If you love toast, keep reading! We’ve tested a variety of toasters and came up with a list of our favorites. Toasters may seem simple, but they are more complex than you think.
Although all toasters serve the same purpose, not all toasters are created equal. Some will quickly toast bread with the turn of a dial and the push of a lever, while others come with more customization options.
What to Consider When Buying a Toaster?
Several factors come into play when selecting the best toaster for you:
How Many Slices Do You Need at Once?
If you occasionally enjoy toast, a 2-slice toaster will suffice. However, if you eat toast frequently or cook for a large group, we recommend a 4-slice toaster.
During testing, we evaluated total toast coverage and even browning.
Credit: Jenna Clark for Mashable
Shade Levels
Look for a toaster that offers your desired toast shade and check how you can select it. Some models use a dial, while others use a lever or another mechanism.
Features
A crumb tray is an essential feature to look for during your search, making cleaning a breeze.
A quick view feature allows you to monitor the toasting process, so you can adjust the heat or cancel it if necessary.
We tested each toaster at its highest shade setting to compare the quality of the toast. Our top pick is the Breville Bit More 4-Slice Toaster thanks to its perfect evenness and visually stunning features. The Cuisinart CPT-520 2-Slice Motorized Toaster comes in a close second with its large button selection and ability to cater to multiple kinds of bread.
Keep reading to discover our top five toasters and pick one based on your requirements and budget.
How We Tested
We tested every toaster on this list hands-on by using them to toast two large slices of the same whole wheat bread at the highest setting or shade level.
We tested models with varying price points, from the budget-friendly to the more expensive ones.
During our tests, we examined:
Toast: We checked the coverage, evenness, and time it took to toast the bread.
Value for Money: We evaluated if the toasters delivered the promised value based on their price.
Cool Factor/Settings: We looked at the unique features or settings each toaster offered
Ease of Use and Learning Curve: We tested the toasters’ usability and how easy or complex their user guides were to navigate.
Shade Levels: We ensured that all the toasters we tested had at least five shade levels.
Clean-up Process: We noted how easy it was to clean up each toaster and any features that aided the process.
