# 4 slice toasters **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 29, 2026, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-slice-toasters/1034240 "2026-10-29T14:17:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-slice-toasters/1034240/21 "2026-10-29T19:52:02Z")
Hehe. I have an air fryer, too. And an Instant Pot. Before you ask, I do use all of them. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-slice-toasters/1034240/22 "2026-10-29T20:26:22Z")
IME (in the US) four-slice toasters can’t draw any more power from your ordinary 15-amp outlet (about 1,500 watts) than a two-slice toaster can. If you are always toasting four slices at once, that’s fine. But that means a four-slice will take longer than a two-slice, whether there are two pieces of bread in it or four.\* So if you don’t toast four slices more often than two slices, a four-slice toaster will cost you time. \*Unless there are units that don’t heat up an empty slot. Are there? ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-slice-toasters/1034240/23 "2026-10-29T20:38:12Z")
> **[Amazon.com: Breville BTA830XL Die-Cast Smart Toaster, 4 Slice, Brushed Stainless...](https://www.amazon.com/Breville-BTA830XL-Die-Cast-4-Slice-Toaster/dp/B00AZY3TFE)** > > Breville BTA830XL Die-Cast Long Slot Smart Toaster, 4 Slice, Brushed Stainless Steel I didn’t realize she had spent that much on it. (I’m sure she found it on sale somewhere.) But she shares my philosophy of buying a tool once if you can afford it. > [@commasense](#): > > But that means a four-slice will take longer than a two-slice, whether there are two pieces of bread in it or four.\* I’m sorry, but that makes no sense at all. It takes a toaster all of two seconds for the elements to get to red hot, whether it’s two or four slots. From there it’s all a matter of how long it takes to get to your desired level of toasted. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-slice-toasters/1034240/24 "2026-10-29T20:45:05Z")
We have a Breville long-slot toaster and an Elite Gourmet long-slot, which is much cheaper. We like both of them. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-slice-toasters/1034240/25 "2026-10-29T20:47:49Z")
A two-slice can put all 1,500 watts of power into a smaller heating element that will toast the bread faster. A four-slice spreads that power (and heat) out to a larger area, meaning that the four-slice will take longer to get your toast to the same level of done-ness than the two-slice. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-slice-toasters/1034240/26 "2026-10-29T21:19:14Z")
I have two of those, one for each house. I paid $15 for the first one about 25 years ago at a yard sale and less than $5 for the other at a Habitat ReStore about ten years ago. Both work fine and are dated 1956 and 1957. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2026, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-slice-toasters/1034240/27 "2026-11-01T02:53:56Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > I use a big air fryer to toast bread and pastries and it seems to work pretty well. Cooks evenly since the giant fans blow heat around. I had not considered that. Maybe I should try that since we don’t seem to have a toaster in the house. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2026, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-slice-toasters/1034240/28 "2026-11-01T04:21:14Z")
I used to toast multiple slices of bread under my oven broiler. It’s important to leave the oven door open and watch very closely. It can go from toasted to burnt in seconds. Flip the bread over and do the other side with sliced cheese. Big time saver if you’re making 6 sandwiches for family. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2026, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-slice-toasters/1034240/29 "2026-11-01T11:26:05Z")
So long as my toaster has a frozen bagel setting, I’m happy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-slice-toasters/1034240.md?page=1)