Best toaster 2021 – for bread, bagels, baguettes, and more
Picking up the best toaster for your home is something you only do every decade or so, so it’s an investment that’s worth taking seriously. We’ve been reviewing the best toasters for bagel, bread, baguettes, and much more to bring you our complete top ten, and many of the toasters in our guide come with two-slice and four-slice dimensions. While they have a very simple job, the best toasters can vary dramatically when it comes to performance. And while every toaster in our guide is great to look at, they come with different settings to defrost, reheat, and even toast bagels.
We inspected the toast from each and every toaster in this guide on both sides for consistency and evenness of toasting, and made sure to test each of them for at least a week’s worth of breakfasts. Where they come with matching kettles we often tested these too, which is why you can often pair one of our best toaster guides with something from our best kettle roundup.
How much should I spend on the best toaster?
Image credit: David Brittain
You can pay as little as £15 for a toaster in the supermarket, but top brands like Smeg and Dualit will set you back as much as £250 for a stylish statement option. We found plenty of great toasters for well under £50, but as a general rule the more you pay the more features you’re likely to get as standard. Other extras can include a wider range of colours and a more sturdy-feeling metal exterior.
Best toaster 2021
1. De’Longhi Ballerina Toaster
Best toaster overall
Slices: 2 and 4 both available
Colours: Green, black, white
Features: Fluted exterior, toasting dial, defrost, reheat, cancel
Reasons to buy: Beautiful design, even toasting, high rise slots
Reasons to avoid: No variable temperature across slots
Quality toasting is important, but the best toaster will sit on your kitchen counters for years to come. Our top pick is the De’Longhi Ballerina Toaster. It has wide slots, levers with added lift, and the most beautiful and high-quality design which looks a treat when sat next to the matching kettle on your counters. We also think the De’Longhi Ballerina Toaster is reasonably priced for how luxe it feels to use. While it does cost more than the Morphy Richards Verve, which is our second choice, its design is noticeably more sturdy and the toast comes out with far fewer lines on the bread.
What we did miss was the ability to set each side of the toaster to different brownness settings, which is something De’Longhi has features on other toaster and is perfect for picky families in a hurry. We did enjoy the dial which sets the duration of toasting time with the De’Longhi Ballerina Toaster. It tactile and gradual, meaning you won’t have to compromise if your ideal slice is between 3 and 4.
Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars
2. Morphy Richards Verve Toaster
Best toaster overall
Image credit: Morphy Richards
Slices: 4
Colours: Black, white, cream
Features: Lift-to-look, defrost, reheat, control dial
Reasons to buy: You can lift to peek at your toast as it cooks, love the look, great price point
Reasons to avoid: Plastic-y design
The Morphy Richards Verve Toaster is budget-friendly and offers a range of great features. We love the levers, which allow you to lift and look as your bread toasts, and the slider dial means you can adjust your level of toasting completely. We tested the four-slice, but there is also a two-slice with the same sleek finish. The Morphy Richards Verve Toaster comes in cream, black and white. It’s not the best range of colours but if you have a neutral kitchen it will slot in perfectly. We tried out the matching kettle too and had few complaints, so if you’re after a matching pair this could be the best toaster for you.
The slots of the Morphy Richards Verve Toaster are relatively wide, and your toast will pop up once done so you can leave it to brown while you prepare your morning cuppa. While there’s no bagel or crumpet function, this option does come with reheat and frozen settings. Simply press these buttons after pushing the lever down to activate, and to end the cycle, just press the illuminated button for your toast to pop up.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
3. Bosch ComfortLine Compact Toaster
Best 2-slice toaster for small kitchens
Slices: 2
Colours: White
Features: Defrost, stop, crisper rack
Reasons to buy: Warming rack, lift-to-look, automatic centering
Reasons to avoid: It’s not a looker
Modern and neat, this toaster is never going to set your heart on fire like the KitchenAid or the Dualit, but it has an sleek exterior and solid build at a reasonable price. It has six browning settings but, as with all the others we tested, we set it to half-way first to see what that produced. And the results were pleasingly consistent.
The two slots are wide and the automatic centering feature means that the all items we toasted – bread, bagels and crumpets – came out with evenly browned exteriors. As with most others toasters we looked at, it has a high-lift function making things easy to remove without getting burnt.
There’s no setting for just browning the cut side of a bagel but as we don’t object to ours gently toasted on both sides, rather than the more traditional one side, that didn’t pose a problem.
On the opposite end to the push-down toaster lever, there’s a switch that controls an integrated rack that pops up that, when the dial is set to two, works as warmer and crisper. This was great for warming and crisping a roll to have with our lunchtime soup.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4. The Funky Appliance Company Funky Toaster
Best four-slice toaster
Slices: 4
Colours: Cream, chrome, rose gold
Features: Defrost, reheat, cancel
Reasons to buy: Even toasting, quirky look, there is a great kettle to pair it with
Reasons to avoid: The colour selection could be better
The Funky Toaster lives up to its name. The controls are appealing, with defrost and cancel buttons front and centre, which make a satisfying click when pressed. The quality of the toasting was seriously impressive. One of the most even in our lineup, with no visible difference between the two sides of bread.
