Best Two Slot Toaster
If you have a small kitchen and limited countertop space, the hunt for the best toaster may not seem like the ultimate priority. Yet there are times that there are no replacements for its convenience—like when you have a kid and that kid decides that bread and frozen waffles and bagels and breakfast 'tarts' and English muffins the rest of the toastable gluten-verse are going to be the foundation of his food pyramid.
BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: BLACK+DECKER 2-Slice Extra Wide Slot Toaster; UPGRADE PICK: Revolution Cooking R180 High-Speed 2-Slice Toaster; BEST STAINLESS STEEL: KRUPS KH732D50 2-Slice Stainless Steel. Apr 19, 2021 Editor’s Pick: Best Toaster Overall: Breville 2-Slice Luxe Toaster ($150) at Williams Sonoma. It’s a lot longer (and heavier) than a typical two-slot toaster, but the bulkiness is for good. Two slices, one slot. The KitchenAid Artisan 2-Slice Long Slot Toaster is an attractive retro-style toaster that's perfect for small and narrow kitchens. KitchenAid's unconventional 2-slice long slot toaster is a smart solution for those who want a toaster that can sit along the side or back of a counter, but still cater to a crowd. The best budget 2-slice toaster: Professional Series Wide Slot Does the idea of spending $100 on a toaster make you irate? If you're willing to sacrifice some of the little luxuries, it's.
For all the toastable-gluten heads out there, we went on the hunt for the best toaster. We wanted to find one well-designed enough to fit neatly into a small space, sturdy enough to stand up to near constant use, and reliable enough to perform a grab bag of tasks ably, whether during a rushed school-day breakfast or leisurely weekend brunch. We also wanted to know if there was there ever a reason to spend $300 on a toaster—or would a $35 one suffice?
In order to find the very best toasters, we tested 18 leading models across the price spectrum—by making a lot of slices of toast, obviously. The toasters ranged in price from $18 to $300, and came either in 2-slice or 4-slice form. In the end we named six winners: the two best 2-slice budget picks, an overall favorite in both the 2-slice and 4-slice categories, another budget winner for the 4-slice category, and a design favorite (you are going to see your toaster on the counter everyday, after all).
Read on to learn more about our winners, the other toasters we tested, and the specifics of how we tested each toaster.
Table of contents:
The best toaster ovens—all of our top picks
How we tested
Other toasters we tested
The takeaway
The best overall 2-slice toaster: Breville Die-Cast
The Breville Die-Cast is an investment, but the sleek, leverless model called to us as soon as we took it out of the box—and once we set it up and started toasting and reheating, it didn't disappoint. Well-built, with a weighty frame and a stylish minimalist exterior, it was extremely stable on the counter without feeling bulky. The toasting slots were generously proportioned to handle both tall and thick slices, and the digital controls were attractive and intuitive to use. It turned out remarkably consistent results during all three tests, evenly toasting each slice of bread, easily defrosting and crisping waffles, and ably accommodating bagels. Some of the little touches that made it even more appealing: a smooth motorized lift that lowers and raises the slices from the toaster at the touch of a button, the sliding knob that sets the level of toastiness and flashes to count down the remaining cook time, and the pleasant 'ding' that sounds to remind you when the job is done—a feature we suspect could be a godsend during hectic morning multitasking. One glowing Amazon reviewer dubbed this model the Cadillac of toasters—and after putting it through its paces, we couldn't agree more.
© Provided by EpicuriousBreville Die-Cast Toaster
$129.00, Amazon
BUY NOWThe best budget 2-slice toaster: Professional Series Wide Slot
Does the idea of spending $100 on a toaster make you irate? Relax. If you're willing to sacrifice some of the little luxuries, it's still entirely possible to get a good toaster: a reliable, everyday option for the price of a few boxes of Pop-Tarts. At first glance, the brushed steel exterior of the Pro Series is sleek looking and feels sturdy and high-quality. It's still lightweight and petite though, should you need to tuck it away in a cabinet now and then to save on counter space. Unlike the other budget toasters tested, the Professional Series browned bread all the way to the edges of the slice perfectly. The extra-wide slots could easily accommodate pre-sliced sandwich bread and thick, hand-cut slices of sourdough alike.
