Best Toasters For the Perfect Morning Toast

A breakfast of delicious, golden toast is a great way to start the day. But which toaster model is the best? Prices range from under $20 to $200 or more. A variety of options from manufacturers including Betty Crocker, Breville, Cuisinart, Hamilton Beach, Black & Decker and more are available. Today, consumers can also pick up so-called smart toasters designed to offer intelligent toasting of bread, bagels, and more.

To make choosing a new toaster as easy as possible, we’ve whittled down a list of dozens of potential options to highlight four top-rated models. Each ideal for making the perfect morning toast, prices start at just $19. We’ll also delve into costlier smart toasters and stylish options for when high-tech functionality and handsome looks are similarly important factors in the toaster-buying process.

If it’s outstanding value for money that you’re searching for, look no further than the Black & Decker TR1278B-T Two-Slice Toaster. Costing a little under $19, it’s one of the cheapest toasters currently on the market. Better known for its power tools, Black & Decker may not be immediately familiar to many people as an appliance brand.

Still, the TR1278B-T is an excellent option for those seeking a solid two-slice toaster on a budget. It’s currently rated 4.7 out of 5 stars by over 250 customers on the manufacturer’s website. Features include self-adjusting guides, extra-wide slots, and a drop-down crumb tray. Finished in black with stainless steel accents, a red version is also available for an additional $5.

Given the general simplicity of the toast-making process, a so-called smart toaster may seem like overkill. In reality, though, there’s much to be said for any toaster that boasts a touchscreen control panel. Enter the Revolution InstaGLO R180 Toaster.

At $300, it’s definitely not cheap. However, a total of 63 precise settings for toasting bagels, muffins, waffles, pastries, and more isn’t to be sniffed at. The toaster’s integrated InstaGLO element also means that the Revolution R180 heats up faster than any other product on this list.

Easily set in just three quick taps, Revolution calls the R180 the world’s most versatile toaster, and it’s hard to disagree. When it’s not in use, the Revolution InstaGLO R180’s screen also doubles up as a handy means of displaying the current time and date.

Luxury appliance brand Smeg is best known for its colorful refrigerators and stand mixers. However, the company also produces a wide variety of other products, including toasters. Both two- and four-slice models are available, and it’s the classic two-slice Smeg toaster that’s our favorite when it comes to something truly stylish.

Best of all, over a dozen colors and finishes are available. Right now, these include pastel blue, pink, cream, and rose gold, each perfectly complementing the 1950s-style appearance of the best-selling $180 Smeg toaster. Perfect for matching to other appliances, Smeg or otherwise, the sturdy two-slice model is compact and efficient, easily set using a simple numbered dial.

Finally, and where all-around ability is most important, the $70 Cuisinart Long Slot Toaster has to be the pick of the bunch. Offering great value from a top brand, it’s also highly versatile and boasts a variety of practical settings and easy-to-read controls.

Bearing the model number CPT-2500, two oversized slots allow toast fans to prepare slices of bread from larger or unusual-shaped loaves. Alternatively, four pieces from a regular loaf will fit, offering four-slice toasting capabilities in a more compact—albeit slightly elongated—two-slice design.

With that, it’s not just the best overall toaster; it’s the best four-slice toaster, too.

With it possible to spend as much as $300 on today’s latest toasters, an appliance warranty is advisable. It’s easy to underestimate the importance of protecting small kitchen appliances. They are some of the most widely utilized pieces of equipment in our homes. So, if an appliance like a toaster, microwave, or coffee maker fails, it can be a considerable inconvenience.

The good news is that, with Upsie, a range of comprehensive, low-cost, easy-to-understand extended warranties is available for both small and major appliances. Three-year toaster warranty packages, for example, start at under $11. They include protection against manufacturer defects, mechanical faults, power failures, and more.

With no deductible to pay in the event of a claim, local repairs are covered in full, including all parts and labor charges. Typically costing around 70 percent less than in-store warranties and those sold by manufacturers, Upsie cuts out the middleman and passes on the savings to consumers.

Policies are available for a range of small appliances including:

Buyers can also secure protection for major appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, ovens, washers, and dryers. Simply visit Upsie.com or download the Upsie smartphone app for iOS and Android devices to get started.