A toaster doesn’t cost much, but a good one can take your breakfast preparation and flavors to the next level whilst saving lots of your time. But how to know which model is reliable and worth the money? Let us help you!
Here are the six most reliable toasters according to our real-life tests.
Here are the most reliable toasters you can buy in 2024:
- Best For English Muffins (4-Slice Toaster): BUYDEEM DT-640
- Best For Big Slices (4-Slice Toaster): Elite Gourmet ECT-4829B
- Best For Thin Bagels (4-Slice Toaster): Geek Chef GTS4B
- Best For Thick Slices (2-Slice Toaster): Whall KST022GU
- Best For Frozen Breads (2-Slice Toaster): Keenstone WT330
- Best For Waffles (2-Slice Toaster): CROWNFUL WT-330D
| 6 Most Reliable Toasters | ||
|---|---|---|
Best For English Muffins | BUYDEEM DT-640
| |
Best For Big Slices | Elite Gourmet ECT-4829B
| |
Best For Thin Bagels | Geek Chef GTS4B
| |
Best For Thick Slices | Whall KST022GU
| |
Best For Frozen Breads | Keenstone WT330
| |
Best For Waffles | CROWNFUL WT-330D
| |
Best For English Muffins: BUYDEEM DT-640
- Perfect for English muffins – four 1.4” wide slots
- Able to meet different tastes simultaneously - four separate control panels
- Highly customizable - 5 functions and 7 toast shade settings
- No sensing of browning
- Wish the toast slots were deeper
If you're seeking a multifunctional toaster that can help you with various daily toasting needs and fit perfectly any kind of slices, we highly recommend the BUYDEEM DT-640.
It has four 1.4”-wide slots, which is perfect for toasting slightly wider items, such as English muffins. You’ll also benefit from the four separate control panels which allow for meeting four different tastes simultaneously.
Compared to cheaper toasters, this model offers more customizable settings and functions. We loved the Cancel button the most as it allows you to arbitrarily end toast cycles.
| BUYDEEM DT-640 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 6.69 pounds |
Dimension | 12.2 x 6.97 x 11.02 inches |
No of Functions | 5 |
No of Settings | 7 |
Highlight Features | four 1.4” wide slots four separate control panels 5 functions and 7 toast shade settings |
The BUYDEEM DT-640 hits the sweet spot of performance that any kind of slices could fit in well, even English muffins.
Best For Big Slices: Elite Gourmet ECT-4829B
- Perfect for big slices – two 10” L x 1.5” W slot design
- Space-saving & a great match with other kitchen appliances
- Easy to clean - slide-out crumb tray
- Not cool to touch
Right from first sight, you can easily detect that the Elite Gourmet ECT-4829B's overall shape is different from other 4-slice toasters. Instead of a square shape, it is rectangular and thin as a 2-slide model, making it a real space-saver.
The extra-long slot design also helps it blend nicely with other kitchen appliances and fits well to bigger slices.
Another notable feature is the slide-out crumb tray, which makes the cleanup a lot simpler.
| Elite Gourmet ECT-4829B Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 4.24 pounds |
Dimension | 16.02 x 7.32 x 7.64 inches |
No of Functions | 3 |
No of Settings | 6 |
Highlight Features | two 10” L x 1.5” W slot design slide-out crumb tray |
It’s rare to find an inexpensive 4-slice toaster for big slices that still gives you many adjustable settings, but that was our experience with the Elite Gourmet ECT-4829B.
Best For Thin Bagels: Geek Chef GTS4B
- Perfect for thin bagels – 5.5” wide by 1.5” long slot design
- Fast heating & easy to control - dual separate control panels
- Nice looking
- Not well-insulated
- The plug and cord placement is odd
Not only looks nice but the Geek Chef GTS4B also features four large-enough slots to accommodate thin bagels, wide pan bread slices, and even smaller muffins - something that we struggled with on other toasters.
It also has Defrost and Cancels buttons, along with dual separate control panels to make your daily toasting tasks more effortless.
Bread slices are toasted super-fast - evenly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Another bonus of this product is that you don't need to clean it right after each use thanks to the removable slide-out crumb tray.
| Geek Chef GTS4B Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 5.67 pounds |
Dimension | 13.08 x 12.14 x 9.02 inches |
No of Functions | 3 |
No of Settings | 6 |
Highlight Features | 5.5” wide by 1.5” long slot design dual separate control panels |
The Geek Chef GTS4B has everything that you’d typically want on a toaster for thin bagels.
Best For Thick Slices: Whall KST022GU
- Ideal for thick slices – consistent performance
- Durable & wear-resistant – high-grade stainless steel construction
- Sleek and modern looking
- The power cord placement is weird
With two 1.5" wide slots, the Whall KST022GU can bake various types of bread, including thick bagels and artisanal bread.
No matter what the thickness of the slide you're toasting, the six heat settings of this model are sensitive, so you can easily adjust it for perfect results.
We also loved the lightweight design, ease of cleaning, and sleek look.
According to the manufacturer, its stainless steel construction can bear high heat and never deform or wear out.
| Whall KST022GU Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 4.31 pounds |
Dimension | 13.19 x 9.09 x 7.56 inches |
No of Functions | 4 |
No of Settings | 6 |
Highlight Features | consistent performance high-grade stainless steel construction |
The Whall KST022GU is the best 2-slice toaster with consistent performance to bake thick slices evenly and perfectly.
Best For Frozen Breads: Keenstone WT330
- Ideal for frozen bread - Defrost feature
- Allow for safe and easy access to bread after toasted - lift lever
- The heat adjusting knob is difficult to read
We loved that the Keenstone WT330 has a Defrost feature that can help you bake frozen bread right out of the refrigerators without waiting.
