11 Toasters that Turn Every Morning into a Good One

In my book, the toaster is without a doubt one of the best small kitchen appliances you can choose to have in your home.

True, toasting bread is something an oven can do equally well – but it will take up much more time to heat it up and get that piece of bread nice and crunchy, not to mention the energy expenditure.

A toaster is easy to use, it is compact, neat, and makes every breakfast, brunch, dinner, afternoon snack and everything in between a tastier and munchier affair.

Not to mention tea and toast is – well, it’s tea and toast, isn’t it?

Being a firm believer in the restorative power of a good strong cup of tea and a crunchy piece of buttered toast (with the optional jam) that I am, I am here today to help you purchase a toaster you are going to love for years to come.

A toaster the sound of which your kids (or grandkids) will learn to associate with lazy Sunday mornings in front of the telly, or those rushed family breakfasts where everyone is slapping Nutella on a piece of bread with one hand while combing their hair and packing their schoolbag with the other.

A toaster that will have the uncanny power of settling arguments, cosying up crispy evenings and solving the “what can I have for a rushed snack” dilemma.

Okay – maybe I am assigning this toaster more magical abilities that it actually has.

But if you love the smell, taste and ritual of a toasted piece of bread – you will want to take a look at the toasters I have selected for you.

But, first:

How to Buy a Toaster?

You want the toaster you take home with you to be just right, and fit into your family dynamic seamlessly. Here are the things to watch out for:

Number of slices: some toasters do two, others do four. Two should keep you going, but if you are trying to feed a whole lot of hungry kids at the same time, you will definitely appreciate the extra slots.

Size: more slices means a larger toaster, so depending on where you want to store yours and how much counter space you have at your disposal – make sure the model that catches your eye fits

Weight: along the same lines, make sure it’s not too heavy, especially if you plan on moving it form cupboard to counter every day, and if you want the kids to be able to do it too

One side only option: some of you may like to toast your crumpets on one side only – and there are toasters that can make this happen for you. If you are a huge fan of the only toasted on one side option, make sure your chosen appliance offers it.

Keep warm function: if you want to be able to come back to your toast five minutes after you’ve started toasting it and find it is still warm, a keep warm setting is a must

Reheat option: on the other hand, if you don’t want to go for the keep warm (or if you prefer to reheat toast for whatever reason too), this feature can come in handy

Frozen toasting option: if you also want to toast bread right out of the freezer, you will want a toaster that has a frozen setting

Slot width: depending on the kind of bread, bagel or crumpet you want to be toasting, you might want a toaster that has wider or narrower slots, or maybe one that offers both options

Crumb tray: you definitely want this feature – it catches all the crumbs from the toasting process, and makes the toaster much easier to clean and maintain

Let’s look at some toasters!

1 – KitchenAid 5KMT2115 Classic 2-Slot Toaster

• Number of slots: 2 
• Power: 1100 watts
• Weight: 1.8 kilograms 
• Material: Metal
• Colour: Black, white
• Extra features: Crumb tray, high lift, bagel setting 

Here is an easy-to-use toaster to begin with.

This KitchenAid number has 2 extra-wide slots for your toast, bagel or muffin. They have self-centering racks, and they are pretty deep, so you should face no particular challenges in the bread width department. 

It comes with a shade control and 5 browning settings, so you can get your bread extra toasty or just lightly browned. There is also a bagel button, in case you prefer to toast things on one side only.

There is also a high lift lever, making loading and unloading the toaster that much easier, as well as a crumb catcher, making cleaning your toaster a walk in the park.

A simple, no muss no fuss toaster that can add a little extra warmth and crunch to your mornings. 

2 – Russell Hobbs 18096 Texas 2-Slice Toaster 

• Number of slots: 2 
• Power: 980 watts
• Weight: 1.44 kilograms 
• Material: Stainless steel 
• Colour: Silver
• Extra features: Crumb tray, high lift, reheat, defrost, cancel option  

Sticking to the realm of simple yet effective toasters, here is this Russell Hobbs appliance. 