The removable crumb tray is easy to clean, and it took under two minutes to get a light golden brown slice at the medium setting. The toaster has one function we suggest ignoring: A gluten free button. Because gluten-free bread is made from such a range of flours, we can't see how one button would catch the varied toast times needed. Still, beyond that trendy quirk, we loved this humble little toaster.
© Provided by EpicuriousProfessional Series 2-Slice Stainless Steel Wide Slot Toaster
$24.00, Bed Bath & Beyond
BUY NOWAnother great budget 2-slice toaster: Oster Jelly Bean
Though, predictably, the build-quality of all the lower priced models was a little flimsy, the Oster toaster was better than almost all of the competition. Among the contenders surveyed, stainless steel (or faux-stainless) was the default finish, but the Jelly Bean goes a different route: The model we tried came with a curvy, matte charcoal exterior which, though not necessarily high-design, cleaned easily and seemed conveniently fingerprint- and smudge-proof. (And, if you’re looking for a pop of color in your kitchen: Amazon lists a bright eggplant purple as another option.) For the most part, the Oster Jelly Bean ticked off all the toasting boxes with passably consistent sliced bread, perfectly crisped waffles, and golden, chewy toasted bagels. The evenness of its toasting is particularly impressive at higher settings—so if you like your bread on the crunchy side, take note. A few quibbles: most slices come out of the toaster with a little “bald spot” on top—the result of the bread not sitting fully submerged in the slot. And the lever squeaks a bit when depressed. Annoying? Yes. Worth sacrificing the bargain performance? Probably not.
© Provided by EpicuriousOster 2-Slice Toaster
$34.00, Amazon
BUY NOWThe best high-design toaster: Smeg '50s Retro-Style Toaster
We were suspicious that the Smeg toaster was going to be all style and no substance, but we were wrong. Using this machine is like having a little retro Italian sports car on your kitchen counter, with a well-built and expertly proportioned cherry red exterior, a sleek chrome toasting lever that sits in the hand like a gearshift, and a minimalist, intuitive control knob that spins with a satisfying click. And it doesn’t just sit there and look good: after toasting at low, medium, and high settings, slices emerged evenly browned (if a little on the dark side—this toaster does seem to run hot). Waffles and bagels came out with the perfect texture balance of chewy and crunchy. The generous slots can easily accommodate tall slices and a simple-to-slide-out crumb tray makes cleanup easy. Yes, it's a lot to spend on a toaster, but if you have the budget for it and design is a priority, you can feel good about taking the plunge on the Smeg. The Smeg toaster also comes in a variety of colors, including black, chrome, cream, yellow, baby blue, light pink, pastel aqua, and red (pictured).
© Provided by EpicuriousSmeg Toaster
$170.00, Smeg Toaster
BUY NOWThe best 4-slice toaster all-around: Breville Die-Cast
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the best 4-slice toasters are essentially doublewide versions of our 2-slice picks. From a pure design standpoint, we initially leaned toward the long-slot toasters in our lineup, which can pack more slices into a slimmer space and are great if you have a small kitchen or clutter is a problem. But ultimately, we weren't wowed by the performance of these models and realized that, while bulkier, the side-by-side 4-slot design of the Breville offered more customization for families or roommates—if one person wants a bagel and the other a waffle, or if one likes toast barely browned and the other likes toast as dark as a carbon shingle, no worries. The top-of-the-line Breville model is powered with 1800 and can be set to 'toast,' 'a bit more,' 'bagel,' or 'defrost' via an illuminated LED side panel.
© Provided by EpicuriousBreville 4-Slot Toaster
$180.00, Amazon
BUY NOWThe Best Budget 4-Slice Toaster: Oster
The Oster 4-Slice Toaster is our favorite 4-slice toaster at a significantly less expensive price point. Its extra-wide slots easily accommodate whatever you'd like to toast. You can tailor your toast level from light to dark (with seven levels in between to ensure the exact amount of crispness you desire), and the toaster offers options for bagels, frozen items, and reheating. The toaster's retractable cord also makes its a breeze to store.
