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For this review, we made and consumed over 400 pieces of toast, bagels, and breakfast pastries to find the best gadget for your kitchen. Our review outlines the top-performing appliances so you can more easily achieve the perfect slice of toasty bread to accompany your morning fried egg.
Our highest-scoring toaster was the Smeg 2-Slice, which does it all — looks sharp, great bagels and toast. However, it's quite spendy and more of a splurge buy. For most people, we recommend the utilitarian Cuisinart CPT-122, which balances affordability with great performance. If you're just here for the bagels, we recommend the Ninja ST100 Foodi 2-in-1 Flip Toaster.
Great toasting performance, incredible bagels, stylish looks
Strong toasting, small storage, easy to use, budget friendly, good strudel
Fair price, great bread toasting performance
Attractive colors available, small footprint, inexpensive, gluten-free function
Cool user interface, check progress and add time, sleek appearance, great waffles
Multi-functional, has a timer, uses quartz heating elements. Makes excellent bagels
Modern clean style, easy to use, great at reheating frozen bread
Inexpensive, toasts 4 slices at once, toasts bagels evenly
Long slots fit larger bread slices, great for frozen foods, inexpensive
Large capacity, classic styling
Very inexpensive, small food print, lightweight
Long slots, easy crumb tray access, easy to use
Cons
Expensive
Mediocre bagels, waffles
Inconvenient cord, crumb tray on back
Rear-accessed crumb tray, no cycle indicator
Mediocre toasting performance, pricey
Expensive, exterior shows fingerprints, average performance
Shows fingerprints, uneven toasting coverage
No specific bagel mode, toasting can be slightly inconsistent overall
Body of toaster gets hot during use, poor ease of use
Large footprint, uneven toasting
No bagel function, uneven toasting, very short cord
Poor bagel toasting, inconsistent bread toasting
Bottom Line
The perfect choice, particularly if you're a bagel fan and love unique design
It may not be the most aesthetic, but this toaster is compact, practical, and budget-friendly for its high performance
A budget-friendly option that gets the job done but skimps on quality
While it offers an intriguing aesthetic appeal, in a compact appliance, its performance is merely average
A pricey pick with a sleek appearance, and a fun user interface, but mediocre toasting performance
If you are looking for more versatility than a traditional toaster can offer, but don't have the space for a full toaster oven, this may be just right for you
A basic and easy-to-use toaster with a modern look that excels at frozen bread
The best option we've found for people seeking a 4-slice or long-slot model on the cheap
A great choice if mainly toasting frozen foods, but could be better in other aspects
This is a good option if you want to toast for two people on different settings
If you are looking for a very affordable toaster, and aren't too picky about your toast, bagels, or frozen food then this model might fit your needs
The viewing window offers a fun and unique experience, but this toaster is a mediocre performer with regard to toasting consistency
Measured External Surface Temperature During Toasting
84.9 F
The Cuisinart CPT-122 is one of our favorite options, offering excellent toasting performance and consistent results at an affordable price. It ranked high on the leaderboard in many of our test metrics, coming up just a little short when toasting bagels and frozen waffles. What users can expect is evenly toasted bread, great handling of frozen bread, awesome strudels, and an easy-to-use interface. This model is lightweight and can be stored between uses. However, its small footprint makes it an easy option to keep on the countertop, too.
Many models struggled to perform well in our bagel tests, including the Cuisinart CPT-122. The bagels turned out light gold to deep brown but also slightly unevenly heated and just a bit underwhelming. If bagels are your preferred toasted snack, check out the Ninja ST100 Foodi 2-in-1 Flip Toaster or consider opting for a toaster oven over a standard toaster. We also think the CPT-122's waffles could have turned out better, but we had similar issues with uneven heating. Underwhelming bagels and frozen waffles aside, we loved this toaster for what it's designed for—toast—and at such an affordable price, it's hard to go wrong.
Our testing confirmed this model's small footprint, easy-to-use interface, and strong all-around performance make it a good choice for a lot of kitchen counters.
