The Best Toasters: Tested by The Spruce Eats

How We Tested

We sent toasters to our home testers and also tested them in our Lab using various types of breads, including bagels, waffles, and more. Each toaster was rated on design, performance, features, ease of cleaning, and overall value. Our testers then offered additional insights on each toaster's strengths and weaknesses.

What to Look For When Buying a Toaster

By Sara Tane

Number of Slots

Most toasters offer two, three, or four slots for toasting bread. When choosing what you need, consider how much and how frequently you make toast. If you’re consistently cooking breakfast for four and only have a toaster that can accommodate two slices of bread, the process will be time-consuming.

That said, the more slots you opt for, the more counter space the appliance will take up. If kitchen space is limited, a smaller two-slot toaster may be a better option, despite its smaller capacity.

Size of Slots

Once you’ve decided how many slots you want out of your toaster, the next characteristic to consider is the size of those slots. If you’re just planning to toast up thin pieces of bread, then a basic-sized slot will suffice for your needs. If you’ll be toasting bigger items, like bagels, heartier slices of bread, croissants, or waffles, a wider slot is probably your better option.

Typically, the wider and larger the slot, the more likely it is to have settings for toasting on just one side. This is optimal for bagels. Toasters with long slots can toast longer slices of artisan bread or long pieces of French bread for sandwiches.

Custom Features

If you’re just looking for an appliance to crisp up a simple slice of bread, then it may not be worth your money, counter space, and mental clarity to have a field of extra buttons to squint at in the morning. If you’re planning to use your toaster for more than just bread, however, you may appreciate those with special functions for defrosting frozen items, toasting on one side (ideal for bagels), keeping toast warm after it’s done, or gently reheating the toast you forgot about (happens to the best of us).

If you want your toast just a tad darker, another common feature that some toasters boast is “a little bit more,” which will toast your bread for just a little bit longer. Some toasters offer a “high lift” function to ensure that you don’t have to fish out your bread with a pair of tongs or use your hands and risk burning yourself.

There are toasters that are equipped with motorized levers that can sense when you drop bread into the slot and will lower the lever automatically. While this feature can be nice, most users find that using a manual lever is just as easy. Removable crumb trays also make for a much easier cleaning process. Clearly, there are plenty of additional bells and whistles that toasters can have besides just a basic toast.

If you’re very particular about the process of toasting your bread and ultimately how toasted your bread is, then some of these added features may be a nice addition for you. There are still a wide variety of toasters that are available at affordable prices that still offer these additional settings.

Durability

The most common flaw with an appliance like a toaster is that it is inevitably going to break down at some point. These are not lifetime investments. That said, you still want a toaster that is durable and going to last you as long as possible. Glass toasters have a bit of a reputation for kicking out earlier than most. Plus, they’re much harder to keep clean.

It’s also worth considering if the toaster you’re buying comes with a warranty. This varies as some brands will offer a one-year warranty, some three years, and some not at all. A toaster that is easy to clean is going to last you a long time, so features like a removable crumb tray will make maintenance easier, and thus the lifetime of the appliance longer.

Material

The material that your toaster is made of will be a good indicator of how hot it will get while it’s being used. Plastic toasters can tend to feel like they're on the cheaper side, even though these models still offer the bells and whistles of higher-end versions. Plastic is generally less durable than metal, and when the control buttons and levers are made of plastic, they’re more likely to break.

Metal toasters are the most common because this material is sturdier. It’s important to look for a toaster that will remain cool to the touch during use, especially if you have small children in the house. The final and least common material is glass. This material is cool because it allows you to see your food as it’s toasting. But glass toasters often leave a white rim and vertical lines across the bread. So, even though they allow you to see what’s going on in the toaster, glass toasters don’t necessarily toast a better slice of bread.

Price

You can snag a toaster anywhere from $20 to $300. But since a higher price tag does not guarantee a better piece of toast, make sure that there's a specific feature or design aspect that is justifying the extra money. For example, glass toasters are typically more expensive because you’re mostly paying for aesthetics and the benefit of seeing your toast as it cooks.

