\n<\/p>\n
Few foods are as moreish as a perfectly golden slice of toast: hot, crunchy and preferably buttery. There\u2019s a reason why toast remains a favourite breakfast option, second only to cereal.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n The Guardian\u2019s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link.\u00a0Learn more.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n And yet you probably give no more thought to your toaster than your kettle. However, unlike the kettle, there is greater room for error when it comes to toasting bread. No one ever discarded their over-boiled water on to the compost heap, but many burnt slices of toast have ended up with the peelings.<\/p>\n Not only should a good-quality toaster suit your bread of choice \u2013 whether that\u2019s thick, rustic slices, bagels, crumpets or basic white bread \u2013 the best toasters can also save time, money and waste.<\/p>\n \u00a359 at John Lewis\u00a349.99 at Amazon\u00a3220 at John Lewis\u00a369.99 at Knees Home & Electrical\u00a3159.99 at Amazon<\/p>\n Although I am a porridge person during the week, at the weekend there\u2019s nothing I like better than toast, bagels, English muffins and all the other good things that pop out of my toaster. So I relished the opportunity to test toasters, even if it meant sparking a one-woman bread shortage at my local Lidl. I\u2019ve tested plenty of toasters during my 15 years as a professional product tester. I\u2019ve tried everything, from those that gently rise to greet you with steaming golden slices to models that attempt new world records in distance pinged across the room. Consider this article my toast to toast.<\/p>\n <\/span>Basic sliced white and toastie bread, bagels and crumpets were all used to test each toaster\u2019s performance.<\/span> Photograph: Rachel Ogden\/The Guardian<\/p>\n Think back to when you bought your last toaster and the acrid smell of its first use as the coating burned off the element. Multiply that by 13, and you\u2019ll have an idea of the fug that filled my kitchen before testing these toasters. The fumes made my eyes water, and set off my smoke alarm. Fanning the fumes out of my front door, I had to shout at confused neighbours that it was \u201cjust all the toasters\u201d, and that nothing was on fire.<\/p>\n To make it as equal a contest as possible, I tested each toaster from cold with two slices of basic white bread (12 x 11cm) for up to three minutes on its level three \u2013 which is often the middle setting (manually popping up if necessary). While still hot, I then toasted another two slices to see how consistently the bread toasted when the toaster was used concurrently. If toast began to blacken, it was ejected before that occurred, and the time spent toasting was recorded.<\/p>\n Using the same parameters, I then toasted bagels, noting the width of slots and ease of retrieval, followed by taller \u201ctoastie\u201d bread (13 x 10.5cm), comparing the height of the slots to the slices and measuring the consistency of browning to the top.<\/p>\n For crumpets, I chose level four on each toaster for up to four minutes, and noted whether I needed tongs to retrieve them afterwards (once the toaster was safely switched off, of course). I also used defrost settings to toast frozen bread straight from the freezer, noting if there was any difference in colour compared with fresh bread using the same browning level.<\/p>\n <\/span>Crumbs! Our tester got through several loaves of bread.<\/span> Photograph: Rachel Ogden\/The Guardian<\/p>\n For each of these tests, I scored the toaster out of five, using the total score to determine its selection here. Two of the toasters had bun warmers: I tested these to see how well heat penetrated items on the rack, but the results were not factored into the overall score.<\/p>\n I tested 13 toasters. Those I tried but haven\u2019t included are: the Daewoo Sage Green Cascade two-slice toaster, which is best for smaller items as its 11cm slots meant even the tops of standard slices remained pale; Swan\u2019s Windsor two-slice textured toaster, which, although affordable, toasted slowly and made retrieving bread difficult; and the Breville Edge silver four-slice toaster, a long-slot toaster that tended to blacken slices unevenly, while leaving tops pale.<\/p>\n Those that I\u2019ve recommended have been chosen for their consistency and ease of use. Value for money has also been considered, as well as build quality. All samples tested have been returned to their supplier or donated to charity.<\/p>\n <\/span>\u2018The high heat worked well for crumpets\u2019: the Russell Hobbs Bront\u00eb 2S toaster.