So, you’ve decided to buy a 2-slice toaster, but with so many brands and models available online and in stores, how do you choose the right one for you? A good starting point is to think about what you need from your product. There are at least 3 major factors that we need to consider when making any purchase, price, functionality and design. Any or all of these factors can significantly influence your purchasing decision. Assuming you want more from your appliance than the ability to toast bread, where should you start?
Contents
Top 10 Best 2-slice Toasters
Rated on affordability
In an effort to help you with your purchase, we decided to compile our own list of the top 10 two-slice toasters for you to consider. In doing so we quickly realized that this isn’t a simple task. As we’ve already discussed, there are so many things to consider when buying any product. So, when compiling this list of top 10 two-slice toasters we decided to make our selections based on basic functionality, price, availability and perceived customer satisfaction.
All of the toasters in our top ten list are available from a range of suppliers and have received more than 100 4-star reviews on the Amazon website. Additionally, stock was available with options for prime and next-day delivery. We also chose products that we considered to be in an affordable price range, at less than $50. Here are the products we chose:
1. Dash DEZT001RD 2 Slice Extra Wide Slot Easy Toaster
This stylish toaster is packed with features including extra wide slots for bagels, waffles and a range of breads. It has a cool touch lever and non-slip feet, 5 browning levels and a defrost feature. The slide out crumb tray and wipe-clean surface make it easy to keep clean. It’s small, so doesn’t take up much counter space and comes in a range of stylish colors including red and aqua blue. Dash also produce a range of other kitchen appliances in matching colors, so if a perfectly color coordinated kitchen is what you want, then this may the toaster for you.
Pros
- Compact
- Extra-wide slots
- Choice of colors (red, aqua)
- Includes recipe book
- Suitable for bagels
- Made from metal
Cons
- Longer slices of bread don’t fit in the slots
2. Nostalgia RTOS200 New and Improved Wide 2-Slice Toaster
With its stylish retro design in shaped plastic, and chrome accents, this is a very eye-catching toaster. The red is bright and bold and would brighten up any space. It has all of the usual features including extra-large toasting slots, 5 browning levels and buttons for bagel, cancel and defrost settings. It has a unique underneath cord storage space for added tidiness and a slide out crumb tray for easy cleaning, it has been criticized for being more visually pleasing than durable, but if red retro ticks your box, then maybe this is the toaster for you.
Pros
- Stylish retro design
- Cherry red color
- Bagel setting
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Criticized for lack of durability
3. Bonsenkitchen Compact Toaster 2 Slice
This little black toaster is a basic, compact, cool touch, shiny plastic model, designed for small spaces and space saving. It has regular sized slots, 7 adjustable browning settings and defrost, reheat and cancel buttons. The crumb tray at the back of the machine slides out for easy cleaning, and the cord can be stored underneath the machine when not in use.
Pros
- Compact
- Lightweight
- High performance
- Value for money
- Heats up quickly
Cons
- No bagel function
- Burns toast if not on a low setting
4. Hamilton Beach 2 Slice Extra Wide Slot Toaster
With extra-wide slots, a bagel setting that toasts the cut side and warms the round side, a high lift toast boost to make it easier to reach the bread, and an easy clean design, this toaster is a favorite of ours. It’s suitable for all types of bread products and comes in a black and stainless.
Pros
- Perfect for bagels
- Choice of colors
- High-lift toast boost
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Criticized for not getting hot enough to toast quickly
5. 2 Slice Toaster, CUSINAID Brushed Stainless Steel Toasters
This brushed stainless-steel toaster has extra wide slots, 3 basic functions for reheat, defrost and cancel, and 7 browning levels. It is suitable for any type of bread but is not suitable for bagels. The removable warming rack is a great feature, that allows warming of products not suitable for toasting, such as donuts, hotdogs and croissants. It has a removable crumb tray and cord storage for easy cleaning, and a wipeable surface.
Pros
- LED indicators
- Removable warming rack for heating products not suitable for toasting
- Easy to clean
- Brushed stainless-steel
Cons
- Not suitable for bagels
6. Keemo Toaster 2 Slice, Retro Small Toaster with Bagel
This compact stainless steel, retro style, toaster is available in a range of colors, including a charming light blue. Being compact it takes up less space on your countertop and is easily stored when not in use. It features an easy reach high lift lever, one touch buttons for bagel, defrost and cancel, and has 6 browning settings. The removable crumb tray provides access for easy cleaning.
