Buying The Best Toaster On The Market
Do you love to breakfast like a king?
If that’s a yes, then we are sure you also agree that well-toasted bread, bagels, and waffles are a vital part of this equation.
Toast is a quintessential element that goes with everything – be it, eggs, bacon, sausages, and other breakfast items.
That’s why it is always a good idea to have a toaster at home, and we are here to help you buy the right make and model that’s perfect for you!
We have tested some of the best toasters out there and narrowed down the top choices that’ll fit any home. Read on to find what may be the best toaster for you.
4 Best Toasters On The Market
We scoured the markets for the best options that money could buy, and then we tested these vigorously to ensure that they hold up to their reputation.
Finally, the following toasters emerged as the clear winners with the Cuisinart CPT-435 as the best of the lot.
Let’s learn more:
Our Top Pick – Cuisinart CPT-435 Countdown Four-Slice Toaster
If you need a versatile toaster for home or office, the Cuisinart CPT-435 Countdown Four-Slice Toaster is what you need for perfectly toasted bread every time.
It has a sturdy, sleek, and beautiful design with a multitude of options to enhance your breakfast experience. You can have your toast as you like it, slightly browned, perfectly crisped, or darker than your soul.
The best part is that the bread slots are wide enough to accommodate large slices and even bagels. These 1.5-inch slots can take a lot more than just your standard-sized bread.
But wait, there is more, the Cuisinart CPT-435 allows you to toast bread on different settings at the same time, the bagel setting puts less heat on the uncut side, and the defrost button allows you to toast frozen waffles quickly – so no more waiting for your favorite bread to defrost!
Interestingly, this toaster also features an LED screen that lets you see the settings, and tells you how long it will take to complete the current toast cycle.
Pros
- A sleek and stylish toaster
- LED screen
- Three-year warranty
- Bagel toasting functions
- Defrost function
Cons
- Somewhat noisy
- Takes some adjustment to toast evenly
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The Best-Designed Toaster – SMEG TSF01PBUS Two-Slice Toaster
If you want a perfectly designed toaster that raises the aesthetic appeal of your kitchen, we recommend the SMEG TSF01PBUS Two-Slice Toaster.
Its manufacturer, SMEG, is known form creating high-end kitchen gadgets with high style quotient. So it’s no wonder that they have received the Good Design Award from Chicago Museum along with many other accolades.
But it’s not just about the looks, the toaster browns bread perfectly, and is built to last for a good number of years.
The SMEG TSF01PBUS has a powder-coated steel body that’s easy to clean and a perfectly placed stainless steel lever to push-down the bread. It also has a removable crumb tray that easily comes out with the simple push of a button.
The appliance comes in various colors, including black, red, blue, cream, green, chrome, and pink – so rest assured that you’ll find a version that goes well with your kitchen décor.
You’ll also find that it offers everything you’d expect from a modern toaster, i.e., bagel settings, defrost option, ability to cancel a toast cycle, reheating, and the choice to select between six browning options.
Pros
- Built from durable material
- Even toasting
- Bagel functions and defrosting options
- Reheating feature
- Aesthetically appealing
Cons
- Can be hard to manage the attached cord
- It heats up a bit if used several times in a row
Best Premium Toaster – Breville BTA830XL
If you want the hottest in toaster tech, this is it! Look no further than the Breville BTA830XL, because we believe that this premium toaster deserves all your attention.
It has many advanced features, some of which aren’t yet available with other toasters. Also, it has a great look and feel to it and is made from high-quality material.
The Breville BTA830XL has four wide slots to hold different types of bread, and you get the option to adjust the toast settings—from fully crisp, to slightly brown, and others in between.
Choose the setting, insert bread, and the built-in motor will automatically detect it and lower it inwards. The toasting progress and time left to completion are displayed on the provided LED screen.
Unlike standard toasters, there’s no danger of the toast popping out, and once toasted to perfection, the bread is quietly raised, and a bell rings to alert you.
And if you are annoyed by the sound, this toaster lets you lower the volume or completely mute it.
Apart from defrosting and bagel settings seen in modern toasters, this one also has two other buttons – the “Lift and Look Button” and the “A Bit More Button” – the former Button raises the toast in-between the toast cycle to see how the bread looks and the latter further toasts the bread if need be.
Pros
- Lift and lock Button
- A Bit More Button
- Build from quality material
- Bread rises instead of popping out
- Noise-free operation
Cons
- Heavier than average
- Costs more than anything else in the market
Best Toaster Oven – Breville BOV845BSS
If you have a big family that loves to eat their breakfast together, you need something sturdier and more versatile then the typical pop-up toaster. You need a toaster oven, and Breville BOV845BSS is one of the best on the market.
The large countertop oven can toast up to six slices of bread simultaneously, and do much more like bake a cake, cookies, etc. And the best part is that its performance is just as good as a standard oven.
The Breville BOV845BSS has ten preset cooking functions and two heating elements—choosing the right cooking mode is quite easy.
Additionally, it features convection cooking; therefore, everything heats evenly and quickly.
