# Please recommend a fine toaster. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 3, 2006, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-fine-toaster/346963 "2006-03-03T21:24:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-fine-toaster/346963/1 "2006-03-03T21:24:56Z")
After about 12 years, my old Rowenta toaster gave up the ghost yesterday. The carriage wouldn’t lock at the bottom, and the element stayed on. I need one that will accept a bagel. The old Rowenta had one long slot for two slices, so it would toast a long slice of a freeform loaf without cutting it in half; that’s not crucial, but it was nice. Many things have changed since I last bought a toaster. There are some new names, and I’m making my own bread. Who makes a great toaster now? ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-fine-toaster/346963/2 "2006-03-03T21:32:35Z")
[This one](http://ww1.williams-sonoma.com/cat/pip.cfm?skus=1219625&pkey=xsrd0m1%7C15%7C0%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7Cdualit%20toaster&gids=e020&cmsrc=sch) is nice, and it’s only $340. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2006, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-fine-toaster/346963/3 "2006-03-03T22:01:15Z")
I believe my parents have this [Cuisinart](http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=103385&CategoryID=7575) toaster, and it makes a very evenly toasted slice. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-fine-toaster/346963/4 "2006-03-04T00:55:08Z")
I love my Dualit toaster- we have the two-slice version of the one **Winston Smith** linked to. if you wanted to be even more extreme you could alwasy get a [Porsche](http://www.johnlewis.com/Electrical/Kitchen+Appliances/Toasters/Toasters/230221706/Product.aspx) Or there’s the other end of the scale: the [bargain](http://www.johnlewis.com/Electrical/Kitchen+Appliances/Toasters/Toasters/230213661/Product.aspx) toaster ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-fine-toaster/346963/5 "2006-03-04T01:20:15Z")
I prefer [this](http://battlestar.ugo.com/images/girls/tricia_helfer/large/tricia_helfer_1.jpg) model. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-fine-toaster/346963/6 "2006-03-04T01:48:03Z")
[Here’s what we have](http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-7/qid=1141436742/ref=sr_1_7/601-9139037-1641762?%5Fencoding=UTF8&asin=B00006GT47). The lever on the right lifts the slices out when they’re done. Never have a stuck slice again! ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-fine-toaster/346963/7 "2006-03-04T01:50:12Z")
Oops, ours is slightly more advanced that that–ours has the special Bagel setting that toasts the inside more than the outside. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2006, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-fine-toaster/346963/8 "2006-03-04T15:19:49Z")
I went through this agony some months ago. I looked at Dualits, but couldn’t bring myself to spend that kind of bread (ha!) on a toaster that gets mixed reviews. I opted instead for the [Aroma Prestige](http://www.shop.com/op/aprod-p17624812-k24-g4-~aroma+prestige+4%2Dslice+toaster-nover?sourceid=13) for about $60. It has wide slots for bagels and artisan breads and a good heat range. Also a button release to bring the bread up. ---
**Author:** ![mike1dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@mike1dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mike1dog)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2006, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-fine-toaster/346963/9 "2006-03-04T22:41:07Z")
How about a [Hello Kitty toaster.](http://www.parkaveelectronics.com/product.asp?itemid=SANSKKT2P&l=Froogle) I don’t know how well it’ll do anything but toast the face of Hello Kitty on white bread, but it’s not too expensive. ---
**Author:** ![MrJackboots](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MrJackboots](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrJackboots)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-fine-toaster/346963/10 "2006-03-05T00:38:53Z")
[Oh! Super Toaster!](http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/oh-super-toaster-029778.php) Makes fresh slices from a loaf of bread and uses an infrared beam to toast perfectly every time. ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-fine-toaster/346963/11 "2006-03-05T02:36:23Z")
