Toaster Guide

What’s a toaster?

Simply, it is a kitchen essential that has saved us time since its invention in the early ’20s. A Toaster can make perfectly crisp bread bagels with minimal effort. More than 100 years later, a simple kitchen would never have been complete without one in its design. It is possible for you to find the best two- or four-slot machine for your needs, and we compared it with other similar machine brands.

How much energy does a toaster use?

All toasters use a minimum of 800 – 1600W, four-slice toasters using a top of scale, and two-slice models using fewer. Overall, throughout the year you won’t notice the cost. Several models offer energy saving functions. Toasters that have 4 slots will usually have two controls each with two slots. When you use two slots you’ll have less power but the toaster will run fully when all four slots are active.

The Standard toaster

The standard toaster is a staple in many homes. Sometimes sold with a kettle or just on its own, the toaster is a fantastic piece of kit that only does one thing but does it amazingly.

Most toasters come in two sizes. Either two slices or four slices can be toasted at any one time, and some even come with a bagel setting so you can start toasting your favourite bagel.

How does it look, and will it fit in with your kitchen and other appliances?

Does it have a reheat setting?

What about auto centring guides?

Can you neatly store the cord and wrap it up around the machine when not in use?

Can it toast other types of bread?

Countertop Toaster Oven

Countertop toaster ovens serve primarily for toasting, but can also be used for various other purposes. Some people buy them so that they can be used in place of standard ovens that use much more electricity and require much longer cooking. The toaster countertop toaster is small in size so it occupies more room on your counters while the larger model makes 6 to 9 slices of toast. The countertop oven can cook enough toast for the entire family in just one sitting so the mornings should be easier.

Pop-up Toasters

They are sometimes merely called Toasters with zero qualification. If someone says that term, this may just be what you picture: a small device in your kitchen with at least one slot on its top that you drop your bread into. Popup Toasters are offered in 4-slice varieties and have been specially developed for the toast. Generally speaking, some are better for a bread which is available in standard sizes, while others offer larger slots to accommodate more pastries.

Configuration

Several simple toasters provide simple settings such as light, medium or darkness. Typically this will do the trick for most users, although more complex models will have more setting options. Typically, a popover toaster contains a bagel alternative that browns one side more than another. If you keep your bread frozen regularly and make frozen pancakes in our oven, we recommend using the defrost button. If everyone likes the toast in their house slightly differently, then you are happy with our dark-themed menu. Toasters come with a more extensive choice of settings, because they do a great deal more.

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Durability

Some of our reviews even mention that people have stayed with a similar toaster for more than ten years. To determine if your toaster is durable, you should take a little longer to look into its reputation. A few toasters or counters are covered by warranty to ensure you get more security. Normally higher prices mean that models are very well manufactured and will last longer, but that isn’t a hard and fast rule. You have to find out what other people say regarding their use of a specific toaster.

Cost

In most cases pop-up toasters can cost anywhere up to £60, depending on your brand. The countertop toaster oven is generally around the £30-£100. Varying models feature quite contrasting prices. Some factors can explain price differences. Pop up toasters are simple models which can make toast with cheaper materials and can last quite some time. On the other end of the spectrum, you have a range of models that feature the latest technology.

Size

When looking at the best size for the toasters you should consider three factors to take into account. Two or four slice pop-up toasters are also available and the oven’s toaster ranges between 4 slices and 9 slices. The second question is only applicable to a Popup Toaster. It should be considered as important when pursuing such an option. You have to find a model with plenty of slots.

Ease of Use and Cleaning

The most common toast is quite easy to use. Getting proper settings simplifies everything a little more. It’ll make your mornings a little easier. Changing toaster trays can be more tricky than you’d expect. With a crumb tray, it’s more convenient for you to keep your toaster clean as well

Does it come with a crumb tray?

Make cleaning the toaster simply by opting for a toaster that comes with a crumb tray. Crumbs will build up at the bottom if you’re using the toaster a lot; now, most toasters come with an inbuilt tray to make removing crumbs simple.

What makes a toaster different to other toasters?

A toaster used to be just a toaster. Most were the same and performed the same. Now you’ve got more styles of toasters, some with a warming function, others with a removal crumb tray and much more.

Is it digital?

Some toasters have dived into the future with digital displays. This helps you to see how long is left until your toast is toasted. This also makes it easier to do toast catering to different peoples needs.

Does it have a function to toast a little longer?

Toast that isn’t toastie enough is annoying. Sometimes you need a bit extra to add a little more toast to the bread, but you don’t want to send it out on a new cycle and risk burning it.

This is where the add more function comes into play. This means you can make your bread a bit more toasted without worrying that you’re going to burn it.

Is there a function to keep the toast warm?

Another wonderfully great function that you never knew you needed.

It can be annoying waiting for someone to get out of the shower or come downstairs. With this function, your toast will be ready when you’re ready.

Can you check on the progress?

With some toasters, the levers you use to make the bread toast can also lift the toast so you can get an eye full of where the toast is currently at.

Does it have a bagel function?

Most slots on toasters aren’t wide enough to toast a bagel. There are two elements on each side while toasting regular bread, whereas it only uses one when you’re toasting a bagel. This is a great feature to have.

Does it have a lift feature?

Most toasters now come with a lift feature. Once your toast is made, use the lift to flick the toast up and quickly remove it without the risk of touching the hot sides.

Does it come with a defrost setting?

A defrost button adds convenience. Take bread straight from the freezer to the toaster.

What do the number means on a toaster? (shade setting)

The way to get the toast exactly how you want it is with the shade settings when making toast. Some toasters can indicate how long the bread will take to toast, but this isn’t always the case. Most toasters will have about five shade settings, but it’s not uncommon for them to come with a few more.

The more shade options you have, the greater the control over the type of toast that will pop out.

What else can you put in a toaster?

How to clean a toaster?

Cleaning a toaster is pretty simply. A newer one will be quicker, but if you’ve got one that has seen years of use, you can still get it reasonably clean. We’d recommend unplugging it from the wall and cleaning it with a damp cloth. If you’ve got a crumb tray, you can remove that, emptying the contents into the bin and then wiping it. You might also find it beneficial to turn the toaster upside down, removing crumbs that evaded the crumb tray, and you can use an old thin toothbrush