Types of Toasters

Toaster Ovens

While the focus of this buying guide is pop-up toasters, it’s worth noting what differentiates a toaster oven. Toaster ovens (which, as the name implies, are small countertop ovens) do not have the slots of a classic toaster. Instead, there is a door and a small oven that can handle bread and bagels, roasting vegetables, heating up pizza, and warming up sandwiches.

While these typically occupy much more counter space than a slot toaster, with that extra space comes many more heating capabilities. This appliance may be worth it to you if you can see yourself relying on the appliance for more than just toast. Remember: your oven can do everything that a toaster oven can, if not more, so you really need to consider if this is an appliance that you’d use. If not, your best bet is to stick with a pop-up toaster.

Two- and Four-Slot

The most common types of slot toasters are two- and four-slot toasters. Obviously, two-slot toasters are more compact, which is ideal for a kitchen that’s short on space. Four-slot toasters are bigger and allow larger families to crank out fresh toast at the same time. The number of slots should not affect the evenness or consistency of the bread that you’re toasting; the quality of toast from a two-slice toaster is just the same as a four-slice toaster. Two-slice toasters are also ideal because they’re lighter and easier to maintain and clean.

Brands/Manufacturers

Breville

If you’re looking for a motorized lift, Breville makes a slot toaster with this feature. While it comes at a pretty penny, this is definitely a nice splurge option. It’s sturdy, sleek, and produces consistent slices of toast. These toasters often come with a “lift and look” feature as well as a “little bit more.”

KitchenAid

If you’re looking for a toaster option with wide slots, KitchenAid makes some great options in both two- and four-slice capacities. Its toasters are compact, stylish, and consistent. While they’re not the cheapest versions available on the market, they have enough features to justify the heftier price tag.

Cuisinart

Another great splurge option is a Cuisinart. Though the brand offers a wide variety of toasters, some of the most notable include a motorized lift toaster with wide slots for bagels galore. On the other end of the spectrum, it makes manual-level, plastic toasters that are just as efficient at churning out perfectly toasted slices of bread.

Accessories

Tongs

If you find yourself with a toaster that doesn’t have a high-lift function, you can always supplement this with a pair of bamboo tongs. This way, you don’t have to worry about burning your fingers when it’s time to take your toast out.

Sandwich Cage

A fun accessory for your toaster is a sandwich cage. This tool helps keep your sandwich together as you lower it down into the toaster slot and let it cook. Lift it up and your sandwich slides out easily in one piece.

Toaster Brush

If you have a toaster that doesn’t have a removable crumb tray, it might be worth your while to get a brush that can help you dust off any hard-to-reach places in the toaster. The last thing that you want is a large pile-up of stale crumbs burning at the bottom of your toaster after repeated use.

Maintenance

Cleaning your toaster is important if you want your appliance to last for as long as possible. The most important thing when it comes to cleaning a toaster is to make sure that it is completely cooled down and unplugged when you begin cleaning. Never put it in a dishwasher or under running water. The frequency that you’ll need to clean your toaster depends on how often you use it. If you use it on most days, it’s good to get in the habit of clearing out the crumbs every one or two weeks.

Most toasters are designed with a removable crumb tray, which you’ll find near the base. When it’s time to clean your toaster out, begin by removing and discarding the contents in the crumb tray. This tray is positioned to catch all of the particles that fall as you toast your bread.

FAQs

What do the numbers on a toaster mean?

The answer to this depends on the type of toaster. If you purchased a timer style of toaster, the numbers refer to the number of minutes it will toast. These tend to be the more expensive brands, like Smeg.

If your model runs on a capacitor, like a toaster most people own, the numbers refer to a rate of resistance. This correlates to the amount of time it takes the capacitor to charge and pop your toasted item out. Older models operate on a bimetallic strip that bends as they heat up. The numbers on these types of toasters refer to how much electricity goes through the switch. Lower numbers equate to higher current, which heats up quicker and leaves your toast less toasty.