Measured External Surface Temperature During Toasting
101.2 F
The Black+Decker 2-Slice T2569B is among the best we tested at toasting, well, toast. Time and time again, it presented us with crispy golden bread that was, for the most part, uniformly cooked. It also cooked frozen waffles to near perfection, with a crispy exterior and a warm, fluffy interior. It has an easy-to-use interface with just three buttons and a dial for time.
The price is hard to beat, but this toaster isn't perfect. During testing, we noticed it does not produce consistent results when heating bagels. When the bagels were toasted, they were uneven. It makes excellent toast with fresh bread, but we can't say the same for frozen bread. Therefore, if frozen food is your primary concern, the Mueller UltraToast 4 Slice is an excellent option. We should also note the Black+Decker 2-Slice T2569B has an inconveniently located crumb tray at the back of the appliance. However, if you only have basic toasting needs, this model is a great choice at a wallet-friendly price.
The Black+Decker 2-Slice T2569B was one of our favorites for making toast, and it is easy to use.
Measured External Surface Temperature During Toasting
96.2 F
Our favorite toaster is the Smeg 2-Slice thanks to its sleek look and perfect bagel toasting prowess. If a supreme bagel or stylish good looks appeal to your morning routine, the Smeg is the one for you. This slot toaster is the only one we've tested that creates the ideal bagel crunchy on the cut side and doughy on the back. It's no one-trick pony; it also produces near-perfect toast and frozen pastries. The Smeg has intuitive controls and super cool retro styling, so you get the best of all worlds with this king of the kitchen countertop.
Unfortunately, the Smeg 2-Slice is pricey. The cost is comparable to that of a more versatile toaster oven. If you are not a bagel enthusiast, you can certainly find a more affordable model that creates decent toast, like the Cuisinart CPT-122. It is an economical and capable model that rivals the performance of the Smeg, but unfortunately struggles with bagels. If a perfectly toasted bagel is a mainstay in your diet and you enjoy the retro aesthetic, we think the Smeg might be well worth the investment.
Measured External Surface Temperature During Toasting
104.7 F
The Ninja ST100 Foodi 2-in-1 Flip Toaster stands out among the options tested for its unique design, which allows it to function both as a traditional toaster and a compact toaster oven when laid onto its side. If you love bagels, then you'll be pleased with the nearly perfect bagels this model produces, which is a task that eludes many traditional toasters. It is an intriguing option for those seeking a multi-functional appliance or who have space limitations and can't decide between a toaster oven or a traditional toaster.
While the design of the Ninja ST100 Foodi 2-in-1 Flip Toaster adds versatility to a kitchen countertop, it also makes accessing the crumb tray and buttons more complicated. Moreover, it doesn't fully replace a full-sized toaster oven, and many of the traditional style models we tested, like the Smeg 2-Slice, offered a better balance of performance all around. Nonetheless, it may be a good option for some.
Long slots accept four standard slices or artisanal bread
Inexpensive
Toasts bagels quite evenly
REASONS TO AVOID
No specific bagel mode
Toast displays some minor inconsistencies
SPECIFICATIONS
Measured Slot Dimensions
9.8 x 4"
Functions
Defrost
Reheat
Cancel
Measured Dimensions
14.7" x 7.1" x 7.7"
Measured Weight
4.3 lbs
Measured External Surface Temperature During Toasting
96.8 F
We think the Elite Gourmet ECT-3100 is one of the best bargains available on the market, especially for bakers who want to toast an artisanal loaf or for a family who wants to be able to make lots of toast at warp speed. In our tests, this toaster performed great, producing good toast, delicious frozen waffles, and even browning bagels consistently — a feat many other models weren't able to achieve. We were also pleased with the built-in warming rack, which can help you bring your croissants or other pastries to the next level.
There are some minor downsides to this toaster. First, it does not have a specific bagel setting. So even though it can brown a bagel nicely, both sides get toasted, which conflicts with the conventional wisdom that says only toasting the cut side makes for a better bagel. If you love bagels, you might prefer the Smeg 2-Slice, our favorite option for getting our bagels perfectly toasty. We also noticed the Elite Gourmet ECT-3100 produces some minor inconsistencies in toast. But as we mentioned before, these complaints are minor and don't detract from the overall excellent experience this toaster provided during our tests.
