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Great for bagels and bread, a toaster is a convenient and simple tool that is a staple in most homes. Today, customers can find this small appliance in many styles and shapes, with features ranging from variable browning to defrosting modes.
How We Compared Toasters
To find the right toasters, we considered multiple factors, including:
- Design
- Browning Control
- Special Features
- Maintenance and Cleaning
Our team planned comparison points and specifically looked for products that would cater to all kinds of needs. We spent countless hours researching, consulting customer reviews and comparing features to come up with this list.
Toaster Reviews
Russell Hobbs Inspire (Editor’s Choice)
This practical four-slot toaster makes getting the perfect slice of toast simple, thanks to its convenient features. There’s even a pair of high-lift levers, ensuring you can pull small types of bread out easily.
The Russell Hobbs Inspire toaster comes in various colours to suit your kitchen décor scheme. The high gloss finish with premium chrome accents provides a fantastic, modern look. With a variable browning control, you can adjust how “well done” you want your toast to be. There’s also a cancel button for stopping your toaster fast.
This can be a great product for easily warming tea cakes and crumpets. Plus, it comes with a helpful feature for heating up frozen bread.
Pros:
- Attractive design in a range of colours
- Capacity for up to 4 slices
- Ideal for smaller products due to the high-lift lever
- Setting for frozen products
- Variable browning control
Cons:
- Might be quite difficult to clean out excess crumbs
- It could be less appealing if you want to toast one slice at a time
Dualit Lite (Luxury Choice)
This high-quality product looks great in various kitchen settings thanks to its sleek and stylish finish, which is available in many colours. Compact enough to fit most kitchen counters, this toaster is versatile. The extra-wide slots are ideal for accommodating different sizes of bread.
The Dualit Lite is an appealing, minimalist toaster with many valuable features. There’s a dedicated bagel toasting function and comprehensive browning control. This ensures you can get the perfect finish for your breakfast. The high-lift mechanism makes getting smaller products out of the toaster easier.
If you only need two slots to toast, it has individual controls for each pair so you can save on energy. There’s also a handy peek and pop function to check the bread without ending the toasting cycle. A concealed removable tray for crumbs also makes cleaning a breeze.
Pros:
- Independent two-slice operation
- Useful peek and pop function
- Variable browning control
- Extra-wide slots with dedicated bagel function
- Feature for frozen bread
Cons:
- It might not toast both sides evenly
- The slots may not be long enough for some bread products
Russell Hobbs Textures (Best Value)
This two-slice toaster could be the right option if you’re searching for something suited for just one person or a couple. It is simple and elegant, with a beautiful matte finish. The design comes in three colours and has a single lever for quick and easy toasting.
The Russell Hobbs Textures has everything you need for a straightforward toaster experience. It has a cancel function to stop toasting quickly. You’ll also be able to choose from frozen and reheat options at the touch of a button. Extra-wide slots make toasting items like crumpets and bagels more convenient.
With a removable crumb tray, you can keep your toaster in excellent condition and minimise the mess on kitchen counters. This is an excellent option if you’re looking for style and substance.
Pros:
- Stylish design in multiple colours
- Easy one-touch button controls
- Browning controls for better toast quality
- Removable crumb trays for easy cleaning
- Extra-wide slots
Cons:
- The slots might be a little short for some bread slices
- It may be difficult to find the perfect browning settings
Russell Hobbs Copper (Best Large)
This bulky model could be perfect for toasting a wide selection of bread products. The extra-wide slots are ideal for thicker slices of bread, bagels, and muffins, giving you more breakfast variety.
The Russell Hobbs Copper toaster is both practical and attractive. The metallic finish is ideal for creating a bright, trendy kitchen environment. At the same time, stainless steel components help ensure your toaster lasts as long as possible.
With the useful lift-and-look feature, this model makes it easier to get the best toasting results every time. You can simply check your bread in seconds to ensure it’s at the right browning level.
Pros:
- Excellent extra-wide slots
- Lift-and-look feature
- Individual controls for each pair of slots
- Easy-to-use buttons
- Attractive design
Cons:
- The product might be too large for some kitchen counters
- It may not be ideal for toasting slices individually
Breville High Gloss (Best Design)
This modern, attractive model in a range of three colours is sure to fit in various kitchens. Its high gloss finish and geometric aesthetic look good anywhere.
The Breville High Gloss toaster comes with precision-engineered stainless steel accents and unique variable width bread slots. This feature allows for better toasting for thin and thick slices. You can adjust the browning level to suit your needs, and there’s also a convenient set of buttons for defrosting, reheating and mid-cycle cancelling.
The lift-and-look functionality allows users to check their toast in the middle of the cycle without burning their fingers. There’s also a handy crumb tray to make getting rid of mess simple.