You’ll even get three different baking pans that fit in the toaster oven where the available surface area is enough to hold a three and a half quarter Dutch oven.
Pros
- Large for a considerably sized Dutch oven
- Allows you to bake items
- Ten preset cooking functions
- Can toast six slices of bread at once
Cons
- The convection fan makes a lot of noise
Types Of Toasters
Toaster Oven
These models let you do a lot more than just toasting, making them viable alternatives to traditional ovens. If toast is all you need, then this appliance can toast six to nine slices at a time, depending on the size.
This makes toaster ovens a good buy if you have a large family, where each member loves bread!
Pop-Up Toasters
For most people, it isn’t a toaster unless it can pop-up the bread once it’s done. It has a simple mechanism — put bread, muffin, or bagel in the slots, press down on the lever, and once, toasted the item pops out.
They are simple to use, are reasonably priced, and do an excellent job in browning the bread.
Things To Consider
Here are the main factors to consider when choosing the right toaster:
Size of the Toaster
The size of the toaster depends on its intended use, i.e., how many people will be served or how many slices need to be toasted in one cycle?
If you have a large family, consider buying a 4-slot pop-up toaster or a toaster oven that toasts up to nine slices in one go.
Similarly, if you are just a couple or if you live on your own — a 2-slice or 4-slice toaster, maybe right up your alley.
Furthermore, if you care about the bigger loaves, English muffins, bagels, etc. you would need a toaster with bigger slots or a toaster oven.
Also, think about the space where you’ll hold the appliance, i.e., the space on your countertop.
A kitchen in a cozy studio may not have as much space as opposed to a kitchen in a big apartment – so choose accordingly as you don’t want to select a unit that has to be stowed away after each use.
Your Usage
If you require the toaster to only toast standard-sized bread, then any of the options mentioned above will work for you.
However, if your toasting requirements are not just centered towards bread, and you would also love waffles, English muffins, bagels, pop tarts, pastries, etc., then pick a model with bigger slots and one with settings that are on par with your needs.
Features And Settings
Generally, most people are only looking for basic settings that allow for browning of the bread at different intensities — light medium or dark.
But here are some additional settings that may help you decide on a make and model:
- Cancel button — cancel the toasting process between the cycle
- Self-Adjusting guides — all items in the different slots will be toasted evenly
- Defrost option — to toast frozen items such as frozen waffles, frozen toast, and other tasty treats
- Convection Heating — the time required to toast is lessened, and all items as evenly toasted
- Rotisserie — perfect for cooking poultry items
- Crumb tray — to collect all fallen crumbs, for an easy clean-up job
- Reheat function — allows toast to be warmed up without further browning
- Sandwich rack — to quickly warm thin sandwiches
- Warming tray — to heat items over the toaster such as dinner rolls
- Bagel toasting — toasting one side more than the other
- Range of darkness settings that can be easily controlled
Ease of Use and Cleaning
It may take some time to get used to your toaster, but once you nail down to the right settings, you will master it.
Cleaning toaster can be quite easy if they come with a crumb tray and have a non-stick interior, so please refer to the many features of your potential toaster before purchasing it.
Durability
A quality toaster will last you for a good number of years, even over a decade.
To ensure the longevity of a potential toaster, conduct some research – check out the material used. For instance, stainless-steel devices are meant to last longer than plastic – and also check reviews from past users and the provided warranty period.
Price And Warranty
You can buy a pop-up toaster for a minimum of $20 and know that the prices can go over $100, whereas a toaster oven can range from $50 to more than $300 — the higher the rate, the more features to look forward to.
Pop-up toasters are meant to fulfill the necessary requirements; however, they are not as sturdy as toaster ovens.
On the other hand, expensive variants of pop-up roasters, as well as toaster ovens, come packed with various settings and features — they are a holistic solution for your breakfast needs.
They do a lot more than just toast bread like some toaster ovens have the convection cooking feature
Also, do check the warranty period for your toaster — sufficient coverage is always a plus. It is also essential to ensure that the product is built from quality materials.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Should I Look For When Buying A Toaster?
A good toaster should have a crumb tray, convection heating, and a rotisserie feature is always a great addition as well.
Which Toaster Is Easiest To Clean?
A toaster that has a removable crumb tray as opposed to an attached tray is much easier to clean. Also, porcelain or non-stick interior allows for seamless cleaning as it can be wiped down, so look out for that.
How Long Will A Toaster Last?
A toaster should last you for six to eight years if it is made from quality materials and regularly maintained.
How To Clean A Toaster?
Make sure that your toaster is unplugged from electricity. Then remove the crumb tray and dust it off. Next, move towards the interior and exterior and wipe down with a damp cloth.
Is It Common For A New Toaster To Smell?
Yes, while manufacturing, some dust, and debris can stick to the heating elements, so when you run it, these materials will burn off and emit some odor. Your best bet would be to run the toaster without putting in any bread to rid it from any contaminants that may have accumulated.
How To Get Burn Marks Off A Toaster?
Scrub the inside of the toaster with vinegar and baking soda to remove all oil and grease build-ups and scorch marks.