A simple slice of toast is a hard thing to get wrong, but we've all been there - scraping the burnt stuff into the sink. CHOICE tests a variety of toasters for ease of use and consistent browning (yes, we get to eat the toast afterwards), so we can tell you which ones perform best. Read on, and we'll tell you what to look for when shopping for a new toaster.
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Fancy features
Toasters are very simple machines, but these days toasters come with some fancier features. Here are some of the more impressive things they can do:
- Some toasters have LED lights, giving a progression bar or timer countdown.
- A height-lift carriage allows you to raise smaller items above the toaster slots.
- Some toasters now have motorised lifts that gently raise the toast instead of popping up abruptly.
- Alerts to let you know your toast is ready.
- The Lift'n'look feature slowly raises the toast and lowers it back down so you can check out how it's going.
Two-slice or four-slice?
This depends on the size of your household and how much toast you eat. Families will probably find a four-slice toaster more useful. These of course take up more bench space, and in some four-slot models the two inner slots can heat up more than the outer slots. Look for four-slice models in our toasters review with good evenness and repeatability - those are the toasters that avoid that particular problem.
Some toasters will have longer slots, to allow you to accommodate handmade, artisan bread or longer slices.
What else to look for
Ease of use
Basics such as storage for the power cord and non-slip feet will make your toaster much simpler to use and store.
Controls
Controls should be easy to read and operate, and positioned away from hot areas.
Dual controls
Separate controls for each slot, or each pair of slots, allow you to carry out two different toasting cycles, and are useful if you're using two different types of bread.
Defrost
A defrost/frozen setting is useful if you toast bread straight from the freezer. It adds time to the toasting cycle to allow for thawing of the bread.
Crumb tray
A crumb tray should be easy to slide out and insert back in after emptying, as well as have no places for crumbs to accumulate in the toaster over time. Empty and clean the crumb tray frequently to avoid build-up and insects, and occasionally shake the toaster upside down for a more thorough clean.
Exterior
Look for an easy-to-clean exterior with no crevices where dirt can be trapped, and no sharp edges that could scratch the benchtop, or you, when moving. While stainless steel may look more attractive than plastic, it often requires more effort to clean.
Touching temperature
The temperature of the exterior during toasting should remain cool enough to touch, and not exceed 60°C.
The inside
The toasting chamber should be wide and long enough to insert and remove a variety of bread shapes and sizes. If you like long slices of toast, a long-slot toaster is the way to go.
Glass sides
If you have an elderly parent or relative they may have experienced the not uncommon event of setting off their smoke alarm from burnt toast. A simple solution to this could be a glass-sided toaster that allows the user to see the toast browning.
Cost
They range in price from $20 to over $399.