This model is a great bargain for a large-capacity toaster.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Are you a fan of artisanal bread? Afraid it won't fit in your toaster? Most of the models we tested have standard slots, which are about 4-5 inches long. Models with long slots, like the Mueller UltraToast 4 Slice feature slots that are nearly twice as long and can handle almost any slice of bread your heart desires, or four small slices. So go ahead and grab a jumbo sourdough bread loaf, because this model can handle it.
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Credit: Matt Lighthart
How We Test Toasters
To choose the models worthy of inclusion in this review, we researched hundreds of models by combing through user reviews and analyzing specification sheets. Once we selected the cream of the crop, we purchased them all and lived with them in our testing kitchen for more than a month. In that time, we made more than 400 pieces of toast, almost 250 bagels, over 150 frozen waffles, and nearly as many frozen pastries.
Toasters are tested across 4 metrics:
Bread Toasting Quality tests (35% weighting)
Ease of Use tests (35% weighting)
Bagel Toasting Quality (15% weighting)
Frozen Food/Defrosting Quality (15% weighting)
We performed more than 17 individual tests per toaster in our quest to find the best-performing models. For bread toasting quality, one of the most important metrics, we performed 4 specific tests using multiple pieces of bread utilizing the different toasting levels on the product. This information was used to score the quality of the metric. The same was done for bagels. We kept careful notes on toasting consistency and quality throughout the process, how convenient each model was to use, and how much of a crumbly mess was made. Since our first toaster review, we've tested more than 40 contenders, giving us unique insight into all things toasty.
For more on our testing process, check out our full How We Test article.
As part of our evaluations, we tested the external temperature of each model while it was toasting.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Why Trust GearLab
Our test team has been testing and reviewing kitchen appliances for over a decade. In that time, they've used and abused hundreds of the best toasters, top coffee makers, espresso machines, and best pressure cookers. In doing so, they've become experts in how certain appliances can improve your kitchen, and what pitfalls to avoid to prevent you from purchasing a contraption that takes up precious space but rarely sees action. Also included in this review are Genaveve Bradshaw, Banjamin Hickok, and Lesley Robinson. Genaveve is a self-professed foodie and detail-oriented researcher and Lesley is a food science graduate and researcher with a previous career working in the food and supplement industry. Benjamin is always on the hunt for the perfectly toasted bagel and is an expert on home appliances. Together, they elevate our testing and produce unbiased test results from the hundreds of home and kitchen appliance products they've tested, from the best waffle makers to the best blenders.
The Bella 2 Slice is among the lightest in our review at 2.1 pounds.
The Elite Gourmet ECT-3100 easily accommodates four slices of bread as well as irregularly shaped artisanal bread.
The functional space will determine what kind of items you can toast. Interested in fluffy artisan bread? Pick an option with larger slots.
Our experts weighed and measured each toaster and made countless slices of toast along the way.
Analysis and Test Results
Traditionally, a toaster is a wonderfully simple device. It is essentially just a chunk of metal or plastic with basic electrical heating elements inside. Yet, it can turn plain boring bread into crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside ambrosia at the push of a button or press of a lever. In an age when it feels like every new product on the market is trying to be a multifunctional wonder machine, toasters have remained refreshingly simple, specialized masters of a single task. Our tests are designed to assess a model's performance across four specific metrics so you can find the right toaster for your toasting needs and budget. The following sections explain the importance of each metric and the relative performance of each model.
What's the Best Value?
Toasters are devices where it's possible to find an awesome deal if you look hard enough. For example, the Cuisinart CPT-122 is an affordable kitchen appliance with great performance and ease of use, although it doesn't prepare the best bagel. Though the Bella 2 Slice Auto Shut Off and Black+Decker 2-Slice T2569B don't top the charts in performance, they are both great options that get the job done. Both doing so with a very low price tag. If you desire outstanding performance across the board, you could enjoy a few extra benefits by spending a lot more on the Smeg 2 Slice, which produced the best toast and one of the best bagels. Even though this expensive model outperformed the rest, we believe the vast majority of shoppers will be satisfied with the performance of a much cheaper model.