> [@dogbutler](#): > > I prefer [this](http://battlestar.ugo.com/images/girls/tricia_helfer/large/tricia_helfer_1.jpg) model. Dammit - beat me! ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-fine-toaster/346963/12 "2006-03-05T04:02:41Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > [Here’s what we have](http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-7/qid=1141436742/ref=sr_1_7/601-9139037-1641762?%5Fencoding=UTF8&asin=B00006GT47). The lever on the right lifts the slices out when they’re done. Never have a stuck slice again! Let me 2nd the T-Fal toaster. I suspect ours is the same as yours, Lute, since it has 3 buttons instead of 1 on the front, but we love it. Paid about $60 at Sam’s, if I remember correctly. I thought it was a little pricey at the time, and was really looking for a 4-slice toaster, but we’ve never regretted it! ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-fine-toaster/346963/13 "2006-03-05T04:38:21Z")
I can’t imagine a kitchen without the basic Black & Decker toaster oven… it toasts, it melts, it re-heats… love it love it love it… ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-fine-toaster/346963/14 "2006-03-05T06:46:31Z")
> [@dogbutler](#): > > I prefer [this](http://battlestar.ugo.com/images/girls/tricia_helfer/large/tricia_helfer_1.jpg) model. I’m sure that one would look good in my kitchen, but I don’t think I could afford the maintenance. 😉 ---
**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:** [March 5, 2006, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-fine-toaster/346963/15 "2006-03-05T16:28:28Z")
> [@DirkGntly](#): > > Let me 2nd the T-Fal toaster. I suspect ours is the same as yours, Lute, since it has 3 buttons instead of 1 on the front, but we love it. Paid about $60 at Sam’s, if I remember correctly. I thought it was a little pricey at the time, and was really looking for a 4-slice toaster, but we’ve never regretted it! I had one of those in the 4-slice model. It was okay, but not consistent. After a year, half the thing quit working. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-fine-toaster/346963/16 "2006-03-05T17:04:32Z")
> [@Winston Smith](#): > > [This one](http://ww1.williams-sonoma.com/cat/pip.cfm?skus=1219625&pkey=xsrd0m1%7C15%7C0%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7Cdualit%20toaster&gids=e020&cmsrc=sch) is nice, and it’s only $340. Ohh… it toasts sammiches! Feed me toasted sammiches! :o :o :o :o ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-fine-toaster/346963/17 "2006-03-05T18:35:56Z")
> [@dogbutler](#): > > I prefer [this](http://battlestar.ugo.com/images/girls/tricia_helfer/large/tricia_helfer_1.jpg) model. Oh, surely [this one](http://www.kineda.com/idols/grace_park/photo3.jpg) would toast your bread. ---
**Author:** ![Idlewild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8491ac/32.png) [@Idlewild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idlewild)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2006, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-fine-toaster/346963/18 "2006-03-05T18:59:31Z")
We have the four slice t-fal. It’s awesome. I admit I mostly love it for the flippers that shoot your toast in the air instead of having to go in after it with an implement and risking certain death\*. Been going strong for a couple of years now. I hope it keeps going. \*Not that I ever did this, you know. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-fine-toaster/346963/19 "2006-03-07T15:57:37Z")
Thanks, everyone! After checking out all your suggestions and several others, we bought a toaster. We got the Queasy Nart that **Cheesesteak** recommended. Even toasting is an important factor. That was the main fault of my old Rowenta. We did a lot of wandering in stores, flipping levers and twiddling dials. **Chefguy’s** Aroma Prestige was a close second, but we don’t need four slots; we didn’t find a two-slot model of it. My wife pointed out some serious drawbacks to getting the lovely toasters recommended by **dogbutler** and **Rubystreak.** 😛 ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-fine-toaster/346963/20 "2006-03-07T21:03:03Z")
Don’t know what a good one is. We don’t have one. We have a Dualit, and I hate the thing. It’s a three-slice model. I’m assuming it must have been on sale (who the hell wants a three-slice toaster? Club sandwich junkies?). You have to raise and lower the bread with a lever. It’s very picky about what size/shape it’ll take: hamburger buns are always getting stuck. It doesn’t toast even remotely evenly. It is utter junk.