GE 2 Slice G9TMA2SSPSS Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product GE 2 Slice G9TMA2SSPSS | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Awards | Best for Most People | Best Bang for the Buck | |||
Price | $49 List $39.00 at Amazon | $30 List $29.95 at Amazon | Check Price at Amazon | $25 List $18.74 at Amazon | $24 List $14.59 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | A modern-looking but very basic toaster that has exceptional frozen bread results | Overall this toaster brings to the table a strong performance, is compact, and budget-friendly | At the lower end of quality, but a budget-friendly option that works | An aesthetically interesting option but only provides an average level of performance | An incredibly affordable model that lacks the performance of better models |
Rating Categories | GE 2 Slice G9TMA2SSPSS | Cuisinart CPT-122 | Black+Decker 2-Slic... | Bella 2 Slice Auto... | Elite Gourmet ECT1027B |
Bread Toasting Quality (35%) | |||||
Ease of Use (35%) | |||||
Bagel Toasting Quality (15%) | |||||
Frozen Food (15%) | |||||
Specs | GE 2 Slice G9TMA2SSPSS | Cuisinart CPT-122 | Black+Decker 2-Slic... | Bella 2 Slice Auto... | Elite Gourmet ECT1027B |
Functions | Bagel Frozen Cancel |
Bagel Defrost Reheat Cancel |
Bagel Frozen Cancel |
Bagel Frozen Cancel Gluten Free Reheat |
Cancel |
Measured Slot Dimensions | 5.5 x 4.5" | 5.4 x 4.25" | 5.4 x 4.75" | 5 x 4.25" | 5.1 x 4" |
Measured Dimensions | 11.1" x 6.7" x 7.5" | 6.5" x 11" x 7.2" | 7.3" x 12" x 8" | 9.8" x 5.8 x 7" | 9.5" x 5.5" x 6.1" |
Measured Weight | 2.9 lbs | 2.6 Ibs | 2.6 Ibs | 2.1 lbs | 1.7 lbs |
Measured External Surface Temperature During Toasting | 98.6 F | 84.9 F | 101.2 F | 86.5 F | 91.5 F |
Measured Product Footprint | 74.4 | 71.5 | 87.6 | 56.8 | 52.3 |
Measured Watts | 877 W | 935 W | 885 W | 865 W | 780 W |
End of Cycle Indicator | None | None | None | None | None |
Exterior Housing Material | Stainless Steel | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic |
Color/Finish Options | Stainless Steel | White, Red, Black | Black | Aqua, Black, Blue, Red, Sage, White | Black |
Standard/Long Slot | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
Available with Long Slot? | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Available in 4 slot? | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Model Number | G9TMA2SSPSS | CPT-122 | T2569B | BOB137 | ECT1027B |
Our Analysis and Test Results
This two-slice toaster excels at reheating frozen bread but provides subpar results elsewhere. The user-friendly interface is simple, with preset options and a knob to designate toasting levels. A light clearly indicates which option is being used, removing the guesswork.
Performance Comparison
Bread Toasting Quality
The most fundamental aspect of any toaster is its ability to toast slices of bread and evenly produce desirable levels of crispiness and golden brown colors. Our bread toasting trials evaluate toast produced on low, medium, and high settings, and then we repeat the testing to produce a solid understanding of the toasting effectiveness of every toaster and the repeatability of those results.
The GE 2 Slice G9TMA2SSPSS consistently produced light crisp texture and light golden colors on lower settings, mostly evenly browned toast on medium settings, and darker almost burnt toast on the highest settings. While the color gradient across the different settings was mostly even, we did observe some unevenness in the actual heating and texture, bringing down its score for the metric to a pretty average score for the test group.
Ease of Use
The GE 2 Slice G9TMA2SSPSS has an easy-to-use interface that includes a browning dial with seven settings, as well as a button for bagels, frozen food, and a cancel function. The buttons have clear indicator lights to show what button is selected, while the browning selector knob has a line on the side and a dot on the front of the knob for clarity.
General Electric pulled out most of the guesswork with the intuitive interface of GE 2 Slice G9TMA2SSPSS. However, we did find the rear crumb tray location and tiny handle made it less than convenient to remove and clean. Another minor quip we had that is worth noting is that the stainless steel shows fingerprints and the big chrome area on top gets dirty. So if you are a neat freak, then you'll want to be aware that you will be wiping down this unit often.
Bagel Toasting Quality
Throughout our bagel toasting tests the GE 2 Slice G9TMA2SSPSS produced fairly standard results with the first of the trials producing better ombre colors and an enjoyable lightly toasty texture with a soft inside. However, in a repeat trial, the result was a darker-colored and overdone texture, lowering its overall bagel toasting score.
Frozen Food
In addition to bread and bagels, the GE 2 Slice G9TMA2SSPSS struggled to efficiently reheat our full range of frozen foods and ensure uniform warmth and textures. It excelled at preparing frozen bread, producing beautiful golden brown colors with slightly dark spots in the corners. The texture was very enjoyable, with a crisp exterior and a softer interior.
For individuals who enjoy reheated frozen bread, you'll be pleased with the GE 2 Slice G9TMA2SSPSS. However, if you are a morning waffle or strudel consumer, you'll want to look elsewhere. In our testing, this model produced pale and undercooked breakfast waffles, and underdone strudels with a filling that was only slightly warmed.
Should You Buy The GE 2 Slice G9TMA2SSPSS?
While the GE 2 Slice G9TMA2SSPSS is user-friendly and attractive, with a relatively affordable price, it didn't consistently impress our team with its performances and left us wanting a lot more when it came down to bagels. Because of its rather ordinary performance, we can't recommend it over better alternatives.
What Other Toaster Should You Consider?
The Cuisinart CPT-122 stands out as a superior choice to the GE 2 Slice G9TMA2SSPSS with greater overall performance at an affordable price point. However, it too struggles to prepare great bagels. If bagels are your go-to snack, then we recommend taking a look at either the Ninja ST100 Foodi 2-in-1 Flip Toaster which can also be used as a mini toaster oven and produces near-perfect bagels, or the overall exceptional but expensive Smeg 2-Slice.