Tight on space? The Bella 2 Slice is compact and lightweight, making it easy to store between uses.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Bread Toasting Quality
For most people, bread toasting will be the primary task for their toaster, so we weighted it more heavily. It will certainly be the most important factor to consider for toast connoisseurs. Bread toasting quality is determined by three main factors: evenness, consistency, and taste. The quintessential piece of toast has an even color and crispiness across the entire slice. This means every bite is right at your preferred level of toastiness. Certain models produce less desirable toast with burnt edges, uneven sides, and conspicuous white spots near the crust. Higher-performing models are better at avoiding these issues. A perfect slice will also have evenly toasted sides. Some models tend to toast more near the center of the device than the outside, producing toast with a light side and a dark side. Consistency refers to consistency between cycles. If you find dialing in a five on your device produces your favorite piece of toast, you want to be confident that your preferred setting will continue to produce the same slice of toast morning after morning. Taste is a bit more complicated. Obviously, different types of bread are going to produce different-tasting toast. So if you want to get technical, we're not really talking about taste here; we're talking about the mouthfeel. This is a term that has come to us thanks to the expanding field of food rheology. Mouthfeel refers to how food physically and chemically interacts with your mouth. In simple terms, it refers to how delightfully crispy the toast is.
Our testing revealed a relatively tight window of toasting performance after making, grading, and tasting an excessive amount of toast, with scores ranging greatly. Although some models toasted bread better than others, all could produce decent, edible slices.
The main trinity of toasting taboos. From left to right: burnt crust, light areas adjacent to the crust, and variable levels of browning between the top and bottom of the slice.
Credit: Steven Tata
If you're a toast connoisseur, then the phrase “decent and edible” probably made you scoff a little. Those who place a high premium on toast quality should consider one of our top toasters — the Smeg 2-Slice. It manages to produce nearly flawless toast with great consistency.
The Smeg did an excellent job toasting bread on both sides.
Cuisinart CPT-122 level 1 and level 2 comparison.
The Smeg and Cuisinart CPT-122 provided some of the most consistent results when it came to toasting bread.
Other models also produced delectable toast, including the Cuisinart CPT-122 and Black+Decker 2-Slice T2569B. These two toasters did an excellent job producing consistent and predictable results in our tests. From the steepest price point to our best value buy, a variety of good options exist to achieve a delicious, golden, and crunchy slice of toast.
The Cuisinart is an easy-to-use toaster that is proficient at toasting sliced bread.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
The Elite Gourmet ECT-3100, Bella 2 Slice Auto Shut Off, GE 2 Slice G9TMA2SSPSS, Mueller UltraToast 4 Slice were also slightly above-average performers in our tests. All models naturally displayed some minor inconsistencies in heat and color spread over the slices we made, but for the most part, they all created consistent slices of toast with an enjoyable crunch throughout.
If you tend to toast average-sized pieces of bread, you won't need to pay much attention to the slot dimensions. However, if you toast thick or specialty styles, or perhaps a fluffy bagel, you'll want to choose a model with long and wide enough slots. The Ninja has the largest capacity, with a slot that is 10.2 inches wide and six inches deep. Because the Ninja functions as both a traditional toaster and mini toaster oven, this offers more functional space for reheating and toasting various items. The Mueller UltraToast 4 Slice, Dash Clear View, and Elite Gourmet ECT-3100 also have large slots that can hold up to four traditional slices or two specialty slices. While the Cuisinart 4 Slice Classic CPT-180 has traditional sizes slots at 5.4 inches by 4.25 inches, it has four total slots.
Bigger slots mean an overall bigger footprint, but if you're wanting to toast specialty breads or more slices, this is necessary.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Ease of Use
Morning breakfast routines can be a challenge, especially with kids. Straightforward kitchen appliances can make your morning that much easier. The last thing you want is a slew of confusing buttons and levers between you and a comforting slice of crispy carbohydrates. To test user-friendliness, we had multiple testers complete various tasks with each model. Each model then received a grade based on the intuitive nature of its design, features, and also an assessment of how difficult each model is to clean. In particular, the location and removal of the crumb tray.