What does the bagel setting on a toaster do?

Toasters are constructed with two heating elements to toast both sides simultaneously. A bagel setting powers down the outer heating element to ensure a crusty inside and just warmed outside of your bagel.

How does a toaster work?

In the most basic sense, toasters turn electricity into heat. Until you push the switch on a toaster, the electricity flowing from the wall to the appliance lies in wait. Once the switch is depressed, the connection forms and the electricity powers the infrared heating elements in the toaster. That glowy red light you see as your toast is crisping.

The super-hot elements generate over 1000 degrees Fahrenheit of heat inside those little slots, which heats the air around your food item up to temperatures around 350 degrees Fahrenheit—the default temperature on a full-size oven. Once the timer or thermostat reaches the programmed level of doneness, your toast pops up and the connection between the electricity and the element cuts off until the next time you push the switch.

What can you cook in a toaster oven? 

As toaster ovens have become bigger, sturdier, and stronger, the world of what you can cook in them has expanded. They really are just more compact versions of your regular oven, and some even come with pans specifically designed for toaster oven-size portions.

They are great for reheating foods like leftover pizza and can also bake up a batch of roasted veggies, toasty sandwiches, and even brownies. If you have ramekins, baked eggs are a quick toaster oven breakfast. Basically, anything you would cook in a larger oven can be scaled down for a toaster oven.

That said, some items that can be cooked in a toaster oven require special attention, like bacon for example. The grease it creates while cooking may need to be drained if it accumulates too much. You don’t want a grease fire. If you are hoping to bake some small-batch items in the toaster oven, be sure to select the bake function and watch your goodies as the heat is quite intense in such a small area.

Is a toaster oven a convection oven?

The short answer is no. There are a few differences between the two. Convection ovens tend to be larger and more expensive than toaster ovens, taking up more precious counter space and budget. Convection ovens cook foods quicker than toaster ovens, and though both can cook foods, toaster ovens shine for reheating and toasting. Meanwhile, convection ovens are known to produce high-quality baked goods and crispy skins on meats.

The main difference is how they heat. A convection oven has a fan that distributes the hot air evenly over food while a toaster oven radiates heat from the top and bottom elements, much like a traditional full-size oven.

Is a toaster oven the same as an air fryer?

The easiest way to understand the differences between these two appliances is to think of the air fryer as similar to the convection oven. Toaster ovens utilize heating elements, usually on the top and bottom, to cook or reheat food. Air fryers use coiled heating elements, but the main source of cooking is the powerful fan that circulates the hot air continuously over food, cooking it evenly and crisply in the case of chicken. Air fryers also add in the capabilities of dehydrating and high speed hot cooking required for “frying.”

How do you clean the inside of a toaster?

Follow these steps:

• Unplug and cool the toaster
• Shake crumbs loose
• Make a cleaning solution
• Brush away crumbs from the interior
• Clean the exterior

How do you clean a toaster oven?

Follow these steps:

• Unplug the oven
• Remove and clean components
• Shake to remove crumbs
• Mix a cleaning solution
• Clean the interior
• Clean the glass door
• Clean the exterior
• Reassemble the toaster oven
  

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Anthony Irizarry is a freelancer who writes roundups for The Spruce Eats. Having previously worked as an appliance reviews editor, he's no stranger to kitchen appliances. In addition to toasters, Anthony has also rounded up our picks of the best ice cream makers and best waffle makers.

Carrie Honaker is a food writer who has owned her share of small kitchen appliances. As a restaurateur and avid home cook, she knows the importance of finding the right tool for the right job. She loves her toaster oven for crusty bagels, yummy reheated pizza, and small batches of Mexican hot chocolate brownies. Carrie's work has appeared in many publications including Bon Appetit, Allrecipes, and Wine Enthusiast.