 7.48 x 7.48 inches
Style of toasterTwo-slice
MaterialStainless steel
SettingsShade selector

3

Best Four-Slice Toaster

Krups Savoy Four-Slice Toaster

3

Best Four-Slice Toaster

Krups Savoy Four-Slice Toaster

Now 13% Off

$69 at Amazon$100 at Sur la Table

Credit: Krups
Pros
Cons

This black and stainless steel model is consistently dependable for toasting white bread to a delicate golden color as well as rye bread to a deeper brown. It's great for entertaining too — not only can it toast up to four slices at once, but if there's a crowd at the table, it will pop up slice after slice to the same degree of doneness without burning by the second or third batch. This model features dual independent control panels so you can toast a frozen bagel on one side and a fresh piece of whole grain bread on the other and each will be cooked to the correct doneness.

Additional features include six browning settings, plus defrost, reheat and bagel. A high lift lever helps retrieve smaller pieces of toast. In our testing, we especially liked that toast and English muffins popped up high enough to grab easily.

Dimensions13.34 x 13.5 x 8.58 inches
Style of toaster Four-slice
MaterialStainless steel
SettingsDefrost, reheat, bagel and shade selector

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4

Best long-slot toaster

Cuisinart Long-Slot Toaster

4

Best long-slot toaster

Cuisinart Long-Slot Toaster

Now 14% Off

$60 at Amazon$60 at Walmart$62 at Wayfair

Credit: Cuisinart
Pros
Cons

Whether you need to toast a long slice of sourdough bread or a long ciabatta roll, Cuisinart Long-Slot Toaster allows you to keep your bread intact – perfect for an epic avocado toast or large BLT. While we haven't tested this model in the Lab yet, many of Cuisinart's toasters have performed well in past tests. We love that this toaster features a high lift lever, removable crumb tray and cord wrap underneath the toaster for ease of use. This model comes with a shade selector featuring seven different levels of browning and preset buttons that feature toast, bagel, defrost, reheat and cancel. Take note that with a toaster that fits longer slices of bread comes a larger footprint, so it will take up more space on your countertop than other toasters on the market.

Dimensions6 x 18 x 7 inches
Style of toastLong-slot toaster
MaterialStainless steel
SettingsToast, bagel, defrost, reheat and shade selector

5

Best Smart Toaster

Breville Die-Cast Two-Slice Smart Toaster

5

Best Smart Toaster

Breville Die-Cast Two-Slice Smart Toaster

$160 at Williams Sonoma

Credit: Breville
Pros
Cons

The Breville Die-Cast Two-Slice Toaster took the top spot in our test, and the only reason it’s not our best overall pick is because you probably don’t need to spend this much money on a toaster. Still, if you value consistent toast, it's a champion toaster. We made five batches of toast consecutively, and it toasted consistently from batch to batch. With the push of a button, the grates lower your toast automatically — no lever-pressing. It also features extra-wide slots for bagels and thicker slices of bread. We found the "Lift and Look" setting to be particularly convenient; it allows you to check on your toast's progress and if your toast isn't browned enough, you can use the "A Bit More" setting to add extra time.

A pull-out crumb tray on the base makes it easy to clean, although it is not dishwasher safe. Also worth noting: The sleek die-cast metal housing with brushed steel exterior makes it major eye candy for your countertop.

Dimensions6.75 x 10.25 x 7.5 inches
Style of toasterTwo-slice
MaterialBrushed steel
SettingsToast, lift & look, bagel, defrost, a bit more and shade selector

6

Best Retro Toaster

Smeg Smeg Two-Slice Toaster

6

Best Retro Toaster

Smeg Smeg Two-Slice Toaster

Now 17% Off

$200 at Williams Sonoma

Credit: Smeg
Pros
Cons

If good looks are a high priority in your kitchen, the Smeg Two-Slice Toaster is worth the price. With its bright, glossy finish (that comes in 14 colors and patterns!) and its 1950s aesthetic, this sturdy toaster is a beauty that takes up minimal counter space. When you select a setting, it locks into place so you know you've set it precisely and extra wide slots ensure that you can fit thicker cut slices of bread. In our testing, it toasted evenly and showed a good range of toast shades. It was able to toast five consecutive batches of toast consistently.

This model comes with six browning levels and a backlit chrome knob that offers reheat, defrost, cancel and bagel settings. For easy clean-up, there is a removable crumb tray. If you still want a retro toaster, but in a larger size, Smeg also has a four-slice size available.

Dimensions12.5 x 7.75 x 7.75 inches
Style of toaster2-slice
MaterialSteel with powder-coated enamel
SettingsReheat, defrost, bagel and shade selector

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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 of bread you like to toast.

✔️ 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.