The Best Toasters

Black+Decker 2-Slice Extra-Wide Slot Toaster

Reliable and affordable

For those looking for a fantastic toaster that will stand the test of time, go with this affordable option from Black+Decker.

Best Overall

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When it comes to morning routines, simplicity is the name of the game. That’s why we love the Black+Decker 2-Slice Toaster. It’s basic in style, with a sleek and simple black outer shell. It’s also basic in design, with six settings for how “well-done” you like your toast. You can also select the frozen, bagel, or cancel buttons and let the toaster do the rest of the thinking. Really, it’s the perfect amount of simplicity that many of us need in the morning. Before that first coffee, the less thinking we do, the better.

Pros:

• Shockingly inexpensive
• Reputable company
• Extra-wide slots are great for toasting thicker slices of bread
• The crumb tray can be removed smoothly

Cons:

• There are some spaces that crumbs can build up that the crumb tray won’t catch, so you may have to give it a bit of a shake every couple of months to remove everything

Cuisinart Metal Classic Toaster, 2-Slice, Black Stainless

A tank of a toaster

This stainless steel beauty from Cuisinart would please even a master chef.

Best Stainless Steel

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Cuisinart didn’t build its stellar reputation on shoddy products. Their stainless steel toaster is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship and compliments just about any kitchen decor. And not only is this premium toaster easy on the eyes, but it’s also a workhorse that evenly toasts your morning slices with top-notch precision and consistency. It sports a 6-setting “browning dial” as well as buttons for reheating, defrosting, toasting bagels, and canceling.

Pros:

• Super durable and heavy-duty construction
• Beautiful, minimalist design
• The crumb tray collects all crumbs for easy cleaning
• The carriage lever lifts really high so you don’t have to stick your fingers in to grab your toast

Cons:

• There are cheaper options available, though the long-lasting construction is worth the investment

AmazonBasics 2-Slice Extra Wide Slot Toaster

The thicker the toast, the better

For those looking to toast bagels and extra-thick slices of bread, we recommend this option from Amazon Basics.

Best Extra Wide

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This is another basic toaster, but it has only two slots instead of four. If you’re low on counter space, this may be the appliance for you. Better yet, though the footprint is relatively small, the extra-wide slots let you toast thick slices of bread.

And although the price is a bargain, it still comes with all of the features you’d expect a nice toaster to have, from six browning levels to a defrost setting. It even has an extra-lift lever to help you get those tiny items out of the toaster without burning yourself, and a removable crumb tray for easy cleanup.

Pros:

• Low price point
• Makes toast and thicker bread products with ease
• Has some added features, such as the extra-lift lever and removable crumb tray

Cons:

• Less advanced features than other toasters on the market
• Only has two toasting slots

IKICH 4 Slice Long Slot Toaster

The four slice machine

The long slots on this toaster from IKICH let you toast four regular slices of bread or two extra-long slices.

Best Long Slot

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This is a fairly typical toaster that cooks with 6 toasting settings, a defrost setting, and a reheating option. It toasts bread well, has a removable crumb tray, and comes with a stainless steel design that looks nice in almost any kitchen.

However, it has two features that really set it apart from other options on this list. First, its two toast slots are extra long. This means that you can fit almost any type of bread in it to be toasted, defrosted, or reheated. Second, it has a built-in warming rack. You can warm up pastries, or keep the waffles and pancakes ready to eat while you wait for your little ones to come and sit down for breakfast. So even though this toaster may seem average at first, its added features are extremely useful and turn it into a stand-out appliance.

Pros:

• Extra-long toast slots
• Comes with a built-in warming rack
• Warms and toasts well with its various settings

Cons:

• Less advanced features than some other models available

Dash Clearview Toaster: Extra Wide Slot Toaster

A toaster with see-through sides

See your toast in action and pop it at the perfect time with this clear-sided option from Dash.

Best With Clear View

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If you like your toast to be a very particular shade of brown, this toaster may be the one for you. It takes away the guesswork of finding your favorite toaster setting, as its clear sides allow you to see your toast while it is cooking. It has seven toasting settings as well, to help you get your toast just right.

This toaster comes in a variety of fun colors, including white, black, aqua blue, and red. The glass window and crumb tray are removable for easy cleaning. It even comes with a toaster recipe book, so you can get even more creative with easy morning breakfast options.

Pros:

• The clear window allows you to see your bread while it is toasting
• Easy to clean
• Compact size

Cons:

• Only cooks two slices of bread at a time

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Should I Buy A Two-Slice Toaster Or A Four-Slice Toaster?

A. There are two things to keep in mind when choosing the size of toaster you’d like to buy. First, how many people will you be making toast or other bread products for at a time? If you’ll be cooking for just yourself, you’ll likely be able to get by with a two-slice toaster. If you often make toast for your whole family, a bigger appliance may be easier. Second, consider if you and your family members like your bread toasted to the same shade of brown. If not, a two-slice toaster may still be fine (unless the four-slot option you choose allows for each side to be cooked with individual settings). This is because you probably wouldn’t need to cook four pieces at the darkest setting for yourself when your little one wants light brown toast.

Q. Does Toaster Slot Size Really Matter?

A. If the only thing you make in your toaster is thin-sliced toast, the slot size likely does not matter at all. However, if you want to be able to cook other products, such as Texas-style toast or bagels, you will want to look for an appliance that is made with wider slots.

A toaster may not seem like an exciting part of the kitchen, but they are extremely helpful in getting a quick breakfast on the table, and they can be exciting if you choose a model with advanced features. Whether you’re looking to replace your simple appliance that just makes toast or deciding to upgrade to a high-end option, this list should help you find the toaster that is right for you.