Pros:
- Timeless high gloss design
- Variable width bread slots for better toasting
- Lift and look functionality
- Defrost, reheat and cancel buttons
- Easy-to-remove crumb tray
Cons:
- The product can be difficult to clean
- It can be difficult to find the right browning level
Tower Bottega (Best Small)
This high-quality 2-slice toaster is great for smaller portions. It’s designed to fit easily into virtually any kitchen environment. Handy cord storage is integrated into the device to keep your counter free of wires.
The Tower Bottega is a convenient and attractive toaster. It is available in various colours you can choose from. Unique features, like a self-centring function, ensures you get great consistency from your toast. An adjustable browning control suits different preferences, and you can even choose between helpful defrost and reheat modes.
The removable crumb tray at the bottom of the model makes it easier to dispose of excess crumbs. There’s also a set of non-slip feet on the product to keep it sturdy.
Pros:
- Seven browning settings
- Self-centring function
- Defrost and heat modes
- Easy to clean with a removable crumb tray
- Compact enough for most kitchens
Cons:
- It might not be suitable for larger bread products
- It may be a little slower than other options
De’Longhi Brilliante (Best Modern)
This four-slice toaster is great for those hoping to create a modern kitchen vibe. The unique faceted sides create a compelling geometric design that works well with different décor schemes. You can even choose from a selection of three colours.
The De’Longhi Brilliante toaster doesn’t just look good. It performs well too. The 1.8 kW power heating element toasts four slices of bread rapidly. There are also browning controls and variable width slots for more versatile breakfast options. Easy controls for reheating, defrosting, and cancelling make managing your toaster more straightforward.
You can also get extra leverage when removing smaller items from your toaster with an additional lift position. Plus, an extra-deep crumb tray makes managing messes simpler. Lastly, its two-slice operation enables you to use only one pair of bread slots.
Pros:
- Range of functions like reheat and defrost
- Independent 2-slice operation
- Extra-high lift option
- Browning controls and variable width slots
- Extra deep crumb tray
Cons:
- The cable may be too short for some kitchens
- Might not toast both sides evenly
How to Choose a Toaster
Finding a toaster for your kitchen will be a personal process. You’ll need to decide how many slots you want to toast various pieces of bread at once. You might also need to think about your style and design preferences or what kind of items you typically toast.
With so many different options, finding the right one can seem daunting. Fortunately, you can consider a few points that will make narrowing your choices easier.
Design
The design of your toaster is presumably the first thing that will capture your attention when shopping for a new product. You’ll probably want to look for something that will fit well with your existing kitchen décor.
It might also be important to think about your toaster’s size. Ask yourself what kind of device will fit on your kitchen counter if you don’t have a lot of space. Plus, it’s worth making sure there are enough toaster slots for the whole family. Check to see whether you can control each slot individually.
Browning Control
Browning control is a common feature for most toasters. Everyone has different preferences for how ‘well done’ they might want their toast to be. A range of options ensures you can get the best results with bread, muffins, and bagels.
Some high-quality toasters also come with a lift-and-look function. This feature allows you to check how brown your toast is mid-cycle.
Special Features
Most toasters also have special features to make your life a little easier. It’s common to find models with a one-press cancel option for stopping your toaster mid-cycle. There are also products with special “bagel” buttons or even defrost options.
Certain unique features will be designed specifically for aesthetic appeal. For instance, some toasters come with a hidden cord compartment. Other features are more practical, like having extra-wide slots for thicker slices of bread or a high-lift function for removing small items.
Maintenance and Cleaning
Toasters last a lot longer when you can look after them properly. Being able to clean away excess crumbs from inside your toaster can be difficult. That’s why it’s worth looking for a removable crumb tray.
Cleaning your toaster effortlessly also means you’re less likely to have the smell of burning bread distract you when eating. An easy-to-clean surface on the outside of the toaster can be useful too. It helps to keep your kitchen looking pristine.
Summary
Our choice for the best toaster is the Russel Hobbs Inspire. This efficient model has four slots for heating multiple pieces of bread at once. There’s a lift and look function for checking your toast mid-cycle. Plus, you’ll be able to adjust your browning level to your desired preference. There’s even a fantastic design to maintain the aesthetic of your kitchen.
Rebekah is a writer who loves to explore new products and find hacks that make life easier. She has a knack for all things home improvement, health and fitness. So you’ll often find her on Pinterest or browsing Houzz for ideas.
She’s always looking for the next thing to fix up around the house or what gadget might be just right for her lifestyle. Rebekah enjoys exploring new recipes, taking care of her family, and making sure she stays healthy with regular workouts at the gym.