# Anyone ever owned one of these expensive toasters? Is it worth it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 5, 2003, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-owned-one-of-these-expensive-toasters-is-it-worth-it/217171 "2003-12-05T16:30:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-owned-one-of-these-expensive-toasters-is-it-worth-it/217171/1 "2003-12-05T16:30:43Z")
[Dualit 4-Slice Toaster, Chrome](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/kitchen/B00009NRP4/ref=pd_luc_14_lc_ax42/002-2794233-9573612) $ 320 for a 4 slot toaster seems kind of pricey, but maybe the quality makes it worthwhile. ---
**Author:** ![Daftbugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Daftbugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daftbugger)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-owned-one-of-these-expensive-toasters-is-it-worth-it/217171/2 "2003-12-05T16:35:38Z")
They tend to be for proffessional use, B+B’s and such like ---
**Author:** ![vsquist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/58956e/32.png) [@vsquist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vsquist)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-owned-one-of-these-expensive-toasters-is-it-worth-it/217171/3 "2003-12-05T16:41:51Z")
Get a toaster oven. You can make other things besides toast in it, and you don’t have to cram your bagels inside, only to have to dig them out with a knife. You can also see the progress of your toast, so there’s less chance of having it burn. I love my toaster oven! ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-owned-one-of-these-expensive-toasters-is-it-worth-it/217171/4 "2003-12-05T16:43:44Z")
My ex-brother-in-law has one. He and his wife would swear by it, but I suspect that was because they needed to to feel good about having a $320 toaster. Afterall, the Queen of England has one so it must be great, right? BTW, that’s the toaster I always say I want when I finally convert **SkipMagic**. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-owned-one-of-these-expensive-toasters-is-it-worth-it/217171/5 "2003-12-05T18:22:08Z")
I’ve searched far and wide for a toaster that actually does what it’s supposed to do: brown whole grain bread evenly in one go. I even posted a thread looking for recommendations and all I got were people pimping toaster ovens, which I _don’t want_. I can’t find any consumer comparison reports for plain old toasters anywhere, either. While this doesn’t answer your question, it may save you some futile search efforts. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-owned-one-of-these-expensive-toasters-is-it-worth-it/217171/6 "2003-12-05T18:36:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chefguy \* > \*\*I’ve searched far and wide for a toaster that actually does what it’s supposed to do: brown whole grain bread evenly in one go. I even posted a thread looking for recommendations and all I got were people pimping toaster ovens, which I _don’t want_. I can’t find any consumer comparison reports for plain old toasters anywhere, either. > > While this doesn’t answer your question, it may save you some futile search efforts. \*\* Well, based on the Amazon reviews that’s exactly what this toaster can do and does consistently. This toaster is your answer. The question now becomes, just what a slice of properly toasted bread, delivered consistently, is worth to you? You’ve caught the toaster truck you were barking after, and now that you caught it, what are you going to do with it? Buy it or pass… are you on the edge… or on the verge? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-owned-one-of-these-expensive-toasters-is-it-worth-it/217171/7 "2003-12-05T19:46:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astro \* > \*\*Well, based on the Amazon reviews that’s exactly what this toaster can do and does consistently. This toaster is your answer. The question now becomes, just what a slice of properly toasted bread, delivered consistently, is worth to you? You’ve caught the toaster truck you were barking after, and now that you caught it, what are you going to do with it? Buy it or pass… are you on the edge… or on the verge? \*\* Hmmm…let’s see…$320 or the energy required to reach out and press the lever down for a second time…I’m gonna buy one! Do you have a link to the review? ---
**Author:** ![imperfectionist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e99b99/32.png) [@imperfectionist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imperfectionist)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-owned-one-of-these-expensive-toasters-is-it-worth-it/217171/8 "2003-12-05T19:58:37Z")
For that price you should be able to get a pro unit that has a conveyor belt, and toasts from top and bottom, to toast open face sandwiches as well. Lots of company cafeterias have them. Quizno’s Subs has huge ones. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-owned-one-of-these-expensive-toasters-is-it-worth-it/217171/9 "2003-12-05T20:34:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chefguy \* > \*\*Hmmm…let’s see…$320 or the energy required to reach out and press the lever down for a second time…I’m gonna buy one! > > Do you have a link to the review? \*\* The amazon link in the OP has a link to the reviews at the bottom [Cust reviews](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00009NRP4/ref=cm_cr_dp_2_1/104-5608065-4987915?v=glance&s=kitchen&vi=customer-reviews) ---