<\/span> Photograph: Rachel Ogden\/The Guardian<\/p>\n <\/span> Photograph: Rachel Ogden\/The Guardian\u00a359 at John Lewis\u00a359.99 at De\u2019Longhi<\/p>\n Seriously gorgeous, and available in a choice of five subtle shades (with matching plug and flex), you may wonder if the Ballerina Seta toaster is all style without substance. Fortunately, it isn\u2019t: it has everything you need to make breakfast go smoothly, including a handy reheat if your toast has gone cold, consistent browning performance, and a high lift for plucking out small items, even crumpets.<\/p>\n Why we love it It\u2019s a shame that \u2026 <\/strong>there might be two pairs of slots, but there\u2019s only one set of controls.<\/p>\n Height\/width of slots:<\/strong> 14cm x 3cm (HW) <\/span> Photograph: Rachel Ogden\/The Guardian\u00a349.99 at John Lewis\u00a349.99 at Amazon<\/p>\n Easy on the eye and with a charming moniker to boot, the Bront\u00eb 2S\u2019s fluted exterior is sure to appeal to those who like attractive design without blowing the budget. There\u2019s no compromise on useful features either, with reheat and defrost options, a lift and look feature so you can check on progress without cancelling toasting, and a high lift for retrieving smaller items.<\/p>\n Why we love it It\u2019s a shame that \u2026 <\/strong>the slots aren\u2019t deep enough for tall bread \u2013 about an inch of toastie bread stuck out of the top, while standard slices didn\u2019t toast right at the top.<\/p>\n Height\/width of slots:<\/strong> 12.8 x 3cm (HW) <\/span> Photograph: Rachel Ogden\/The Guardian\u00a3220 at John Lewis<\/p>\n Handmade in the UK and fully repairable, Dualit\u2019s NewGen works a little differently from the toasters you might be used to. Not only can you select how many of its four slots you heat (so that you don\u2019t waste energy on those you\u2019re not using), but it also uses a mechanical rotary timer that ticks down to when toast is ready. A manual eject lever allows you to lift slices easily to check on progress.<\/p>\n Why we love it It\u2019s a shame that \u2026 <\/strong>it\u2019s the most expensive toaster here, but if you\u2019re serious about toast, this is the one to choose.<\/p>\n Height\/width of slots:<\/strong> 13.2 x 3cm (HW) \u00a369.99 at Knees Home & Electrical\u00a369.99 at Marks Electrical<\/p>\n Bosch\u2019s Styline toaster offers a dizzying nine toasting levels, giving a finer degree of control over your perfect slice. And for those who enjoy freshly warmed bakery treats, there\u2019s a gentle heat setting to use alongside an integral rack \u2013 not just a clever space-saver but brilliant for those who tend to mislay accessories.<\/p>\n Why we love it It\u2019s a shame that \u2026 <\/strong>defrost doesn\u2019t quite deliver: compared with the slices toasted from fresh, the frozen bread had one pale half, with the other unevenly browned.<\/p>\n Height \/ width of slots:<\/strong> H14.6 x W3.5cm <\/span> Photograph: Rachel Ogden\/The Guardian\u00a3179.99 at Lakeland\u00a3159.99 at Amazon<\/p>\n Whether it\u2019s homemade bread or a rustic slice, the extra-wide slots on Sage\u2019s the Smart Toast have you covered: each one is about 4cm wide. And the design has done away with levers. Instead, bread is lowered with the push of a button before rising once done. There are several features for the aficionado too, including 30 seconds extra via the A Bit More button, a dedicated crumpet button and a light that ticks down as it toasts.<\/p>\n Why we love it It\u2019s a shame that \u2026 <\/strong>the slots might be wide, but they\u2019re not as deep as some, which could be limiting.<\/p>\n Height<\/strong>\/<\/strong>width of slots:<\/strong> 13.5 x 3.5cm (HW) skip past newsletter promotion<\/p>\n Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian\u2019s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link.<\/p>\n Privacy Notice: <\/strong>Newsletters may contain information about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. If you do not have an account, we will create a guest account for you on theguardian.com to send you this newsletter. You can complete full registration at any time. For more information about how we use your data see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.<\/span><\/p>\n after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n <\/span>Looks great, and \u2018makes rather good toast\u2019: the Smeg two-slice toaster.