© Provided by EpicuriousOster 4-Slice Toaster
$79.00, Amazon
BUY NOWWhen it comes to toasting, sliced white sandwich bread is the ultimate blank slate—so, for the first round, we grabbed a few bags of Wonder Bread to gauge how each machine could handle the basics. We tried each toaster at a low, medium, and high setting, got out a stopwatch to measure how long each toast took, and compared each setting for consistency. We also tested the toasters with thicker slices of artisan breads to see how they'd stand up to heftier carbs. To determine the toasters' defrosting and reheating capabilities, we chose frozen waffles as the next marker. Lastly, to evaluate how each toaster dealt with larger objects and sturdier slices (we're looking at you, farmers market miche), we chose a stack of sliced bagels for the final challenge.
Two-thirds of the toasters we tested were 2-slice models: this, we reasoned, was standard, and big enough for most uses. But we were also determined to find a 4-slice model—ideal for roommate situations or larger families—that performed well enough to merit giving up some extra space. We used the same tests to evaluate both size models.
For each of the toasters, we also evaluated the following factors:
Does the toaster feel well-built?
Almost all toasters are made from a combination of metal (these days, often stainless steel) and plastic—but depending on price point and manufacturer, the build-quality and aesthetic differences between models can vary enormously. Before toasting, we held each machine in our hands and watched how sturdily it sat on the countertop: ones that wobbled or squeaked lost some points.
Does it accommodate large items and toast evenly and consistently?
We looked for toasters with slots that could accommodate slices of all shapes and size. We also checked to make sure that, once lowered, each item sat deeply in the slots with no portion uncovered and untoasted. We evaluated whether the machines toasted both sides of the bread evenly and yielded predictable differences when using both the light toast and dark toast settings. If the toaster had a dedicated bagel setting, we used it, though we did not automatically disqualify models that lacked those specifications. Even though we timed how long each machine took to perform the different tasks, in the end the machine’s performance and consistency was more important than an extra 20 to 40 seconds.
Can it defrost frozen items without over-toasting them?
Nowadays, lots of toasters come with a defrost setting—which would seem ideal for items like frozen bread, waffles, and breakfast pastries, but sadly, the results are often either a waffle that's toasted on the outside but icy in the middle or defrosted but depressingly soggy. The goal: finding a machine that offered the best of both worlds.
Are the settings intuitive to use?
Though we appreciate options, we hate redundant design clutter. In approaching each toaster, we judged whether the machines' controls were practical and comprehensive. We also considered whether the interface seemed self-explanatory (good) or would require a close reading of the manual (bad).
Is the toaster bulky?
Even if you don't live in a tiny apartment, chances are your kitchen counter is still valuable real estate. With that in mind, we favored toasters that seemed thoughtfully designed and conservatively proportioned.
Other toasters we tested
Unless you're a brand loyalist determined to have every appliance in your kitchen match, there's no reason to drop $300 on a toaster when a model a third of the price performs better—and a model one-tenth of the price performs just as well.
We looked at three toasters at the super high-priced end of the spectrum:
- KitchenAid Pro Line Series, which we disqualified before even plugging in because it was the size of a SmartCar and so heavy we could barely move it on the counter.
- The Wolf Gourmet 2-4-slice toasters, which we did test. Both Wolf Gourmet toasters yielded inconsistent and disappointing results, especially given their astronomical prices ($300 and $400, respectively).
- The shiny surface of the All-Clad 2-slice toaster quickly became streaked with fingerprints and ran cool, failing to brown bagels at even a medium-high setting.
- The Cuisinart 2-slot toaster wobbled on the counter and felt flimsy to touch. It had a squeaky lever and loose control knobs, and its toasting power was one of the weakest we tested.
- The Crux 2-slice toaster looked nice, but its performance—inconsistent browning and no defrost button—couldn't compete with others in its price range.
- The Cuisinart Artisan left an untoasted white ring around the edge of bread slices.
- The KitchenAid 4-slice long slot never produced toast darker than pale, even at the highest setting.
- The Hamilton Beach 4-slice long slot was so flimsy it felt like we could dent it with our fingernails when we picked it up.
- We also tested the Hamilton Beach Cool Wall 2-Slice, hoping it would prove a little sturdier than the 4-slice in the original test. Sadly, it didn't. Cheap, lightweight plastic actually pulled away from the metal sides when we handled it, and the dinky knob felt like it could come off in my hand.