Our team tested two products that impressed us with their ease of use: the Breville Bit More 2 Slice and the Cuisinart CPT-122. The Breville Bit More 2 Slice feels like a combination of more modern and some restraint to remain a typical toaster. Still, the balance results in an easy-to-use interface with buttons for bagels, frozen items, cancel, and “a bit more” to extend cook time. A sliding tab controls five heat settings, and an LED indicates the current selection. An audible notification lets you know when cooking is done, but the lever does allow you to check progress without prematurely ending the toasting cycle.
A digital screen displays a countdown timer once the toaster has started.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The Cuisinart CPT-122 doesn't reinvent the wheel, sticking to a mostly traditional product design. It has seven heat settings controlled by a dial, activation is controlled by pulling down on a lever, it also has buttons for bagels, defrost, and cancel, and has a removable crumb tray located at the rear of the toaster. All the buttons, levers, and dial are a good size and clearly marked and indications of settings are apparent, making it one of the simplest toasters to use.
This model is clearly labeled and simple to operate.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Most models we tested are fairly simple to use. However, because of the layout or locations of buttons and levers, indicator lights, and settings that take out the guesswork, four models stood out as nearly as easy to use as the top two models we already mentioned. The Smeg 2-Slice, GE 2 Slice G9TMA2SSPSS, Dash Clear View, and Cuisinart 4 Slice Classic CPT-180 earned nearly identical scores for a combination of good button layouts, lever size, indicators, settings, and crumb tray access.
The GE 2 Slice has an intuitive interface with an easy to read dial.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
The Smeg 2-Slice keeps things simple with a shade knob, some pleasantly backlit buttons, and an easy-to-remove crumb tray. The only minor downside is that you can't push the lever further up to lift smaller items, so if you're making particularly short pastries, you may need a pair of tongs to retrieve them.
A sleek and simple interface that is both stylish and easy to use.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
The GE 2 Slice G9TMA2SSPSS is another model that keeps things simple and features a browning dial offering seven settings, alongside buttons for bagels, frozen food, and a cancel function. Clear indicator lights accompany the buttons to indicate the selected option, while the browning selector knob is marked with a line on the side and a dot on the front for clarity. The crumb is located at the rear and has a rather small handle, but this inconvenience didn't detract much from this model's user-friendliness.
Buttons, a dial, a lever, labels, and indicators are clear and intuitive on the GE 2 Slice.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
As the name implies, the Dash Clear View offers a clear view of items being toasted with the integration of a window. Monitoring the toasting process allows users to decide when to stop toasting objects and gives back a little more control over cooking. The window is also removable, simplifying cleaning tasks. Operating the toaster is straightforward: an oversized lever and illuminated push buttons for Defrost, Reheat, and Bagel functions. A dial with seven heat settings controls browning, with a 'Cancel' button at its center. Unfortunately, like too many toasters, the crumb tray is narrow and located inconveniently at the back of the toaster.
Food is clearly visible in the Clear View.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
Lastly, amongst our above-average toasters for ease of use, the Cuisinart 4 Slice Classic CPT-180 offers users a four-slice toaster that is essentially two toasters merged side by side. Each side of the toaster boasts a shade selection dial and four buttons for bagel, defrost, reheat, and cancel functions. The design allows each side to be used independently and is a good solution for the busy family with different toasting tasks.
The last thing you want is to bump against a hot toaster as you prepare breakfast or, worse, a kid reach up and grab it. We tested the external surface temperature of each of these models while they were toasting with this in mind. The Cuisinart CPT-122 and Bella 2-Slice had the coolest external temperatures of the bunch, both under 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The Elite Gourmet ECT1027B followed closely behind with an external temperature of 91.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Most landed within the 95 to 110 degree range, whereas the Mueller had a whopping 142.5 degrees Fahrenheit external temperature. This hot exterior is enough that we suggest those with children look into another much-cooler option or be sure to keep it out of arm's reach.
We measured noted the average external temperature of these toasters, with the Cuisinart CPT-122 being the coolest of the bunch.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Messy crumb tray cleanup?