You can buy this toaster in three colours, but we tried it (and loved it) in cream. You can control the dial on both sides of the toaster, so if the Morphy Richards Verve Toaster’s lack of variable settings is off-putting, this one will suit your family’s various toast preferences.
We also really enjoyed the Funky Kettle that pairs with this toaster. It’s reminiscent of the Smeg kettle, but cheaper.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
5. Cuisinart Style Collection 4 Slot Toaster
Best toaster for bagels
Slices: 4
Colours: Rose, pistachio, silver, frosted pearl
Features: Bagel, defrost, reheat, cancel
Reasons to buy: Bagel setting, gorgeous colour options, extensive range of settings
Reasons to avoid: Very noisy when it pops
The Cuisinart Style Collection 4 Slot Toaster is the perfect choice for bagel lovers. It’s a more common feature in American toasters to have a bagel setting, which will toast the inside of the bagel while leaving the outside nice and chewy, but because Cuisinart is an American classic brand, we got to experience the joys of a bagel setting for ourselves. One thing to note is that you should place the bagel with the outside facing in if you want the inside to be toasted on the bagel setting.
Available in some really lovely colours, including rose, pistachio, frosted pearl, and silver, we really enjoyed that you can pair this toaster with either an upright or a pyramid kettle. The two sides can be operated independently, with different timer settings and the ability to defrost one side, and toast a bagel in others. The cancel setting will push your bread up with quite a loud mechanical noise, and we were underwhelmed by the lift of the levers, which didn’t go very high. That said, if you’re a bagel lover, look no further.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
6. Russell Hobbs Emma Bridgewater Polka Dot 2-Slice Toaster
Best looking two-slice toaster
Slices: 2
Colours: Polka dot
Features: Defrost, reheat, cancel
Reasons to buy: Love the look, simple controls, very wide slots
Reasons to avoid: No lift-to-look
We’re a little (ok, a lot) obsessed with the Russell Hobbs Emma Bridgewater Polka Dot 2-Slice Toaster. Its patterned exterior is sure to add a sunny start to your day, and there are matching kettles, mugs and even plates available for those who want to add another element of coordination. The retro-style design is carried through to the rather simple controls, which include a 1-5 dial as well as an eject, frozen and reheat setting. When you push down the lever there’s no lift-to-look, but we did think the Russell Hobbs toasted evenly and were very happy with how it performed in testing.
These slots are extra extra wide, so those who like a wedge of toast in the mornings won’t be disappointed. The dimensions of this toaster are H22 x W17 x D27cm, which is on the larger side for a two-slice toaster. There’s also a four-slice model available for those who want a toaster for the whole family.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
7. Dualit New-Gen four-slice toaster
Best for quality and durability
Slices: 4
Colours: Silver
Features: Bagel, one slice at a time, keep warm, defrost
Reasons to buy: Toasts fast, you can toast one slice at a time
Reasons to avoid: No automatic pop-up
Hand-built in the UK since 1945, we love the fact that each toaster still bears the name of the person that assembled it – have a look on the bottom if you don’t believe us. The price reflects the fact that its makers believe it’s a toaster that will last a lifetime.
While it’s claimed the unique patented ProHeat elements are virtually indestructible, if anything should go wrong, parts are super easy to replace or repair. OK, so does have fewer bells and whistles than other machines, instead priding itself on ease of use, quality build and durability.
There’s no automatic pop-up, although it does have lovely wide slots, you just lower your toast in manually using the lever at the front then turn the browning control to the desired setting and it starts to count down. Check toast is done by raising the lever to expose the toast without stopping the browning process, then lowering it back down if it’s not done enough or turning the dial to zero if it’s ready. There are settings for toasting one, two, three or four slices at a time, and defrost and keep warm functions. It browned faster and more evenly than most other models on test, producing perfectly browned bread in a little over a minute and a half. Most others took more than two minutes and while 30 seconds might not seem much, if you’re rushing to get the kids to school, that could make all the difference.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
8. Salter COMBO-7313 Pyramid Kettle and 2-Slice Toaster
Best toaster and kettle set
Slices: 2
Colours: Rose gold & grey
Features: Defrost, reheat, cancel
Reasons to buy: A great set, reasonably priced, lovely rose gold accents
Reasons to avoid: Large slices stick out the top of the toaster
Looking for a toaster and kettle combo that you can rely on? We can vouch for this one from Salter. For a start, it’s a good value pick. The toaster is a two-slice model with a defrost setting, as well as a reheat and cancel button. We found that it toasted very evenly between the two slices, and because it’s so compact, it slots into just about any kitchen corner.
The kettle is that classic pyramid shape we love. It clicks on with a blue light and automatically shuts off when it’s finished boiling. We like that it’s not too loud, and the line along the back makes it easy to judge whether you need a refill.
