It's not a new car or flat-screen TV, but the next toaster you buy could be with you for a long, long time. Choose wisely and the small appliance will help your mornings run smoothly, while maybe adding a nice visual accent to the kitchen. The wrong toaster, however, might make you hot under the collar. Here are five things to ask yourself before getting your next toaster.
How many slots? Toasters come with one, two, or four slots. If your countertop is crammed, a single-slot toaster has a slim profile, plus it can accommodate oversize items, say a long slice of artisanal bread. Four-slot toasters claim the most real estate, though they're helpful if you're often toasting for a crowd. Two-slot toasters, the most common option in our Ratings of several dozen models, combine versatility in a fairly compact housing.
What's my price range? You can spend $15 on a toaster or 15 times that amount. The majority of models on our recommended list fall in the $30 to $60 price range. Spending more generally gets you additional features, such as a bagel setting, countdown timer, and slide-out crumb tray. Depending on how you plan to use the toaster, it might be worth spending an extra $20 or so for these conveniences.
Would I be better off with a toaster oven? If you all you want is toast, buy a toaster, since this appliance still delivers the fastest, most consistent results. But a toaster oven might make sense if you also do a lot of countertop baking, broiling, and reheating. A handful of models in our Ratings handle these tasks well while also doing a relatively good job of toasting.
Is it safe? There have been several recalls of toasters in recent years due to fire hazards and other safety-related issues. These recalled toasters should no longer be in stores, but it's still worth running a background check on toasters you're considering on recalls.gov and saferproducts.gov. The latter will include consumer complaints against models that may not have been recalled. Also, make sure any toaster you choose features automatic shutoff, which will turn off the heating elements in the event of a jam.
Does style matter? Unless you plan to keep it in a cabinet, your toaster will be a visually prominent appliance. Models with stainless-steel housings could coordinate well with your other appliances. KitchenAid is one of several manufacturers that offers toasters in an array of bright colors. One of the most interesting designs in our Ratings belongs to the Magimix Vision Toaster, whose clear side walls allow you to watch your toast turn brown.
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