Consider a top-rated handheld vacuum to clean the crumbs from the counter and cracks if things get out of hand. Just be sure everything is cool to the touch before you clean.
It is worth considering the overall size of the toaster. If you're tight on space, a model that is small and lightweight will be easy to store between uses. The Elite Gourmet ECT1027B has the smallest footprint of the lineup with dimensions of 9.5" x 5.5" x 6.1" and weighs under two pounds. It is closely followed by the Bella 2-Slice, which is also lightweight and takes up very little counter space.
The Cuisinart CPT-122, Black+Decker 2-Slice T2569B, and GE 2 Slice G9TMA2SSPSS each weigh under three pounds and could easily be stored in a cabinet when not in use. Alternatively, the Ninja ST100 is the largest with measured dimensions of 16.2" x 6.4" x 8.5", and weighs in at a hefty 8.6 pounds. Though it is still smaller than a traditional toaster oven, this appliance will likely stay out when not in use.
Toasters with larger dimensions and weight, like the Mueller, won't be as easy to store between uses.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Bagel Toasting Quality
Most of the models we tested included a bagel mode. Bagel toasting quality is very similar to bread toasting quality, with the big exception that you only want to toast the cut side of the bagel and not the exterior. We looked for evenly toasted cut sides with consistency between slices and cycles. We also looked for the outside of the bagel to be warmed but not toasted. And, of course, we considered that unique bagel mixture of crunchiness and chewiness.
So far, the Smeg 2-Slice is the only slot-based model we've come across that can rival the quality of a toaster oven for prepping bagels. Its bagel mode managed to perfectly brown the cut sides of bagels while leaving the backsides warm and gooey without any crunchiness. This juxtaposition of textures is, for many people, what makes bagels such a decadent breakfast staple, and the Smeg is the only traditional model we've found that ensures a bagel can reach its full potential.
The Smeg 2-Slice made some fantastic bagels in our testing.
Credit: steven tata
While the Ninja ST100 Foodi 2-in-1 Flip Toaster isn't the most impressive toaster in our lineup, it excelled in our bagel toasting tests, due to its unique design, which allows it to be used as a mini toaster oven. The bagels it produced were better than those produced by the Smeg 2-Slice, so if bagels are your go-to snack, and you only have the space to adopt this mini toaster oven in place of a larger one, then you'll love the Ninja. However, don't expect as great a balanced range of performance across other metrics as the top models we tested.
This toaster makes excellent full-sized bagels as well as bagel bites.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
The Elite Gourmet ECT-3100 toasted bagels incredibly evenly in our tests, much to our surprise. However, it does not have a bagel mode, so both sides of the bagels end up getting toasted. This result may be disappointing for those seeking cafe-style bagels that are typically only toasted on the cut side of the bagels, leaving the backsides a bit softer and more tender.
We compared bagel toasting ability side by side. Here, we show the Dash, Cuisinart CPT 122, and Elite Gourmet 4 Slice's bagel output.
Credit: Lesley Robinson
Although not quite as good as the best models we tested, the Breville Bit More 2 Slice produced slightly above-average bagels. The results were bagels that were toasted just a little bit better, or more consistently than the average models in our testing lineup. Distinguishing factors were more even heating, darkened gold sections, and more consistently warmed exteriors with more desirable textures.
The Breville Bit More 2 Slice also makes some delicious bagels.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Frozen Food/Defrosting Quality
Surprisingly, a toaster's high heat frequently doesn't work well for frozen foods because it's easy to burn the outside of a pastry while the inside remains cold. The best models get around this problem with a defrosting mode that slowly thaws frozen items before ramping up to full toasting temperatures. However, not all defrost modes are created equal, and some models don't even have them. We tested frozen food performance with a nostalgic, double-blind taste-testing feast of frozen waffles and strudels.
The Mueller UltraToast 4 Slice was the top performer in the frozen food metric, demonstrating impressive toasting performance. It repeatedly delivered evenly warmed treats with almost flawless texture. During our testing, we observed consistent results across all three frozen food items used in testing. Waffles were uniformly toasted with subtle light spots at the edges, while frozen bread displayed varying shades depending on the settings, leaning towards excessive darkness at higher settings but achieving a desirable golden hue at lower ones. Although strudel exhibited slight unevenness in browning, with corners nearing overdone, the filling was evenly heated throughout. If your primary use of a toaster is in handling frozen foods, you'll need to take a look at the Mueller UltraToast 4 Slice.