**Author:** ![Profane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@Profane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profane)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-owned-one-of-these-expensive-toasters-is-it-worth-it/217171/10 "2003-12-05T20:34:34Z")
I have a Dualit I got at Target for ~$50. It’s only two slice, but they are nice wide slots for bagels or handcut bread. It works the best of any toaster I’ve ever had. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-owned-one-of-these-expensive-toasters-is-it-worth-it/217171/11 "2003-12-05T22:31:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LunaSea \* > \*\*I have a Dualit I got at Target for ~$50. It’s only two slice, but they are nice wide slots for bagels or handcut bread. It works the best of any toaster I’ve ever had. \*\* You got [this](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00009NROG/qid=1070663465/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-9684741-8204755?v=glance&s=kitchen) at Target? I have never seen Target carry this style much less at $50.00. Is yours a different model? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-owned-one-of-these-expensive-toasters-is-it-worth-it/217171/12 "2003-12-06T17:34:26Z")
If your were gonna spend a couple hundred bucks anyhow, I think you’d do better to buy a real restuarant toaster like [these](http://www.gensaco.com/restequip_comp.html). Used restaurant equipment is readily available in most cities and over ebay with a little hunting. The worst choice is the so-called “gourmet” equipment which is usually a consumer-grade product with an industrial-grade price but a very snooty name. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-owned-one-of-these-expensive-toasters-is-it-worth-it/217171/13 "2003-12-06T18:29:37Z")
Dualit is practially commercial grade. They are quite popular in B&Bs because they stand up to heavy use. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-owned-one-of-these-expensive-toasters-is-it-worth-it/217171/14 "2003-12-06T21:31:46Z")
I use the exact same Dualit model at work all the time. It’s fine but it doesn’t work any better than my $20 home toaster. It is nice-looking though. ---
**Author:** ![Taran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Taran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taran)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-owned-one-of-these-expensive-toasters-is-it-worth-it/217171/15 "2003-12-06T21:38:41Z")
For that price, it had damn well better run UNIX. ---
**Author:** ![Profane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@Profane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profane)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-owned-one-of-these-expensive-toasters-is-it-worth-it/217171/16 "2003-12-06T22:09:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bad News Baboon \* > \*\*You got [this](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00009NROG/qid=1070663465/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-9684741-8204755?v=glance&s=kitchen) at Target? I have never seen Target carry this style much less at $50.00. > > Is yours a different model? \*\* Oops. I got confused. My toaster is a Delonghi, it’s my kettle that’s a Dualit. ---
**Author:** ![LordVor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90ced4/32.png) [@LordVor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LordVor)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-owned-one-of-these-expensive-toasters-is-it-worth-it/217171/17 "2003-12-07T02:41:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vsquist \* > **Get a toaster oven … You can also see the progress of your toast, so there’s less chance of having it burn.** The taking twice as long to toast your bread part also helps with the not-burning. Seriously, I don’t think I could wait long enough for toast to burn in a toaster oven. -lv ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-owned-one-of-these-expensive-toasters-is-it-worth-it/217171/18 "2003-12-07T04:25:17Z")
I bought my wife a 2-slot T-Fal toaster last Christmas for about $70 at Sam’s Club. It does EXACTLY what it says it will do but you MUST READ THE MANUAL! The thing actually has a computer chip in it and it “adjusts” (within reason) to the type of bread being toasted. I don’t think she’s actually burned a piece of toast in it yet. (Yes, the slots are wide enough for bagels, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-owned-one-of-these-expensive-toasters-is-it-worth-it/217171/19 "2003-12-07T05:37:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Taran \* > \*\*For that price, it had damn well better run UNIX. \*\* The Slashdotter crowd may very well be working on that. If that doesn’t happen, expect to see the toaster modded and used for a case. ---
**Author:** ![percypercy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8baadc/32.png) [@percypercy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/percypercy)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-owned-one-of-these-expensive-toasters-is-it-worth-it/217171/20 "2003-12-07T08:06:04Z")
I think my sister has a Dualit, left over from her days as a Williams-Sonoma worker. Me, I just toast my bread in the oven. It’s yummy. -Lil