<\/span> Photograph: Rachel Ogden\/The Guardian<\/p>\n <\/span> Photograph: Rachel Ogden\/The Guardian\u00a379.99 at Morphy Richards\u00a367.99 at Amazon<\/p>\n Best for: <\/strong>sleek design<\/p>\n The Cassini only narrowly missed out on being in the selection above, its <\/strong>price being a little steep for how well it performed. I liked that the plug and flex matched the toaster and that its high lift makes it easy to retrieve crumpets and bagels. However, toastie bread sticks out the top, leaving the upper inch of slices pale.<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t make the final cut because \u2026 <\/strong>consistency could be spotty, with some slices toasting well and other items less so.<\/p>\n Height<\/strong>\/<\/strong>width of slots:<\/strong> 12.3 x 3.6cm (HW); dimensions:<\/strong> 31.7 x 29.7 x 20.6cm (WDH); slices:<\/strong> 4; additional features: <\/strong>frozen, reheat<\/p>\n <\/span> Photograph: Rachel Ogden\/The Guardian\u00a389 at AO\u00a390 at Next<\/p>\n Best for:<\/strong> country kitchens<\/p>\n Come for the designer print, stay for the performance. This Laura Ashley-branded toaster delivered generally good consistency for standard slices, including frozen bread. And while it didn\u2019t do quite as well with toastie slices \u2013 leaving pale parts at the top and sides \u2013 I felt that it offered plenty for the price, including a high lift and easy to use, foldable warming rack that will fit in a kitchen drawer.<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t make the final cut because \u2026 <\/strong>there\u2019s little guidance for warming, which meant I scorched the bottom of the buns during testing.<\/p>\n Height<\/strong>\/<\/strong>width of slots:<\/strong> 13 x 2.9cm (HW); dimensions:<\/strong> 29 x 19.3 x 28.5cm (WDH); slices:<\/strong> 4; additional features: <\/strong>defrost, reheat, rack<\/p>\n <\/span> Photograph: Rachel Ogden\/The Guardian\u00a3125 at DebenhamsFrom \u00a3149.95 at Smeg<\/p>\n Best for: <\/strong>retro style<\/p>\n If you can tear yourself away from the glossy finish and delectable colours of Smeg\u2019s 50s-style toaster, you\u2019ll discover that it makes rather good toast. That said, once hot, the consistency slides: the second pair of slices I made were darker than the first, despite being on the same setting for the same amount of time. The bagel function worked well, leaving the exterior soft and the inside perfectly toasted. However, toastie bread was disappointing, leaving the top pale.<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t make the final cut because \u2026 <\/strong>no high-lift means it can be tricky to retrieve smaller items without tongs.<\/p>\n Height<\/strong>\/<\/strong>width of slots:<\/strong> 13.5 x 3cm (HW); dimensions:<\/strong> 31 (32.5 including the ball lever) x 19.5 x 19.8cm (WDH); slices: <\/strong>2; additional features: <\/strong>defrost, reheat, bagel<\/p>\n <\/span> Photograph: Rachel Ogden\/The Guardian\u00a339.99 at Lakeland\u00a331.99 at Amazon<\/p>\n Best for:<\/strong> small but busy households<\/p>\n While there\u2019s not usually much waiting around for toast, on some mornings every minute counts. This is where the Lakeland Rapid toaster can be useful. It\u2019s fast: having carbonised the first two slices in two minutes, when I tried again from cold it delivered toast in 1min 20secs, needing only a few seconds less for its consecutive pair. However, it does have a tendency to scorch edges and corners, especially on frozen bread and thicker items, and there\u2019s not enough depth for toastie slices. That said, I liked its wide slots and high lift.<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t make the final cut because \u2026 <\/strong>the downside of speedy toasting is that bread can burn quickly too.<\/p>\n Height<\/strong>\/<\/strong>width of slots:<\/strong> 13.5 x 2.9cm (HW); dimensions: <\/strong>17.5 x 30 x 20cm (WDH); slices: <\/strong>2; additional features: <\/strong>defrost, reheat<\/p>\n <\/span> Photograph: Rachel Ogden\/The Guardian\u00a3148 at Harts Of Stur\u00a3149 at Zwilling<\/p>\n Best for:<\/strong> the easily distracted<\/p>\n A toaster that promises never to burn your toast is an attractive premise. However, the reality of the Zwilling Enfinigy is that it\u2019s fairly slow to brown: three minutes on level three yielded a pale, barely toasted result. Tops of slices also tended to be pale, more so for the toastie bread. I did like the Enfinigy\u2019s gradual lift though, and felt that if the appeal of no burns outweighs the waiting around, it could still be a good investment.<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t make the final cut because \u2026 <\/strong>after four minutes on level four, crumpets weren\u2019t golden brown and still fairly doughy rather than crisp.