Pros
- Stylish retro design
- Range of colors
- Visually pleasing
- Easy reach high-lift lever
- Bagel setting
Cons
- The setting knob has been described as too “clicky”
- Settings tend to toast on the hot side
7. BLACK+DECKER 2-Slice Extra-Wide Slot Toaster
The extra-wide slots on this Black and Decker model are great for toasting all kinds of bread products and bagels. It is a sleek design, available in black or white. It features cancel, reheat and frozen buttons, a 6-level browning setting and an easy clean surface.
Pros
- Easy clean surface
- Choice of colors
- Extra-wide slots
- Bagel function
Cons
- Criticized for uneven toasting
- Slow
8. 2 Slice Toaster, HOLIFE Stainless Steel Toaster
This sleek stainless-steel toaster, with an LED timer display, is another great value toaster. It has 6 browning levels and a bagel setting. There are buttons for defrost, reheat and cancel, and it features a removable crumb tray for easy cleaning. Holife have a great reputation for customer care, so if you want to purchase from a manufacturer that cares about their customers, this is the toaster for you.
Pros
- Bagel function
- LED timer display
- Stainless-steel
- Easy to clean
- Excellent customer care
Cons
- Surface can get hot while toasting
9. 2 Slice Toaster, LOFTER Mirror Stainless Steel Toaster
This no-nonsense mirror stainless steel toaster is a great find, it comes with an LED display, extra wide slots and a high lift riser lever to prevent you burning your fingers while extracting your toast. It features 6 shade settings and easy one touch buttons for cancel, reheat and defrost. It has underneath cord storage capacity and a removable crumb tray for easy cleaning.
Pros
- Stainless steel
- LED display
- High lift riser lever
- Easy cord storage
Cons
- Awkward cord positioning on front of toaster
- Bulky
10. Oster 2 Slice Toaster, Brushed Stainless Steel
This brushed stainless steel, two-slice toaster from Oster is a great choice for a reasonable price. It has 7 browning settings and a one touch button for toast, warm, frozen and cancel functions. With extra wide slots it is suitable for a variety of breads and bagels. It has a removable dishwasher-safe crumb tray for easy cleaning and an impressive anti-jam feature which automatically shuts the toaster off to prevent burning.
Pros
- 7 browning settings
- Extra-wide slots
- Suitable for bagels
- Anti-jam feature
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Criticized for poor positioning of buttons, which can be difficult to read
- Awkward cord positioning
We hope you have enjoyed reviewing our choices and reading our recommendations for the best two-slice toaster. For more information on any of these products, take a look online by following the product links. Before you purchase, remember to check out the warrantee and return or replacement information, and compare prices across suppliers to get the best possible value for money. Customer reviews are added daily, and prices fluctuate depending on current offers and availability. Also remember to go online and add your review once you have purchased a product so that other consumers can benefit from your experience.
5 Major Factors that We Need to Consider
Price
If price is the determining factor, set a budget. Then, if you’re shopping online you can easily type in search criteria to find a range of products in your price range. The ease of online shopping will allow you to further refine your search selection and compare the availability and price of the same product across a number of potential suppliers. Even if you decide to purchase from a store, you have the option of doing your research online beforehand, to ensure that you get the best deal.
Functionality
If functionality is your main concern, then determine which features matter to you. Consider ease of operation and safety features such as auto slice pop up, to prevent burning, and self-centering racks which ensure even toasting on both sides of the bread.
Some toasters have high-lift levers so that you don’t burn your fingers when getting the toast out. Most toasters will have a number of browning levels and a range of pre-set programs. Typically, you can expect a cancel button, but many also have special features for reheating or defrosting.
Think about whether you need adjustable width, or extra-wide slots for bagels, artisan breads, waffles or buns, toasters will all make toast, but many do not have wide enough slots to accommodate bagels or thicker bread products.
Cleaning and storage are also important features to consider. The size of your toaster will determine how much space it takes up on your countertop and in your cabinet, and an easy storage space for the cord can help keep your kitchen space clean and tidy. A crumb drawer will help catch crumbs that fall through the slots, some are removable and dishwasher safe, but not all. If these features are important for you the read the specifications carefully before you make a purchase.
Durability will be affected by the quality of the materials used to make the product, most two-slice toasters are made from a durable plastic or stainless steel. Consider whether the product comes with a manufacturer’s warrantee and compare the warrantees in terms of length and types of cover. If your product fails after a few months what type of cover will you get from your supplier or manufacturer?
So, when you’re considering functionality, you are determining how you want the product to work in your environment, and how you are going to find a product that is going to function effectively for the longest possible time. It’s about locating the most appropriate product to fit your needs.
Design
You may be more concerned about aesthetics, or how your product will look in your home or work setting. Do you have a particular style of décor, such as the “retro” style which has become popular over the last couple of decades, that you want your product to fit in with? Do you want a specific shape or color? Do you need a particular size, such as a compact model designed to maximize space usage?