- We also tested a fun limited edition toaster from KitchenAid's Queen of Hearts collection. While we liked the glossy red exterior and the uniquely long shape, it seemed impractically sized for most kitchens and it took a full minute longer than the Professional Series to achieve a golden brown slice when both were turned to the medium setting—and the Professional Series is less than half the price.
- The Cuisinart CPT-620 2-slice didn't get toast dark enough on its highest setting.
- Black+Decker 2-slice toaster was rickety and also failed to toast anything beyond a light shade of pale.
- Krups 2 and 4-slice were alright with toast, but left waffles cold in the middle on the defrost setting.
- Toast made in the Zwilling Enfinigy 2 and 4-slice did not get as dark as some of the lower price point options, and the interface was a little hard to figure out.
- Cuisinart CPT-142 4-slice had good range in browning levels, but fell short on the defrost setting.
If price isn't your main concern and you're looking for a well-built toaster that delivers consistent results and has high-tech (but not intimidating) touches, get the Breville Die-Cast. Both the 2-slice and 4-slice models of the Breville outperformed similar toasters in the same price category, so choose the size that fits your household needs. If you're looking for a more affordable option that performs nearly as well as the Breville, go for the Professional Series or the Oster. Finally, if you want a machine that has a retro luxury feel and produces evenly browned, if a little crispy, slices of bread, get the Smeg 2-slice toaster.
A 2-slice toaster is a small kitchen appliance that is used for browning bread, English muffins, bagels, pop tarts, etc (recipes).
If you are looking for ways to give yourself efficient and fast ways to prepare your toast dishes, this is your best gadget.
With so much technological advancements over the years, we now have a wide range of different varieties of toaster ovens geared towards your unique needs and requirements.
Toasters make staples and not delicacies – they are just everywhere.
You know why? – because can you imagine your morning without a crispy slice of yummy carbohydrates to break your fast?
Me neither. Mornings are not the best part of the day and the last thing you want to do is ruin it with a defective toaster (source).
What you deserve is an effective and elegant 2 slice toaster that features an intuitive control system.
Being able to clearly see the display screen will let you monitor your toasting process when you are multi-tasking in the morning (recipes).
5 Best 2 Slice Toaster Reviews 2021
1 – Cuisinart CPT-420 Touch to Toast Leverless 2-Slice Toaster
The CPT 420 is how Cuisinart entered the leverless technology.
This one is not exactly your average flashy thoroughbred complete with all of the trappings of innovative technology but it sure is one sturdy toaster perfect for the morning rush.
Mornings are hardly ever pretty and you are better off with a dependable workhorse that helps you get the job done rather than a fancy thing that will slow you down with all its complexities.
It may not come with functions that will enable you to take a peek into your toast mid way but who has the time anyway.
QUALITY OF BREAD TOASTING
The CPT 420 has been able to give a pretty even toast on all sides of the bread. The toasting in this model is quite secure and besides some uneven toasts on bad days, it l hardly ever burn a toast.
EASY TO USE
I love the fact that the Cusinart CPT 420 weights a decent amount and it kind of gives you a sense of quality to the product.
You can easily use the controls by selecting from a digital read out. It also displays a graph in bar form for count down purposes.
CRUMB TRAY
The tray for gathering crumbs is pretty high quality. My only problem is that it is quite a job to remove it from the back instead of the front. The wall gets in the way every time I pull it out.
VALUE FOR MONEY
The CPT 420 is probably the cheapest leverless 2 slice toaster in the market right now. It is quite reliable and adequately handles most of the toasting needs without any fuss.
THINGS WE LIKED
- Relatively good defrosting performance and bagel toasting
- Cool leverless feature
- Churns out bread with even toast
- Quiet and smooth motorized elevator
THINGS WE DIDN’T LIKE
- Leverless technology is more gimmicky than functional
- Lack of consistent toasting between cycles
2 – Cuisinart CPT-160 Metal Classic 2-Slice Toaster
The CPT 160 is one kitchen appliance that will not only perform but also will match with décor of your modern kitchen.