Our one reservation with this toaster is that large slices stick out from the top of the toaster, so the entire slice wasn’t toasted. If you have a penchant for rose gold and want a great toaster and kettle set, this is a great choice.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
9. Breville Impressions 4-Slice Toaster
Best four-slice toaster
Slices: 4
Colours: Red, cream black
Features: Keep warm, defrost, reheat, control dial
Reasons to buy: Great value, crumb tray, consistent toasting
Reasons to avoid: Large footprint
This machine’s certainly got the looks and although it has a fairly big footprint it is comparatively light. It still feels well built, though, despite the plastic outer casing, as the chrome accents give it a bit of shine and pizzaz. It’s a great price, too – in fact, it’s a 10th of the price of the most expensive four-slice model we tested.
Easy to unpack, the instructions are clear and simple to follow. That said, there’s not much to get confused about here, as the fascia controls are really intuitive. We loved the fact that the four slots had two different control settings, perfect for juggling the needs of picky family members with varying tastes.
It has a satisfying and audible noise as the toast pops up, too, meaning you’ll probably never need to use the keep warm function. There are the usual stop and defrost buttons, too plus an easy to access crumb tray.
Although it wasn’t the fastest toaster in our test, the results were pretty consistent, although if you’re doing big quantities, swiping the lever a touch to the left after the first batch will prevent further slices overdoing a tad as it warms up to its task. The extra high lift feature meant we didn’t have to dig smaller items such as crumpets out of the slot, either.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
10. Smeg TSF01 2 Slice Toaster
Best retro-looking toaster
Slices: 2
Colours: Silver, pink, white, blue, and more…
Features: Wide slots, self-centering, defrost, reheat
Reasons to buy: Love the look, can take large slices, generous pop-up
Reasons to avoid: Tray is tricky to access
With an exterior that’s pure 1950s Americana – the shape’s not unlike that of a classic 1950s Airstream motorhome – we thought it might be all about the looks with this machine. Luckily, that’s not so.
Although it’s not huge, it does everything you need it to, and it does it all well. There are six browning functions; we opted for mid-way but noticed that once the toaster was warmed up, we could dial it down a bit.
It also has a defrost button so there aren’t any ‘Oh no, I forgot to take the bread out of the freezer’ moments, while the one side toasting function is good for bagels and the reheat perfect for those of us that sometimes get distracted and leave the toast to cool.
The two wide toasting slots were more than big enough to cope with doorstop slices carved from a whole farmhouse loaf, as well as standard supermarket medium pre-cut bread. The self-centering racks keep the bread neatly in place and there’s a generous pop-up so you don’t end up burning your fingers trying to remove small items.
The removable crumb tray comes out from the side, which might be an issue if you’re short on space but it had a satisfying pop-out function.
Ideal Home’s rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Should I buy a two-slice or four-slice toaster?
Image credit: Dualit/Anna Starmer
If there’s just one or two of you and you’re not a fan of fancy loaves then we’d say a simple two-slot model with just a couple of functions will probably suffice. Two slot models are also better if you’re a bit tight on space as it’s a product that usually has a permanent, easy-to-access home on your worktop.
Want to elevate your breakfast game? Take a look at the best bread makers
For couples and families, a four-slot or four-slice model is a better option – ensuring preparing toast for your brood at breakfast-time or simply serving up eggs on toast for two is an altogether speedier affair. If you’re fixated on a particular look, don’t despair, many brands produce two- and four-slot toaster models that look the same.
Why do I need a toaster?
Simply put, it’s a kitchen staple that has been saving us time since it was invented in the early 20th Century. Unless you prefer to constantly check your bread under the grill to see if it’s ready, a toaster really is the easiest and most efficient way to make perfect toasted bread, bagels, and crumpets.
More than 100 years after the first, basic model was patented, our kitchens really wouldn’t feel complete without one. There are hundreds of different models on the market, from simple two-slot bread toasters to all-singing, all-dancing four-slot machines, so we’ve checked some of the best two- and four-slice models to help you decide which one’s for you.
Buying a toaster – what key features should I look for?
Image credit: Lizzie Orme
What can it toast?
First and foremost, of course, a toaster needs to, well, toast. Bread obviously, but also thicker items such as crumpets and English muffins, and some even have warming features for rolls and croissants. If you like your bread thick sliced, or hand-cut then, look for one that has slots made to accommodate any size, with mechanisms that hold bread central, whatever it’s width. A four-slice model with a single slot is a good for toasting pitta or artisan breads.
See also: the best saucepan sets
A bagel-toasting programme will brown the bread just on the cut side but if you like yours crispy front and back then it’s an extra you might not need or use.
Can it defrost bread and keep my toast warm?
As well as a decent variable control to give you your chosen perfect shade of brown, you should also look for defrost and keep warm functions.
Look at build quality and maintenance
Look at the quality of the build as well as the design. After all, it’s probably something that will be used every day so you’re going to want it to last and perform well for years. Easy to remove crumb trays are also important, as is a surface that’s clean with just a quick wipe.
A high ‘pop-up’, which ensures you don’t get your fingers burnt when removing smaller slices of toast or crumpets from the machine is also a good idea, particularly if you have children.
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