<\/p>\n Height<\/strong>\/<\/strong>width of slots:<\/strong> 13 x 3cm (HW); dimensions: <\/strong>28.8 x 29.2 x 20.6cm (WDH); slices:<\/strong> 4; additional features: <\/strong>defrost, reheat; bagel<\/p>\n <\/span>Consider the size of your household when deciding on a two- or four-slice toaster.<\/span> Photograph: Rachel Ogden\/The Guardian<\/p>\n While they\u2019re not all strictly necessary, there are plenty of features that will make your toaster more versatile and convenient to use. A must for me is the high-lift lever, allowing you to retrieve bagels and other small items without burning your fingers or reaching for the tongs. Another handy one is \u201clift and look\u201d, so you can check on toasting progress without cancelling the cycle.<\/p>\n For busy mornings, toasters with a reheat setting mean no more cold slices at breakfast, while defrost settings add gentle heating to the beginning of the cycle to thaw your bread before toasting. And for those who like homemade bread or toastie slices, toasters with extra-wide or long slots should be able to accommodate different types of bread with ease.<\/p>\n Other features I consider as nice-to-haves include the ability to add on a little extra time \u2013 for more browning without starting a new cycle \u2013 and bagel or crumpet options that usually toast the top or cut side without the same intense heat as the base.<\/p>\n The best deciding factors between a two- or a four-slice toaster are the size of your household and how often you enjoy a slice of toast. For those who eat toast frequently, or are catering for a crowd, a four-slice toaster is ideal, offering the highest capacity, and sometimes more handy features than a two-slice counterpart. However, if toast is an occasional treat, or you live in a solo household, a two-slice toaster will take up less space on your countertop and usually be more affordable.<\/p>\n For most, the numbers refer to intensity, ie how brown the toast will be, with the lowest digits corresponding to lightly toasted slices and the higher ones to dark brown toastiness or items that need more heat, such as crumpets.<\/p>\n These \u201ccapacitor-based toasters\u201d feature a circuit that turns off once its capacitor (an energy-storing electrical component) charges up to a certain voltage. However, there\u2019s little consistency between manufacturers and models. Less common are timer-based toasters, where the numbers refer to how many minutes the bread will be toasted.<\/p>\n Always unplug your toaster before cleaning. The majority have crumb trays that slide out to be emptied, so be sure to do this once a week if it\u2019s in regular use. Hold your toaster over a bin, slide out the tray and empty it, using a small brush to dislodge debris. Next, hold the toaster upside down and give it a shake \u2013 this should remove more crumbs. Wash the tray with washing-up liquid and water, rinse and dry thoroughly before replacing. Finally, wipe down the outside with a damp, slightly soapy microfibre cloth, paying attention to dials and handles. If you find any crumbs in these parts, use your small brush to remove them. Dry with a towel.<\/p>\n If your toaster is no longer working, there are several ways you can recycle it. These include at your local recycling centre, at stores that offer the Retailer Take-back scheme, kerbside recycling bins and drop-off points. Use the postcode checker at Recycle Your Electricals to find options near you. If your old toaster is working, some charities accept unwanted electrical items.<\/p>\n For more home appliance inspiration from the Filter:<\/strong><\/em> Rachel Ogden has worked as a consumer journalist for decades, becoming an expert unboxer before it was a thing, although she is less successful at repacking. Her home has hosted hundreds of small appliances from toasters and air fryers to robot vacuums, while outside, you\u2019ll find her messing about with barbecues and heaters. It takes a lot to impress her \u2013 many appliances have tried and failed<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Few foods are as moreish as a perfectly golden slice of toast: hot, crunchy and preferably buttery. There\u2019s a reason why toast remains a favourite breakfast option, second only to cereal. The Guardian\u2019s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link.\u00a0Learn more. And yet you probably give<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23883,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[52],"tags":[14547,14548,6985,888,14546,14545],"class_list":{"0":"post-23882","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-technology","8":"tag-bagels","9":"tag-crumpets","10":"tag-favourites","11":"tag-tested","12":"tag-toast","13":"tag-toasters"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23882","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23882"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23882\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/23883"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23882"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23882"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23882"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}At a glance<\/h2>\n