Its overall aesthetics is one feature that manages to stand out.
It will give you a reasonable performance for the affordable price that you have paid.
QUALITY OF BREAD TOASTING
If you are in a hurry, this one is the right choice for you. In terms of consistency, the toast was pretty respectable on all sides of the bread.
As for speed, you will be able to get a toast in a pretty decent amount of time and that is all we want in the mornings.
EASY TO USE
The control system in the CPT 160 is fairly intuitive and basic. When you press any button, its adjacent light will turn on automatically.
As for the shade of the knob, it is quite continuous and does not click into the setting. Hence, this one is a little difficult to tackle.
THE OVERALL WEIGHT
The weight of the CPT 160 is quite light so the lever will have a flimsy feel when you use it.
Setting that aside, the rubber feet make up for the weight department because it does not slide or budge even when you handle it in a rush.
TOASTING QUALITY OF BAGEL
You will get a pretty decent performance from the CPT 160 when toasting bagels but this is quite good because most other 2 slice toasters on the market perform much worse than this in my opinion.
THINGS WE LIKED
- Familiar and simple features
- Classic looking and clean modern aesthetics
- Rubber feet keep the toaster grounded even with rough handling
- Easy to clean tray for crumbs
Best Two Slot Toaster 2020
THINGS WE DIDN’T LIKE
- Relatively low performance in defrosting and bread toasting
- Difficulty in lifting the lever
3 – Hamilton Beach Cool Wall 2-Slice Toaster
The beach cool wall 2 slice toaster by Hamilton has both style and functionality. The extra wide slots for bagels and thick bread slices is the winner.
Accidentally touching the sides will not burn your hands because the exterior is made from cool chrome.
DESIGN
Since this one stands out for its style, it is only fair to talk about the design as well.
The chrome bodied, shiny build gives a classic appeal.
Of course, if you look closer you will notice the plastic trim and the red LEDs but that’s only if you pay close attention. Nothing to worry about.
EASY TO USE
For the price that you pay, this is a reliable model. I have not come across other similar models at similar price range that has a smooth a lever mechanism as this.
But that’s just my personal opinion. Additionally, the crumb tray also glides smoothly in and out.
PERFORMANCE
The toasting features in this model are quite basic.
Once you slide in the bread, you will press the doneness of your choice, press down on the lever and get a consistently toasted slice after a minute or so.
Isn’t that pretty much what toasting is all about? I don’t think anything is lacking in this model.
DONENESS FEATURES
Nine separate rotary dial settings is a lot for a simple and basic 2 slice toaster if you ask me.
The dial selector is quite smooth and you can pretty much hone in on any choice of doneness that you personally prefer.
THINGS WE LIKED
- Consistent browning
- Excellent range of browning with multiple toast settings
- Easily accommodates large bagels and oversized slices
- Can easily grab smaller muffins with extra lift lever
THINGS WE DIDN’T LIKE
- Extra heat on top
- Color settings of toast are not precise enough
4 – KRUPS KH732D Breakfast Set 2-Slot Toaster
The KRUPS breakfast 2 slice toaster KH732D with chrome and brushed stainless steel is decently priced and will give you all the functions needed to make a good tasting breakfast in your mornings.
It also makes provisions for certain mornings when you want your bread to be extra thick or prefer a bagel.
DESIGN
This is another 2 slice toaster that stands out for its design and looks.
There is a unique touch to the curved edges with the blue LED lights makes it easy to press the settings to your liking without any fuss.
VERSATILITY
This 2 slice toaster provides 5 functions for toasting, cancel, bagel and reheat.
You can also get a higher level of accuracy with the 6 levels of shade settings so that you can toast your bread to just the perfect shade as per your liking.
SELF-ADJUSTING SLOTS
The stand out feature for this KRUPS 2 slice breakfast toaster is the extra large slots for thick slices or bagels.
The slots measure 1.5 inches in width and you can easily toast your thick breads easily.
The slots are also self adjusting at a generous 5.75 inches in height to enable you to toast taller breads with ease.
CONVENIENT CRUMB TRAY
The crumb tray slides smoothly whenever you want to take it out for a cleanup. The size is just perfect for daily cleaning without fuss.
