Small appliances like toasters often seem like simple gadgets, especially when compared to complex, multi-use toaster ovens. However, for many consumers, oversized toaster ovens present a distinct spatial challenge. While models capable of roasting an entire chicken or baking a full pizza are appealing on paper, finding adequate countertop space in compact kitchens can be a frustrating daily hurdle. Kitchen gear testers who live in small New York City apartments are intimately familiar with this spatial conundrum, navigating crowded counters filled with an abundance of culinary instruments.
Yet, despite the versatility of high-end toaster ovens, not every household requires a countertop device designed to broil, air-fry, and reheat a whole pizza while doubling as a homework station. Sometimes, the primary culinary goal is simply a slice of well-prepared toast, and for that specific task, a traditional slot toaster remains the optimal tool for the job.
Over years of professional evaluations, testers have examined 31 different toasters, ranging from inexpensive plastic models to high-tech machines and aesthetics-first designer appliances. The top-performing favorites consistently favor simplicity—the way a traditional toaster should function—while incorporating thoughtful extra features that elevate the overall user experience. These standout models prove relatively compact, sturdily constructed, and user-friendly. Most importantly, they consistently deliver the crispy, evenly browned carbs consumers demand in the morning, handling everything from standard sliced bread and English muffins to frozen waffles and bagels.
The Best Toaster for Your Money: Amazon Basics 2-Slice Toaster
Consumers do not necessarily need to spend a significant amount of money to achieve perfect toast. In fact, rigorous testing reveals that affordable models can outperform expensive alternatives, regularly churning out evenly browned carbs customized to individual preferences.
The Amazon Basics 2-Slice Toaster stands out for its exceptional price-to-performance ratio, retailing at around $20 to $23. The Amazon Basics product line has produced several surprise hits during years of product testing across multiple testing grounds, and this toaster continues to impress reviewers year after year. It draws even with previous top-tier picks, such as the Breville "A Bit More," on practically every functional level, but costs less than a fifth of the price.
While the appliance features a significant amount of exterior plastic, it feels remarkably well-constructed and includes all the settings the average user requires. Crucially, it demonstrates consistent browning across multiple test batches and provides a reliable variety of shades across its six heat settings. The primary drawback is that users seeking a luxury aesthetic will not find it here, and minor browning unevenness can occasionally occur between the two sides of a slice, a common trait among most tested toasters.
Best Toaster for a Pop of Color: Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 2-Slice Toaster
For buyers looking to infuse personality into their kitchen decor, the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 2-Slice Toaster offers a compelling blend of aesthetic appeal and functional reliability. Retailing around $37 to $50, this $40 appliance surprises testers with its even browning capabilities, distinct shade variations across its seven settings, and a touchscreen interface that feels remarkably upscale for its price bracket.
The Beautiful toaster features a primarily stainless-steel construction that feels sturdy and durable, and it is available in a wide array of pastel and neutral colors. The digital touchscreen interface illuminates only when needed and turns off when idle. Because the interface relies on digital buttons rather than physical crevices, the exterior surface is remarkably easy to wipe down, preventing pesky crumbs from sneaking into hard-to-reach areas. During evaluations, the toaster successfully handled white bread, sourdough, bagels, and frozen waffles. Minor criticisms include a gold-accented lever that may not match every kitchen style and audible beeping sounds during operation that could prove disruptive in tight living quarters.
The One That Makes the Best Toast: Breville ‘A Bit More’ 2-Slice Toaster
For those willing to invest more for premium execution, the Breville "A Bit More" 2-Slice Toaster, priced around $110, offers a sleek design with luxurious touches that make morning routines more enjoyable. It features intuitive digital controls, including a sliding mechanism with five browning levels, alongside dedicated buttons for Toast, Bagel, and Cancel, as well as the signature "A Bit More" function for extending toasting cycles slightly if bread appears underdone.
An additional design highlight is a series of indicator lights that black out progressively, serving as a visual countdown timer. While testing demonstrated consistent performance across white bread, sourdough, frozen waffles, and bagels, the machine requires more time than competitors, taking over four minutes on its highest setting. Furthermore, its horizontal orientation places controls on the long side of the device, which can consume valuable counter space in cramped kitchens.