Why you should trust me<\/h2>\n
How I tested<\/h2>\n
The best toasters in 2025<\/h2>\n
Best toaster overall:<\/em>
De\u2019Longhi Ballerina Seta four-slice toaster<\/h2>\n
<\/strong>No matter what you like toasting, the versatile Ballerina Seta is sure to do a great job. Standard bread fitted all the way in, and toastie slices only peeped out slightly. While it wasn\u2019t a perfect fit, the tall toast it produced was some of the best I tried \u2013 with rising heat, there was only a tiny sliver of pale at the top. It also performed brilliantly with frozen bread, turning out golden, evenly toasted slices.<\/p>\n
Dimensions:<\/strong> 32 x 30.2 x 20.7cm (WDH)
Slices: <\/strong>4
Additional features: <\/strong>reheat, defrost<\/p>\nBest budget toaster:
<\/em>Russell Hobbs Bront\u00eb 2S toaster<\/h2>\n
<\/strong>If you don\u2019t like to wait for toast, the Bront\u00eb 2S is probably a good fit: it carbonised the first two slices, proving how fast and hot it could be. I gave the next two slices just under two minutes and was rewarded with toast perfection. The high heat worked well for crumpets, but singed the edges of a bagel: you will have to keep a close eye on it to get the best results, or start at level one and work your way up.<\/p>\n
Dimensions:<\/strong> 27 x 19 x 18cm (WDH) JL says H18 x W19 x D27cm<\/strong>
Slices: <\/strong>2
Additional features: <\/strong>defrost, reheat<\/p>\nBest premium four-slice toaster:<\/em>
Dualit NewGen Classic four-slice toaster<\/h2>\n
<\/strong>This model scored the same as the De\u2019Longhi above and offers everything you could ask for in a toaster, but it\u2019s pricey. The timer gives you a good idea of how long is left on the cycle, and it toasted fairly evenly and consistently. For bagels, it performed of all, with good browning on the inside, while smaller items were retrieved easily. It also scored highly for durability: there are few things that can go wrong with it, and if they do, every part can be replaced.<\/p>\n
Dimensions:<\/strong> 36 x 22 x 21cm (WDH)
Slices: <\/strong>4
Additional features: <\/strong>bagel, defrost<\/p>\nThe best two-slice toaster:<\/em>
Bosch Compact toaster Styline Black<\/h2>\n
<\/strong>The Styline put in a consistently good performance with everything tested, resulting in evenly toasted slices and golden crumpets. And while toastie slices didn\u2019t fit all the way in, rising heat meant they browned towards the top. I also really liked the low heat <\/strong>for bun warming \u2013 although it doesn\u2019t heat thicker items quickly, so you\u2019ll need to flip them over a few times.<\/p>\n
Dimensions:<\/strong> 31.3 x 17 x 18.4cm (WDH)
Slices:<\/strong> <\/strong>2
Additional features: <\/strong>integrated bun rack, warming, defrost<\/p>\nBest wide-slot toaster:<\/em>
Sage the Smart Toast four-slice toaster BTA845UK<\/h2>\n
<\/strong>Sage\u2019s toaster turned out near-perfect standard toast, even from frozen, without a hint of blackening. It performed equally well with toastie bread, but a lack of depth meant the slices poked out slightly at the top. I also liked the slow rise to prevent toast pinging across the kitchen. I was less impressed with the crumpet button, however; it\u2019s meant to work for bagels too, but it scorched them quickly.<\/p>\n
Dimensions:<\/strong> 28 x 26 x 19cm (WDH)
Slices: <\/strong>4
Additional features: <\/strong>A Bit More, Quick Look, crumpet, frozen<\/p>\nThe best of the rest<\/h2>\n
Morphy Richards Cassini four-slice toaster<\/h2>\n
Laura Ashley China Rose four-slice toaster<\/h2>\n
Smeg <\/strong>two<\/strong>-slice toaster<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Lakeland Rapid toaster<\/h2>\n
Zwilling Enfinigy four-short-slots toaster<\/h2>\n
What you need to know<\/h2>\n
What key features should I look out for?<\/h2>\n
Two-slice toasters v four-slice toasters<\/h2>\n
What do the numbers mean on my toaster?<\/h2>\n
How to clean your toaster<\/h2>\n
How to recycle your toaster<\/h2>\n
The best coffee machines, tested
The best kettles to save energy and speed up your cuppa
The best air fryers, tried and tested<\/p>\n