It also provides 2 slots for your toasting pleasure, but it has some very handy extra features: there is a reheat option allowing you to re-warm toasted bread (plain bread, not buttered or otherwise covered in a condiment bread), there is a cancel button whose benefits are rather obvious, and a frozen toasting option, allowing you to toast bread directly from the freezer.

There are 6 browning levels, as well as a high lift eject lever, so you won’t have to spend too much time fussing over the unloading of your toaster.

There is also a crumb tray, making this toaster a reliable and sturdy ally in your breakfast-making endeavours. 

3 – Smeg TSF01 Retro 2-Slice Toaster

• Number of slots: 2 
• Power: 950 watts
• Weight: 3.7 kilograms 
• Material: Steel 
• Colour: 8 colours available 
• Extra features: Crumb tray, reheat, defrost, cord storage 

Smeg is by far among the most stylish (if not the most stylish) brands of kitchen appliances, and their retro toaster is certainly no exception to the sophistication rule. 

Other than the fact that it’s elegant, stylish, very easy on the eyes and that it comes in eight amazing colours (including a Union Jack design that will fit into a vintage kitchen superbly), it has 2 extra-wide slots that come with a bagel function as well.

There are 6 browning levels to choose from using the very snazzy illuminated dials, as well as the very useful reheat and defrost settings that can come in extra handy when and if you need them.

There is of course a crumb tray as well, and a built-in storage space that can hide the cord from sight, ensuring your kitchen is free of clutter.

If elegance is what you are looking for – Smeg always has a solution for you.

4 – Sage BTA825 Smart 2-Slice Motorised Toaster

• Number of slots: 2 or 4
• Power: 1000 watts
• Weight: 3.06 kilograms 
• Material: Metal 
• Colour: Silver 
• Extra features: Crumb tray, defrost, quick look and a bit more, bagel setting

Another very stylish appliance, this time from Sage, enters our arena.

This one is also a 2-slot toaster with wider slots, great for larger slices of bread, pastries of even thicker bagels or crumpets.

(There is also a 4-slot version of this toaster, if that is what you are looking for, so check that one out as well.)

It has a timer that will show you when you can expect your piece of yumminess to pop out, and it gives you an audible signal too, in case you have decided to leave the room while you wait.

It has 5 browning settings, so you can easily get your morning piece of bread perfectly toasted. However, it also comes with a couple of other neat features too.

There is “A Bit More” that will toast for another minute, just in case you weren’t entirely satisfied, there is “A Quick Look” that lets you check the state of your toast without cancelling the cycle, and there is a “Crumpet” feature, that browns bread just on the one side. It can also work with frozen bread directly from the freezer.

Cleaning is made easy with the crumb tray, just remove it and toss the crumbs into the bin.

The one thing this toaster lacks though is a reheat option, which would have made it quite perfect in my book. But even without it, this is a great appliance to be greeted by in the mornings.

5 – Breville VTT233 Long Slot Toaster

• Number of slots: 2
• Power: 1400 watts
• Weight: 1.59 kilograms 
• Material: Plastic 
• Colour: Black 
• Extra features: Crumb tray, defrost, reheat, high lift, long slot, cancel option, cord storage

Here is a compact and slim toaster for your consideration, one that can accommodate 4 slices in its two long slots.

This is a slick black appliance that will look very stylish on your countertop, however, it does come with illuminated controls that light up in red – so if that’s a bit too over the top and not quite the colour combination for you, you might want to look at other models.

The two longer slots can accommodate two longer slices, or four regular slices. Since they are placed so close together, you might find that some edges don’t come out perfectly each time though.

There are 6 browning levels, so you can get your perfect level of toastiness, and the high lift feature ensure you can easily remove even the toastiest of slices without the risk of burning your fingers.

There is also a reheat and a defrost function, and you can cancel your toast mid-cycle, making for a very neat toaster. Crumb tray also provided, plus there is integrated cord storage available too.

Perhaps not quite the very top of the line, but a very compact toaster nonetheless, and one that will serve you well.

