Looking for a 2 or 4 slot popup unit that does a decent job toasting both sides of a slice of bread evenly. Bought one recommended by CR a while ago but they either didn’t test it or mine’s defective cause when one side’s browned, the other’s still white! Would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.

We have a Breville. Works well.

The stainless steel Cuisinart 2-slot we've had for several years has been terrific.

Second chellim1, Breville 4-slot. Not inexpensive, but toasts reliably on both sides, different sizes of bread.

Despite all the electronic controls, they seem to last 7 years or so.

Thanks. When I go to the Breville website it shows 7 different models, some 2-slot and some 4. Which one(s) do you guys have?

Krups toaster, I had one. Be aware, the toaster might throw the toast in the air. Scared the GF.

quote:

Originally posted by GWbiker:
Krups toaster, I had one. Be aware, the toaster might throw the toast in the air. Scared the GF.

Had/have one. It's in for warranty repair after 6 months with use maybe 3x week 4 slices. We'll see how they respond to the warranty.

I'm following this because I need one myself. The biggest issue with mine is unless the slice of bread is quite large the top of it doesn't raise above the top of the toaster when done so I have to unplug the thing and try to spear it out with a fork.

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:
I'm following this because I need one myself. The biggest issue with mine is unless the slice of bread is quite large the top of it doesn't raise above the top of the toaster when done so I have to unplug the thing and try to spear it out with a fork.

My half-working toaster has the same problem with “buried” slices, but I can give the handle a quick upward push when it’s done and it’ll fling the toast upward high enough to grab it above the slot.

 
Breville here as well. Ours has a "bagel" button for toasting one side only, which is how I use it most for English Muffins. The wife makes regular bread toast, and it does both sides the same.

I have a Cuisinart 4 slice toaster and it's pretty good but I certainly wouldn't call it the best toaster out there.

My “toaster” is a Breville Smart Grill:

www.amazon.com/dp/B003SIN0BC/r..._api_i_m-2tDbHFPZ10H

I’ve had it for years. It toasts up to four slices of bread (both sides) at a time. Especially good for dense breads that give ordinary toasters trouble. Or, opened up, up to eight slices of bread (one side at a time). It’ll also toast panini, grilled cheese sandwiches, etc. And I can bake a single 2oz piece of cornbread, when I want one, in about 4 minutes (Marie Callender cornbread mix). Flat plates top and bottom. An irregular blob of stiff dough produces a smooth oval piece of cornbread. I use nonstick aluminum foil for this operation.

It’ll also cook steaks, chops, sausages, burger patties, etc. from both top and bottom – VERY fast.

And bacon! I put a ribbed plate on the bottom (the grease drains away in its groves). Put the bacon in cold, set the temp to 410 °F. 4-1/2 minutes after set temperature is achieved, the bacon is baked crispy, and utterly flat.

Design, material, and construction are top notch. The Breville holds its own among my Swiss and German kitchen appliances.

In working position it takes some counter space (especially when opened up to create a LOT of griddle surface). But closed, and stood up on its back legs, about the same space as a four-slot pop up toaster.

Comes with one ribbed plate and one flat plate, each of which can be put in top or bottom position. I have an extra pair for complete flexibility. Heating elements are imbedded in the removable plates for fast heating and precise temperature control. 1800W. Put the plates in the sink and apply detergent and scrub brush for fast cleanup.

Best appliance ever to reheat pizza. Flat plate on the bottom, then set the built-in hold-up mechanism to hover the top plate slightly above the pizza.

A very versatile appliance. I could go on for awhile…

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Pipe Smoker,

^^^^^^^^^. I have the same Breville Smart Grill. We have 5 or 6 in the family.

I use it almost every day.

I have the Breville Die-Cast 4-Slice Smart Toaster, not the toaster oven.

They don't make 'em like they used to. Not sure what we'd get if this unit took a dump....

Guess we've been lucky. Our Kenmore KTES4 long slot 4-slice toaster continues to hum along with daily use after well over 2 decades of use. Toasts both sides evenly. Handles bagels or frozen items without issues. Nice adjustable toasting control. Easy to remove and clean crumb tray.

Looked for a vintage picture online. Found this 2000 newspaper ad:



And this from another site:

I used to have a really cheap toaster. I think I bought it at K-Mart around 2001 for cheap. If you looked inside, the heating wires were ‘crinkled’, not smooth, and very thick. They were also spaced very closely, and had a reflective board they were wrapped around. I threw it out because my wife (when we first moved in together) has a really fancy toaster that I thought was cool. It sucked and I wish I had kept my cheap toaster.

I am also in the market for a toaster, but I will only buy one based on how the heating wires are on the inside.

Thinking about it, makes me want to get a cheap toaster and re-string the heating wires with something thicker and crinkled, spaced closely. When my wife posts that my house burned down, you know my toaster project failed.

Here’s a pretty interesting article in toasters:

Link to Article

There are lots of “vintage toasters” on eBay, including a brand new NOS (new in the box but vintage)1960’s era toaster.

I don’t have a traditional toaster, I think I’ll peruse the Estate Sales locally and see if I can find a good old one. Ya never know.

I wish speed was a toaster metric. One thing I really like about my panasonic oven is that it only takes 3 minutes to toast on the dark setting. Prior toaster took about 6-7 minutes for similar toast.

My folks replaced the toaster they lost in a flood in 1955. It was still working well in the early 90s when I had to clear out their estate.

One of those 'shouldda kept it' things....

Seems like I'm having to find a replacement every few years regardless of what gem I think I've found next.