With a stainless steel casing, you simply have to wipe it clean with the help of a damp cloth.
THINGS WE LIKED
- Lasts for a decent period of time
- Crumb tray can be easily removed
- Ease of use
- Light weight
THINGS WE DIDN’T LIKE
- Uneven toasting on certain occasions
- Uneven toasting on certain occasions
5 – Breville BTA820XL Die-Cast 2-Slice Smart Toaster
The Breville 2 slice smart toaster BTA820XL die cast is worth the price you pay if a champion 2 slice toaster is what you want besides the added benefit of an eye candy for your kitchen countertop.
Made from die cast brushed aluminum, it is heavy and hence will not budge even when you push it around.
EASY TO USE
This BTA820XL die cast from Breville has no lever.
All you have to do is press start for the bread to lower itself into the slots automatically.
TOAST TO PRECISION
If you find that you toast is a little bit paler than you would normally prefer then the “A Bit More” button will make sure that your toast stays in the slot for a little longer.
You can also check your toast midway with the help of the “Lift and Look” button. Your toasts will automatically come up from the slots for a quick look.
POWERED RIGHT
This is a 900 watt bread toaster that works intelligently with the one touch feature for automatic lowering. It is powered by 110 – 120 volts.
PUSH BUTTON CONTROLS
Besides the “A Bit More” and “Lift and Look” button functions, you also have button options for toast (obviously!), bagel and defrost.
If you have a tendency to forget what setting you selected, the LED illuminating panel will remind you which variable browning option you selected.
MONITOR YOUR PROGRESS
The LED display in this 2 slice toaster also acts as an indicator for the toasting progress of your bread.
You can watch it countdown as your bread completes its toasting cycle.
THINGS WE LIKED
- Consistent toasting from one batch to the other
- Digital controls are easy to read and use
- Automatic lowering of bread
- High toast pop ups for easy grabbing
THINGS WE DIDN’T LIKE
- Toasting takes longer than usual
- Top part of toaster between slices turns very hot
What to Look for When Buying 2-Slice Toaster
An efficient kitchen 2 slice toaster will come with more than just the basic features that are usually found in a standard model.
These are the following features that usually come in a good toaster:
Consistent Browning
Some toastes in the market offer a range of options for doneness. It will give you the freedom to get a toast ranging from the lightest brown to a rich dark goodness (source). This feature is available both in dial and digital buttons.
Safety of Use
We are all busy and rushed in the mornings. The last thing you want to do is start the fire alarm with the smoke from your toaster. Choose the models that offer multiple safety features. Most of the popular ones are the ones with cancel settings and auto shut off.
Easy to Use Controls
The settings in 2 slice toasters generally come in two variations – dials and touch pad. Overall, digital touch pads give a higher level of accuracy as compared to its dial counterpart (source).
Cord Holder
It will make your kitchen counter a lot more neat if you hide the cords away from view. Some toaster units offer provisions for cord storage at the base. With others, you can remove the cord and wrap it up to store it away from view.
Long Slot Toasters
No Automatic Pop Up
Not all toasters offer the pop up feature. Instead, some toasters automatically shut off while others ding once the toasting is done.
Counter Space
Before you make your payment for a new 2 slice toaster, examine the space on your kitchen counter. There are so many nice toasters in so many different sizes so this should not be a problem for you.
The Verdict
Having a toaster at home will make getting ready in the mornings a lot more easily. If you have a small worktop space in your kitchen then the 2 slice toaster is preferably your best pick.
Cuisinart CPT-420 Touch to Toast Leverless 2-Slice Toaster - Editor's Choice
Our favorite pick is Cuisinart CPT 420 because it is affordable yet reliable and will efficiently handle most of your toasting requirements. The last thing you need is a fancy ass 2 slice toaster that slows down your mornings with its complicated functions. The CPT 420 is also one of the few affordable 2 slice toasters in the market that features the leverless technology. The functions are basic and are geared towards ease of use for the customers. A simple touch button will lower your bread and the motorized control saves time.
Product Brand: Cuisinart
Best 4 Slice Toaster Reviews
Product Currency: USD
Product In-Stock: InStock
Best 2 Slot Toaster 2020
4.9