Best Toasters: Top 5 Brands Most Recommended By Experts

The best toasters offer consistent, even toasting, ensuring that your bread, bagels, or pastries come out perfectly browned every time. They come equipped with multiple browning settings, allowing you to customize your toasting preferences. Additionally, these toasters are durable, easy to clean, and feature convenient extra features such as defrost and reheat options for added versatility.

Did you know eating whole-grain bread can actually keep you healthy? Researchers at Tufts University found that eating brown breads or other whole grain foods are not only good for your waistline but may also defend against heart disease and diabetes.

Another study by Northwestern University researchers shows that people who eat breakfast before 8:30 a.m. have lower blood sugar levels and less insulin resistance. This can reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. That is even more reason to fire up the toaster first thing in the morning!

Now that you know what to toast and when to toast it, let’s get to the appliance that pulls it all together. StudyFinds compiled a list of the top five best toasters from ten expert websites to find the right one for your kitchen. As always, we’d like to see your own recommendations in the comments below! 

Toaster with avocado toast
Toaster with avocado toast (Photo by Sara Julie on Unsplash)

The List: Best Toasters, According to Reviews

 

1. Cuisinart CPT 142 4-Slice Compact Plastic Toaster 

This affordable four-slice toaster rates high with reviewers for its ease of use. “With seven browning settings, as well as bagel, defrost, and reheat settings, it consistently toasts bread without any pale or burnt spots. The high-lift lever and 1.5-inch-wide slots mean that it’s compatible with both larger and smaller styles of bread, and a slide-out crumb tray makes cleanup a snap,” according to Bob Vila.

Cuisinart CPT 142 4-Slice Compact Plastic Toaster 
Cuisinart CPT 142 4-Slice Compact Plastic Toaster

No matter what you are toasting, this model is ready for the task. Serious Eats points out it surpasses, “all other slot toasters in each trial we put it through, handling frozen items and bulky bagels with ease.”

“The simple, functional Cuisinart 4-Slice Compact Toaster outperformed more expensive models and produced crispy toast with even browning. With two sets of controls to tailor toast for the whole family, it’s a no-brainer for your counter,” adds CNN.

2. Black+Decker 2-Slice Extra Wide Slot Toaster 

This toaster is a solid choice for bagel fans and features seven settings for just the right crispiness. Tasting Table notes, “the 2-Slice toaster offers good performance at a low price without compromising on quality — which you can count on with this brand.” 

BLACK+DECKER 2-Slice Extra-Wide Slot Toaster
BLACK+DECKER 2-Slice Extra-Wide Slot Toaster

This budget-friendly appliance will fit right in on your kitchen counter. The Spruce Eats adds, “this Black+Decker model is very affordable and delivers reliable results. It has an integrated, easy-to-empty crumb tray to keep things tidy, and the cord can be wrapped around the base for easy storage.”

Serious Eats suggests it toasts bread, “evenly to the exact shade expected for the applied settings. It also has a cute ‘Brave Little Toaster’ design with a square top and a round bottom. In this case, excellence comes at a low price.” 

3. SMEG Retro Style 2-Slice Toaster 

If you long for the classic appliance look, check out this retro option from SMEG. Good Housekeeping points out when selecting a setting, “it locks into place so you know you’ve set it precisely and extra wide slots ensure that you can fit thicker cut slices of bread.”

SMEG Retro Style 2-Slice Toaster 
SMEG Retro Style 2-Slice Toaster

“This product has six browning levels, a defrost program, and a reheat setting. In other words, you won’t have a wide range of settings to play with if you’re looking for lots of customization, but it has the basic functions that anyone who’s not so picky about their toast would need,” according to Food & Wine.

One drawback is the price. It’s the most expensive toaster on our list. However, Delish adds it comes in, “a variety of different colors, including chrome and pastel green.” 

4. KitchenAid 4-Slice Toaster With Manual Style High Lift Lever 

For $79.99, this toaster is both functional and affordable. “With dual independent controls, you can customize the slices with the five settings,” notes The Pioneer Woman.

KitchenAid 4-Slice Toaster With Manual Style High Lift Lever 
KitchenAid 4-Slice Toaster With Manual Style High Lift Lever

“This model repeatedly toasted beautiful bagels on all settings. Just put the bagel in, press the bagel function, and when it dings, you’ll have a bagel with soft crust and an even, golden-brown crispiness on the inside. Just note that we found that this toaster skews a bit darker on the regular settings,” according to The Spruce Eats.

Tasting Table adds, this “4-Slice is heralded for being easy to clean, reliable, allows for thicker slices of toast, and has a sturdy electrical cord. Ultimately, it’s built to last in your kitchen.”

5. Cuisinart 2-Slice Digital Toaster With MemorySet 

You can program this toaster to remember the settings you like the best. “With a large digital screen, a countdown timer, and specific settings for everything from white bread to waffles and even gluten-free options, this two-slice toaster really does have amazing functionality,” according to The Pioneer Woman.

Cuisinart 2-Slice Digital Toaster With MemorySet 
Cuisinart 2-Slice Digital Toaster With MemorySet

“There is also a shade selector that allows you to choose anywhere from lightly toasted to dark (levels one through seven) and options for defrosting and toasting single slices. Clean-up is also easy with a removable crumb tray,” adds Good Housekeeping.

However, if you are toasting extra-long bread slices, you may want to look elsewhere. This toaster isn’t accommodating. The Food Network points out the defrost function, “is a longer cycle so it not only defrosts your bread but toasts it to your desired doneness.”

Happy toasting!

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Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links.      

Comments

  1. Hello Melissa,
    I am looking for a good toaster that will fit a longer piece of bread, such as some of the hearth breads. It doesn’t look like any of the above recommendations can do that. Am I correct? Do you have a recommendation for some thing that will work for me?
    Many thanks.

    1. I bought an Elite Gourmet toaster. It has two long, wide slots. I got it off if Amazon. I am very pleased with it.

  2. My biggest complaint about toasters is that they aren’t they designed to be easily cleaned. I have to take mine ( & all before it ) outside to shake up & down over the lawn. AND cinnamon bread makes such a mess, I think twice before buying it!

  3. What the hell, who cares, I’m never spending anymore than $30 on a toaster, some people have more money than sense!!!!

  4. You all have it wrong. These toasters cook on one side only. I tried most of them and black and Decker is the worst.

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