6 – Russell Hobbs Luna Long Slot Toaster

• Number of slots: 2  
• Power: 1420 watts
• Weight: 2.26 kilograms 
• Material: Aluminium  
• Colour: Copper, grey, red  
• Extra features: Crumb tray, defrost, reheat, long slot, cancel option, cord storage

Here is another long slot toaster, in case the Breville we’ve just been looking at is not quite up to your standards.

This Russell Hobbs number is sleek and stylish with a much more modern feel. It comes in three accent colours (copper, red and grey) combined with a stainless steel body, and is nice and compact, despite the longer slots.

It has a removable crumb tray and a cord storage space, and comes with the classic reheat, defrost and cancel functions – pretty much everything you need from a toaster. There is also a “Lift and Look” feature that lets you check your piece of toast without cancelling the cycle.

There are 6 browning levels, so plenty of customisation available as well.

If you prefer to toast longer slices (or just prefer the look and feel of this elongated design as opposed to the classic box one), and are looking for a reliable and sophisticated toaster to partner up with, this one is a great choice. You can of course still do two regular slices at a time as well, so no limitations in that department.

If you like Russell Hobbs, you’ll love this toaster.

7 – Dualit Classic 4-Slice Vario Toaster

• Number of slots: 4  
• Power: 900 watts
• Weight: 4.52 kilograms 
• Material: Stainless Steel  
• Colour: 6 colours available
• Extra features: Crumb tray, selector switch, ejection lever, high lift. optional sandwich cage

If you know a bit about kitchen appliances, you know that Dualit is a brand that has been around in the UK since the ‘50s. And this toaster also looks like it has discovered a time tunnel from the same age.

What makes it unique is the fact that it is assembled by hand – and you can even find the name of the person who has put yours together on the base plate.

This is a 4-slot toaster – but it comes with a selector switch, so you can use only the slots you actually need, saving a lot of precious energy. It also has an ejector lever (with a high lift), meaning your toast will not pop out when done – it will stay warm, and await your pleasure. It operates with a mechanical timer that you can adjust to get the perfect toast.

It has a crumb tray, and it is best known for its ProHeat build that protects the wires and will ensure your appliance lives a long and happy life.

You can even fit a sandwich cage into these slots, so if you are looking for a more-in-one toaster, this could be your guy.

In short, if you want a great toaster, this is it.

8 – Cuisinart Signature Collection 4-Slot Toaster

• Number of slots: 4  
• Power: 2000 watts
• Weight: 3.66 kilograms 
• Material: Stainless Steel  
• Colour: Silver
• Extra features: Crumb tray, high lift, cancel option, reheat, defrost, bagel setting

If you are looking for a 4-slot toaster with a few added features, this model might be what you need.

You get 6 browning settings, ideal if you like to adjust per person or per meal, and 2 pairs of slots – meaning you can do two lightly browned and two very browned pieces of toast at the same time. Ideal for a larger and busy family.

The slots are extra large, so you can easily handle thicker slices or a very munchy bagel.

There is also a removable crumb tray, and a high lift lever, making it easier to get the smaller bits out, or just not burn yourself.

There is also a manual cancel setting, in case you discover the bread has been in there for too long, as well as your trusty bagel, reheat and defrost options for when you are in more of a rush and can’t sit patiently by the toaster waiting for your breakfast to pop out.

Reliable, stylish and easy to operate, here is another great toaster that will be the love of larger families.

9 – De’Longhi Brillante CTJ4003BK 4-Slot Toaster

• Number of slots: 4  
• Power: 1800 watts
• Weight: 2.3 kilograms 
• Material: Plastic   
• Colour: Black, white
• Extra features: Crumb tray, high lift, reheat, defrost, cancel option

If you are on the other hand looking for a statement piece, an incredibly stylish toaster that is not likely to resemble the more rudimentary toasters your friends have – enter the De’Longhi Brillante.

This is a 4-slot toaster that comes in black or white, with chromed details and a very interesting pattern (if it’s what you like). It doesn’t have that regular toaster shape and is more squared, so if you don’t mind it taking up more space and you want the statement, look into this one.