Additionally, there are 6 heat settings plus Cancel and Bagel function buttons.
One notable feature that we really appreciate on this toaster is its lift lever - which will automatically pop up and lift higher for you to access your bread slices more safely and effortlessly.
| Keenstone WT330 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 3.96 pounds |
Dimension | 11.8 x 7.1 x 7.6 inches |
No of Functions | 3 |
No of Settings | 6 |
Highlight Features | Defrost feature lift lever |
For a 2-slice toaster that can bake frozen bread properly and tastefully, our top choice is the Keenstone WT330
Best For Waffles: CROWNFUL WT-330D
- Ideal for waffles – two 5.5” L x 1.5” W slots
- Great customizability – timer settings from 30 to 210 seconds
- Great dust protection & easy to store – slot cover & cord storage space
- Vague instructions
- The buttons are small to read
This modern-looking toaster from CROWNFUL earns its high marks for a handful of reasons. The most outstanding one is the extra-wide slot design (5.5” L x 1.5” W of measurement), making it perfectly fit different bread sizes, composed of waffles.
While giving 6 heat settings and 4 functions, it allows you to customize the time from 30 to 210 seconds to meet your desired shadow.
We also loved the added slot covers and cord storage space at the bottom of the groove.
| CROWNFUL WT-330D Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 4.69 pounds |
Dimension | 13.15 x 10.35 x 7.83 inches |
No of Functions | 4 |
No of Settings | 6 |
Highlight Features | two 5.5” L x 1.5” W slots timer settings from 30 to 210 seconds slot cover & cord storage space |
As far as 2-slice toasters for waffles go, our tester team has not done anything checking all the boxes as well as the CROWNFUL WT-330D.
How To Choose The Most Reliable Toaster?
Browning Consistency
The most reliable toaster is the one producing consistent browning across all bread slices whether in a batch or in multiple batches.
We tried to find out the toaster type or style with the highest toasting inconsistency rate, but there’s no any. This issue is found in some models of a specific brand.
So, the easiest way to know which toasters offer the most browning consistency and which don’t is to consult customers’ feedback.
Custom Features
If you’re a family of 2+ members who all love enjoying toasted bread for breakfast, then make sure to choose a toaster with some custom features – such as multiple shade settings and functions.
The reason is the taste of everyone is different, and a reliable toaster should meet all of those preferences.
Based on our experience, a good-enough toaster should provide at least 2 browning options, from light to dark.
About functionality, there are three basic options:
- Reheat – to rapidly heat up the toast
- Defrost – to toast frozen bread properly
- Cancel – to stop the toasting cycle
Size
When it comes to toasters, there are two common size options: four-slice and two-slice.
This feature is determined by the number of bread slices consumed at a time – which is frequently influenced by the number of users.
A four-slice toaster is likely to be more convenient for families of 3+ members. These take up more space and often don’t distribute heat evenly at a time. The two inner slots are commonly found to heat up faster than the two outside.
If you want a reliable 4-slice toaster, pick a model with high repeatability and evenness.
The toaster-size choice also depends on the type of bread. Opposite to standard toast, there is bread with longer slices or handcrafted by artisan – which requires a toaster with larger slots.
Durability
You'll want a toaster that's going to last you as long as feasible.
A toaster that is easy to clean tends to last longer, thus those features like a detachable crumb tray will make maintenance easier to hence extend the appliance's lifespan significantly.
It's also worth checking to see if the toaster comes with a warranty and which parts of the toaster are covered by that warranty. Most reliable brands provide a 3-year warranty, while others provide a 1-year and some provide no warranty at all.
Materials are another worth-considering feature for a toaster’s durability.
Glass toasters are known to be more difficult to maintain and have a shorter lifespan than others. So are plastic ones! The winner is metal as it’s strong, sturdy, and can remain a cool-touch exterior while toasting.
Which Brands Make The Most Reliable Toaster?
Elite Gourmet
With over 37 years of developing and distributing quality, easy-to-use kitchen products, Elite Gourmet has been well-loved by worldwide customers who want a faster and more convenient way to enjoy healthy, tasty homemade meals.
Keenstone
Starting in 2015, Keenstone has been one of the biggest manufacturers in Canada and the US for outdoor tools, batteries and chargers, beauty care, and home kitchen appliances. Their toasters as well as many other products are outstanding for top-notch quality and reliability.
CROWNFUL
Crownful is known for distributing top-tier home appliances with modern design and the finest quality that go beyond the basics. They have spent lots of time and effort to thoughtfully innovate home and kitchen appliances - which are also game-changers in modern technology.
FAQs
Why does my toaster only toast on one side?
Many toasters only toast on one side because of the heat radiation from the empty neighboring slot. If you want evenly brown toasted bread on both sides, choose a double-slotted model.
Can toaster elements be repaired?
Yes, it can.
Many internal parts of a toaster can be replaced or repaired depending on the specific problem. In many cases, you might need to replace some components or the whole chassis.
What does the bagel button on a toaster do?
The bagel button on a toaster is dedicated to toasting English muffins or bagels as these two items are thicker than regular bread, so they require longer toasting time.
Is there a toaster that only toasts one side?
Yes, there is. Most toasters are single-slotted, meaning that they can only brown one side of the bread slice.
Why do toasters smell when new?
Toasters smell when new because of the manufacturing process. But don’t worry, that unpleasant smell will fade away after use several times.
Conclusion
With the nuances of toaster designs, choosing the most reliable one can be tricky for some shoppers, especially non-experienced ones. All of our picks here certainly surpassed our standard and real-life tests.
Hopefully, they helped you find the most reliable toaster more easily.
