Recommend a toaster?

In My Humble Opinion
1

My toaster is falling apart. The plastic handle that you push down to start toasting is broken and keeps falling off. The heating elements are wearing out and no longer toast evenly. And I basically hate it.

Trying to find something to buy on Amazon is very frustrating* because of unreliable ratings etc. and the sheer number of results.

So I’m reaching out for recommendations. Some of my thoughts:

  • I really don’t want to spend more than $25. Apparently you can spend like $500 on a toaster? No.
  • durable, safe, etc.
  • the controls and settings are easy to use and reliable
  • no unnecessary features - like “smart” technology, for Pete’s sake
  • preferably not cheap plastic that breaks easily
  • takes up as little space as possible. I might even consider a one-slice toaster if all the other criteria line up well
  • easy to clean

Any thoughts?

I was looking at this on Amazon:

Betty Crocker 2-Slice Cool Wall Toaster, Black, BC-2605CB https://a.co/d/4sp6mRF

Footnote: Ryan George on shopping on Amazon:

2

FYI, the Wirecutter review site from The New York Times recommends the Cuisinart CPT-122 Compact Plastic 2-Slice Toaster, which is thirty bucks at Amazon. Their other pick is the Breville BTA720XL Bit More 2-Slice Toaster, which is eighty bucks.

3

Hmm that doesn’t look bad

Cuisinart CPT-122BK 2-Slice Compact Plastic Toaster, Black https://a.co/d/9cqlTgh

Funny, both of those you mentioned are Amazon’s Choice options.

The Breville is $80 new but $115 refurbished! Wonder if they pimped that ride.

4

That may not be a coincidence.

5

IMO a toaster oven is far superior to a conventional toaster due to its versatility, so if your budget allows, do yourself a favor and invest in one of those. That said, about a year ago I got this toaster on Amazon to keep in my camper and it’s performed great the occasions I’ve used it.

6

Looking at toaster reviews on Consumer Reports, the 4 top rated models are priced $60 - $150, but number 5 is the Oster TSSTTRJB2S at $35. I don’t see it on Amazon, although they have this Oster model that looks similar for the same price.

Here’s the review summary:

  • Color range: This model had excellent performance in our color range tests, which reflects how well the toaster produced very light and very dark toast
  • Full batch: This model had excellent performance in our full batch tests, which reflects color evenness among all slices in a batch on medium setting
  • One slice: This model had excellent performance in our one slice test. One slice of bread is toasted to a medium brown.
  • Toasting times: This model had very good performance in our toasting time tests. The time it takes to toast a full batch at the medium setting.
  • Ease of use: This model was excellent in ease of use. How clear the controls are and how easy they are to set on the toaster.
  • Ease of cleaning: This model was very good in ease of cleaning. How easy it is to clean both the exterior and the crumb tray.
7

I just don’t have space for one, so that’s unfortunately not an option. Also, my brother uses one and I don’t like the way toast comes out on it.

8

https://www.walmart.com/ip/BLACK-DECKER-2-Slice-Extra-Wide-Slot-Toaster-Black-Silver-TR1278B/20564667

I just bought this from Walmart, and had it delivered for free. So it really cost what it cost, to me.

Wide enough for bagels, but holds thinly sliced bread well, so it toasts evenly, and does not get stuck. Wide range of temperatures, will toast bread light to black on one side of the dial, and bagels light to black on the other-- by “black” I don’t mean burned-- I mean, they are that color on the outside, but are not charcoal through-and-through.

Have not overcooked something to know if the safety feature where it pops up if it senses to much heat works.

Instead of going on, here’s a list:

Cancel button, so you can pop up toast early, and not have to push up on the down slide, possibly damaging it.

Frozen button which, if you push, toasts slower, to allow for even thawing and then toasting

Wide range of heat settings which are reliable if you set it to 2, and it toasts Wonder bread the way you like today, leave it on 2, and it will toast it the same way tomorrow

Toasts bagels or thin bread and neither gets stuck

Is a space-saving 2-slicer

Toasts evenly

Has a relatively long cord, for a toaster albeit, not for a kitchen appliance in general

Feels solid all the edges meet, and don’t wiggle; it just feels sturdy

The one drawback is that all the control buttons are on the same end as the power cord, but this engineering defect is present on almost every toaster I have owned.

You can buy a repair/replace plan with it, although I did not.

It is made by Black and Decker, and they made good stuff,

9

I have a toaster oven, and i like it for melting cheese on toast. But it doesn’t work as well as a basic toaster if you just want to today bread and bagels and such.

10

Thanks for the suggestions! I’ve had good experiences with the Cuisinart brand before so I went with that one. Wish me luck!