It has two separate operators (for each of the two pairs of slices), but all of them will be browned at the same level, so bear that in mind. You can control the level of browning, though.

The width of the slots can also be varied, so you can go for thicker or thinner slices.

There is also a reheat and a defrost function, as well as a cancel function if you need to interrupt your toasting mid-cycle. You also get a crumb tray, as well as a high lift lever.

This one is a good option if the style of your toaster plays a major role in your decision-making process.

10 – Tefal Loft TT760140 4-Slot Toaster

• Number of slots: 4  
• Power: 1700 watts
• Weight: 2.8 kilograms 
• Material: Plastic   
• Colour: Black, white, red, blue, cream  
• Extra features: Crumb tray, high lift, cancel option, reheat, defrost

If you don’t want to compromise on style, but the De’Longhi is not your cup of tea (or slice of toast), take a look at the Tefal Loft.

It is part of the Loft Breakfast set (but you can find it separately), that also features a kettle.

You get 2 toasting chambers (i.e. slots) that will allow you to do two or four slices at the same time. They are extra-wide and can accommodate a bagel or a crumpet just fine, but you can also consider a burger bun if the mood strikes you.

There are also 7 browning levels that can help you fine-tune your morning slice to perfection.

You get a defrost, reheat and cancel setting too, and the Loft also comes with a high lift level, making it an easy-to-use and easy to customise toaster.

Adding style to the standard features we have come to expect from toasters, Tefal have created a neat and reliable kitchen appliance with the Loft.

11 – MAGIMIX Grille Pain Toaster Vision

• Number of slots: 2  
• Power: 1450 watts
• Weight: 4.3 kilograms 
• Material: Aluminium, stainless steel, glass    
• Colour: Silver  
• Extra features: Crumb tray, high lift, cancel option, reheat, defrost, bagel setting

You know I have to add something quite extra and different to every list.

Here is a toaster from a brand synonymous with kitchen efficiency, one that is unlike all the others we have looked at so far.

This is a glass toaster – so if you want to spend a couple of minutes every day looking at bread browning, here is your chance.

It has extra-wide and extra-long slots, and you can fit two regular slices or one extra long one in there at a time. You can also do bagels or waffles, or any other thicker pastry.

You also get a bagel, a defrost and a reheat setting, all of which are controlled with a single button. You do have 8 browning shades as well, and a cancel button that will help you determine which one you like best.

There is a high lift lever you can use to get the smaller pieces out, but the glass sides also open, making cleaning easier. Add to that the crumb tray, and you will easily take care of any toasting mess you’ve made.

A very good toaster from a favourite brand – what more could you need?

How to Clean a Toaster

Let’s take a minute to talk about toaster maintenance and how to clean one, shall we?

Even if you store yours in a cupboard, as it has an open top you will need to clean it thoroughly every once in a while to ensure it stays safe. Dealing with the crumbs is one thing – this is more of a complete once over.

1. Start by unplugging the toaster.
2. You can then remove the crumb tray and give it a wash, and make sure it dries properly before putting it back.
3. An upside-down shake over the sink is now indicated.
4. Take a damp cloth (with a bit of white vinegar to be extra, if you’d like) and wipe the slots. Don’t use a wet cloth and make sure there is no build-up of moisture inside the toaster. If you’ve used the vinegar, make sure you go over everything again with a clean but damp cloth.
5. Let everything dry properly and make sure there is nothing damp or wet before you plug it back in.

Ideally, you want to do this once a month, or even more often if your toaster is at risk from dust and other kitchen debris, or if you use it a lot.

Which Toaster do I Buy?

All of the above toasters will be an excellent choice – just take into account whether you want to be able to do 2 or 4 slices, and how important is the actual look and feel of your new friendly kitchen appliance to you.

Enjoy your morning slice of toast, and let me know how you prefer to take yours (a healthy amount of butter with a side of Builder’s Tea is my personal fav).

J.