Top 5 compared
The best toasters
Morning toast made just the way you like it, from pale and soft to dark and crisp.
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The top 5 at a glance
A toaster browns bread on both sides at once, then pops it up when it’s done. Two-slice toasters suit one or two people and smaller counters. Four-slice ones make breakfast for a family at once, and long-slot models take a whole slice from a big loaf in each slot.
Every one here has extra-wide slots for bagels and thick bread, a defrost or frozen setting for bread straight from the freezer, and a crumb tray that comes out for emptying. Most add a bagel setting, which toasts the cut side and only warms the outside. Breville’s goes further, with a motor that lowers the bread and raises it mid-cycle for a look.
What matters
- A high-lift lever, for small things like English muffins.
- Slots long as well as wide, if you buy big bakery loaves.
- A cord long enough to reach your outlet.
- Buttons that light up while a setting is on.
#1Elite Gourmet 4-Slice Long Slot Toaster with Warming Rack (ECT-3100)
$30–$50
Two long slots, each 10 inches by 1.5, take a whole slice of sourdough or Texas toast, or two ordinary slices side by side, so four slices toast at once. A rack that pops up on top warms croissants or rolls while the toast browns.
What owners say: Owners like that bagels and big slices of sourdough fit without squeezing; they’re split on how evenly it browns, and some found one side darker or had theirs fail early.
A closer look: Elite’s own tip: run one empty cycle before the first use to burn off any factory residue. Load slices opposite each other across the slots for even browning, and when toasting only one or two, turn the dial down a level or two, as all four elements still heat.
- Pop-up warming rack
- Slide-out crumb tray
- Cord storage
Best for: Sourdough and big loaves
- Slices
- 4
- Slots
- 2 long, 1.5 in
- Power
- 1,300W
- Browning levels
- 6
- Functions
- Reheat, defrost, cancel
- High lift
- Yes
#2LAINSTEN Retro 4-Slice Stainless Steel Toaster (ST-527)
$30–$50
A four-slice toaster in stainless steel with a retro look, 1.5-inch slots that take thick artisan bread and waffles, seven shade settings and a high lift for small pieces. The bagel, defrost and cancel buttons light up when they’re on.
What owners say: Owners like the stainless steel look, the way bagels drop easily into the wide slots and the simple shade dial; some found it browned unevenly or gave out early.
A closer look: Wrap the cord into the storage underneath to keep the counter tidy, and tip out the crumb tray every week or so, since crumbs left in the bottom can scorch. For thin sandwich bread, start a setting or two lower than you would for thick artisan slices.
- Retro stainless steel body
- Buttons light up when on
- Anti-jam design
- Cord storage underneath
- Removable crumb tray
Best for: Family breakfasts
- Slices
- 4
- Slots
- 1.5 in, extra wide
- Power
- 1,800W
- Browning levels
- 7
- Functions
- Bagel, defrost, cancel
- High lift
- Yes
#3BLACK+DECKER 2-Slice Toaster with Extra-Wide Slots (T2569B)
$30–$50
A plain, compact two-slice toaster that does the basics well: extra-wide slots for bagels and thick artisan bread, six shade settings, and settings for bagels and frozen bread. It sits neatly at the back of a small counter.
What owners say: Owners find it simple to use with its three settings and like its traditional look; some say one side toasts lighter than the other, and the cord is very short.
A closer look: Use the frozen setting for bread or waffles straight from the freezer rather than turning the dial up, which tends to char the outside first. Each slot takes a bagel half, and the cord is short, so give it a spot right beside an outlet.
- Sits neatly on small counters
- Slide-out crumb tray
- Short cord, needs nearby outlet
- 2-year limited warranty
Best for: One or two people
- Slices
- 2
- Slots
- Extra wide
- Power
- 850W
- Browning levels
- 6
- Functions
- Bagel, frozen, cancel
- High lift
- No
#4Breville Die-Cast Smart Toaster, 2-Slice (BTA820XL)
$150–$200
Press one button and a motor lowers the bread, lifts it partway through so you can check it (Lift & Look), and adds a little extra time with A Bit More, which rescues pale toast without starting over. The die-cast body and wide slots suit artisan bread and thick bagels.
What owners say: Owners like the solid build and the A Bit More button most; reliability reports are split, from years of service to early failures, and some find it toasts one side more.
A closer look: The LED bar on the front shows how much of the cycle is left, handy when the eggs need timing too. The crumb tray pulls out from the front, so the toaster never needs lifting to clean, and at 8.6 inches wide it leaves room on a small counter.
- Lifts mid-cycle to check toast
- LED bar shows time left
- Crumb tray pulls out front
- Die-cast body
Best for: Toast exactly to your liking
- Slices
- 2
- Slots
- Extra wide
- Power
- 900W
- Browning levels
- 5
- Functions
- Bagel, defrost, A Bit More
- High lift
- Motorized
#5Amazon Basics 2-Slice Extra-Wide Slot Toaster (KT-3680)
$20–$30
A no-frills two-slice toaster with 1.25-inch slots for bagels, six shade settings, bagel, frozen and cancel buttons that light up, and an extra-lift lever for small pieces. The 37-inch cord wraps up when it’s put away.
What owners say: Owners like its tidy design; whether it toasts evenly divides them, and some had theirs stop working after about a year.
Heads up: The crumb tray is at the back, so turn the toaster around to empty it.
A closer look: Each slot is 5¼ inches long, enough for most sandwich bread and English muffins, though a big slice from a bakery loaf may stick out of the top. Toast two slices of the same thickness together for the most even color, since one shade setting times them both.
- 37 in cord wraps away
- Bagel setting: cut side only
- Buttons light up when on
- Crumb tray at the back
Best for: First kitchens and bagels
- Slices
- 2
- Slots
- 1.25 in, extra wide
- Power
- 900W
- Browning levels
- 6
- Functions
- Bagel, frozen, cancel
- High lift
- Yes
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Elite Gourmet ECT-3100 | #2LAINSTEN 4-slice | #3BLACK+DECKER T2569B | #4Breville Die-Cast Smart | #5Amazon Basics 2-slice |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Runner-up | Best 2-slice | Best premium | Best budget | |
| Picked Rating | 8.7 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 8.4 | 8.4 |
| Price | $30–$50 | $30–$50 | $30–$50 | $150–$200 | $20–$30 |
| Slices | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Slots | 2 long, 1.5 in | 1.5 in, extra wide | Extra wide | Extra wide | 1.25 in, extra wide |
| Power | 1,300W | 1,800W | 850W | 900W | 900W |
| Browning levels | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Functions | Reheat, defrost, cancel | Bagel, defrost, cancel | Bagel, frozen, cancel | Bagel, defrost, A Bit More | Bagel, frozen, cancel |
| High lift | Yes | Yes | No | Motorized | Yes |
| Best for | Sourdough and big loaves | Family breakfasts | One or two people | Toast exactly to your liking | First kitchens and bagels |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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