Prepare delicious waffles with the Mueller UltraToast 4 Slice.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
The overall impressive Smeg 2-Slice was our runner-up to the Mueller UltraToast 4 Slice by a tight margin. This model utilizes variable defrost cycles that slowly thaw and then toast, producing golden waffles with minimal scorching and handling frozen bread with ease.
The Smeg prepares great frozen waffles.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
While some models did not average the highest scores for the entire category, some did stand out for individual performances on specific sub-metrics within the category. For example, though it only scored around the middle of the pack in the frozen food metric, the Breville Bit More 2 will produce near-perfect waffles that are evenly heated, golden in color, and have a desirable texture.
The Cuisinart CPT-122 also didn't score highly overall in every test of this category but is the only model we've tested capable of producing the perfect strudel, with a crispy, crunchy texture, golden brown coloring, warm centers, and browned edges. It also does quite well with frozen bread, better than most.
Prepare delicious frozen foods with this capable and affordable model.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
The Elite Gourmet ECT-3100 did quite well with both frozen bread and frozen waffles in our tests. However, it tended to burn the edges a bit for more irregular toaster pastries while the centers were still very soft. The Dash Clear View also did a great job with frozen bread, although it was underwhelming when it came to waffles and strudels and ultimately finished with an average overall score for frozen foods.
When we say we made a lot of toast, bagels, and waffles, we mean it. Our extensive tests helped us find the best toaster on the market.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
How to Pick the Best Toaster
When selecting a toaster, there are a few things you will want to keep in mind. First and foremost, how is its toasting performance? A toaster that doesn't toast defeats the purpose. You'll also want to consider how user-friendly it is and its functional capacity. Read on for some key things to consider when choosing a kitchen toaster, regardless of budget.
Performance
The most essential factor for a toaster is its performance. Some toasters do an exceptional job of toasting strudels while struggling to do as good a job toasting waffles and bagels. Other models are good overall but also excel at toasting bagels to near perfection. Our testing procedures single out performances across a range of food items so that you can choose the best toaster for your preferred snacks.
User-Friendliness
A good toaster is easy to use and takes out any guesswork with intuitive dials, buttons, and settings. While most toasters have done little to re-invent the wheel, some make the experience just a bit more user-friendly than others. You'll want to look for toasters that incorporate those intuitive features and avoid buttons that are too small or hard to read. You'll also want to avoid models with vague temperature and shade settings that make it hard to repeat results when switching back and forth from one type of snack to another. Illuminated buttons are also beneficial because they always make the current settings clear and make it easy to remember the best settings for a specific food item.
Lastly, large, easy-to-remove and replace crumb trays make cleaning much easier, especially when located at the front of a toaster. While most designs inconveniently locate the crumb tray access at the rear, some are easier to remove than others, which we try to highlight in individual product reviews.
Capacity
If you have a large family with a busy morning routine, a larger capacity toaster can help, space permitting. As the name implies, a four-slice toaster will handle twice as many food items as a conventional two-slice one, and some larger capacity toasters will even allow each side to be operated independently of one another, allowing two people to heat their preferred snacks on their preferred settings, at the same time. Of course, these models are larger than the conventional toaster, which is usually sufficient for the majority of us, but they are nonetheless worth considering.
We test every aspect of every model so that we can give you the most data-driven and unbiased recommendations.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Conclusion
Toasters are one of those kitchen appliances you use most days, yet probably don't think about too much when shopping for one. And that is entirely reasonable because any real or digital retail shelf will instantly bombard you with hundreds of options, all of which seem to be roughly the same. However, we have found that not all these machines perform equally and that an informed decision can bring you more breakfast happiness per dollar. We hope our comprehensive review has helped you navigate the world of toasters and find the perfect model for your kitchen.
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Benjamin Hickok, Genaveve Bradshaw, Lesley Robinson, and Steven Tata