Best 4-Slice Toaster for Families: Breville Die-Cast 4-Slice Smart Toaster
Families requiring a four-slice capacity have several options, but the Breville Die-Cast 4-Slice Smart Toaster, retailing between $210 and $250, distinguishes itself through independent slots and advanced mechanics. Unlike models featuring two extra-long slots, the Die-Cast provides four separate slots, granting family members the flexibility to toast bagels to one specification while simultaneously defrosting waffles to another.
Rather than relying on a traditional manual lever, the Die-Cast utilizes a motorized "Lift and Look" mechanism that smoothly elevates toast to check progress. While some users might view this as ostentatious, it prevents users from awkwardly retrieving stuck bread with utensils. Testing noted that middle heating elements browned bread slightly faster than outer elements, and the appliance commands a premium price, but its intelligent interface secures its place as a top recommendation.
Other Toasters We Liked
The market features several other notable contenders that earned high marks during testing, though certain trade-offs in price or performance prevented them from taking the top spot.
The Breville Eye Q 850 Auto 2-Slice Toaster, priced at $300, introduces optical sensors to measure color change rates rather than relying on a traditional timer. While testing revealed that it struggles to produce a wide gradient of browning—most toast emerges golden brown regardless of settings—it makes burning toast virtually impossible. It also includes a dedicated sourdough setting designed to account for denser, harder crusts, along with an automatic lift mechanism and a luxurious finish.
The Martha Stewart 2-Slice Toaster, retailing around $60, features a sleek touchscreen interface with ten browning settings, offering ultra-precise control. While testers ultimately found that the Beautiful toaster delivered comparable performance at a lower price point, the Martha Stewart model remains a solid alternative for design-conscious consumers.
The Smeg 2-Slice Toaster, priced at $160, prioritizes retro aesthetics with a glossy cherry-red exterior, a chrome lever, and a satisfying click-action control knob. While it features generously sized slots and a slide-out crumb tray, it runs relatively hot, often producing darker or burnt results if users are not careful. Despite its high price, it serves as an excellent option for buyers who prioritize kitchen style.
The Oster Jelly Bean 2-Slice Toaster, priced around $40 to $60, features a matte, charcoal, curved silhouette that resists fingerprints and smudges. It toasts evenly across most settings, though its rounded top design leaves the upper edges of bread occasionally un-submerged.
The Haden Dorset 2-Slice Toaster, retailing between $60 and $75, offers charming retro styling with a simple dial and dedicated buttons for defrost, bagels, and cancellation. However, testing showed it struggled to achieve consistent browning variation and occasionally trapped thicker bagels within its narrow slots.
Toasters We Don’t Recommend
Several tested models failed to earn a seal of approval due to performance flaws, inconsistent browning, or structural issues.
KitchenAid models faced mixed reviews; one version lacked a defrost option while its bagel setting malfunctioned, and another vintage-inspired variant proved overly heavy to move comfortably. The Breville Long Slot 4-slice model left a pale strip in the middle of bread due to a gap in the heating elements. The Zwilling Cool Touch Toaster produced underwhelming browning even on its highest setting. An Alessi model offered attractive styling but failed to produce adequate browning variations. The All-Clad touchscreen toaster struggled to create a full toast gradient. Various Cuisinart models, including the CPT-142, CPT-122, and CPT-180P1, exhibited flimsy construction, wobbly chassis, or pale toast output across multiple settings.
Additional models from Tineco, Hamilton Beach, Black+Decker, Krups, Dash, Bella, Dualit, Haden, Cuisinart, and GE fell short due to issues ranging from soggy frozen waffle results and unresponsive bagel settings to unreadable angled digital displays and excessive pricing.
Understanding the "Bagel" Function
Many consumers overlook the specific mechanics behind the ubiquitous "Bagel" button found on modern toasters. Because bagels are significantly thicker than standard bread slices, they require specialized heat distribution. Activating the bagel setting increases the temperature of the central heating elements—those addressing the cut, exposed side of the bagel—while maintaining a constant, lower heat on the exterior elements. This engineering approach yields a properly toasted bagel with a firm, unburnt exterior and a warm, crisp interior ideal for spreading cream cheese.