Toasters are now available in a wide range of shapes, colors and styles, made from different materials. Many have attractive features that are not necessarily functional but will look great in your space. If these things are your priority then be clear about how you want your toaster to look in terms of color, size, shape and style, and search for your product on that basis.
The range of available products is vast, you can even buy toasters that produce toast with images on. There are lots of novelty products like these available, so if “Star Wars” or “Mickey Mouse” toast is what you want, then there are products out there to meet your needs.
Ethical Purchasing
Something else that is important to consider is being an “ethical” or “conscious” purchaser. As 21st century consumers we all have a responsibility to think about the consequences of our purchasing decisions. It is definitely possible to bring about social change through conscientious consumerism. Our decisions as consumers can and do impact the environment, ecology, society and politics, and as such knowing who manufacturers are, how their products are made and where they stand on these issues is very important.
If a manufacturer is known to make efforts to reduce their carbon footprint and support environmental or ecological concerns, then perhaps we should consider making our purchase from them, even if the cost of doing so is slightly higher. Think about where your manufacturer is located and consider how they treat their workforce. Find out if they pay fair wages, provide safe working conditions, stand up for equality and make business decisions that respect human rights.
Ethical Companies
If you think all of this sounds like a lot of work, and all you really want to do is quickly purchase a functional two-slice toaster, then don’t despair. You can do so very easily on websites like Amazon, which will offer a huge range of suppliers and products to choose from.
It isn’t always easy to identify which companies are and aren’t ethical, or to access information about how they do business, but if you are concerned about these things there are many socially and politically active groups that spend a great deal of time and energy doing precisely this kind of research on behalf of consumers. You only have to do a simple search on the internet to find lists of companies who are considered the most ethical in terms of their business practices. Obviously, as consumers we have the right to purchase how we see fit but supporting companies that are trying to make a difference to society, ecology and the environment seems like the right way to go.
How to Choose the Best 2-slice Toaster
It’s pretty clear that “best” is a relative term. The best two-slice toaster for a student’s dorm room may look very different from the best two-slice toaster for a busy family, or a staff kitchen. It’s all about finding the right product for the situation.
In addition to finding the right product to meet your needs, you will need to consider availability. Are you able to find the product you want easily in a store, or will you need to purchase it online and have it delivered? If so, is it in stock and readily available for purchase? Will there be any delivery costs, and what options will you have if you decide you don’t like the product, or you discover that it’s faulty or damaged on delivery. Always make sure you check out the return or refund policy, wherever you decide to purchase your product, before you make a purchase.
Take time to read product reviews written by people who’ve already purchased the product. There are many available online, where customers can rate a product on all of the features we have discussed in this article. Customer reviews are an invaluable source of information about the functionality and design of products. A customer who has taken the time to review a product will typically provide honest feedback about their experience. You are likely to find comments on every aspect of a product, from its value for money, to whether it was delivered in a timely fashion, or whether the company honored their refund or replacement policy. Comments about whether the color was as advertised, or whether the mechanisms work smoothly, and feedback about the quality of materials or functionality of the product. Use this valuable source of information to inform yourself before you make a purchase.
Buying guides and best product lists are readily available online and are another great source of information. Typically, they are written by independent consumer organizations, publications and consumer watchdogs, so are impartial and can be relied upon to give honest feedback. Decide what “best” means for you, and what you are looking for, then choose a product that you think will meet your specifications. Finally, do some simple research for that product online to find customer and product reviews to get feedback.
FAQs
How will I know if my product is recyclable?
Products that are recyclable will have the internationally recognizable symbol for recycling on them.
What should I do if I’m not satisfied with my product?
Before you purchase check out the refund/exchange policy from your seller.
Where do I start looking for the product I want?
Identify the most important feature for you, and do an internet search using those key words, for example “cheap toaster”, “best two-slice toaster”, “pink toaster”
Will all of these toasters fit a bagel or thicker bread?
Yes, all of the toasters will fit an average size bagel or thicker piece of bread
What if I need a toaster with more than 2 slots?
Many of the toasters we reviewed have a sibling model that provides all the same features with more room for more slices of toast.
Conclusion
In summary, be clear about what it is that you need and want from your toaster, be clear about your budget, try to research your manufacturers and suppliers so that you can be mindful of the wider impact of your purchasing decision. Decide what matters to you most and do your research to make sure that you are getting the most for your money. Choose a manufacturer that is going to honor your purchase if things go wrong and choose a supplier that will take responsibility for any difficulties that may arise during the delivery process. Read reviews from other consumers, and don’t be afraid to ask questions before making your purchase.
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