Best toaster: which one to buy for bagels, sourdough and sandwich bread
Which toaster to buy: four picks sold on Amazon.com, from a compact Cuisinart to Breville's long slot smart toaster, matched to the bread you actually eat.
In this article
- The four toasters we recommend
- Cuisinart CPT-122: the best toaster for most people
- Breville BTA820XL Die-Cast Smart Toaster: the upgrade for bagels and thick bread
- Breville BTA830XL Die-Cast Long Slot: the long slot toaster for sourdough and big families
- Smeg TSF01: the design pick that stays on the counter
- Slot size decides which toaster to buy
- Bagel mode, Lift & Look and the features that matter
- Speed, cleaning and everyday use
- Don't buy it if…
- Our verdict
- Sources and criteria for this guide
For most kitchens the best toaster is the Cuisinart CPT-122: two 1.5-inch slots, seven shade settings and defrost, reheat and cancel buttons in a compact body at the budget end of the market. The detail to check before you order is slot shape, though: if you buy long sourdough or bakery loaves, the Breville BTA830XL long slot model is the one that toasts the whole slice.
- For most kitchens Cuisinart CPT-122 Compact 2-Slice Toaster, 7 shade settings Budget pick See on Amazon
- For bagels and thick bread Breville BTA820XL Die-Cast 2-Slice Smart Toaster Mid-range See on Amazon
- For sourdough and big families Breville BTA830XL Die-Cast Long Slot Smart Toaster, 4 Slice Premium See on Amazon
- For design or a gift Smeg TSF01 2-Slice Toaster, '50s Retro Style (US 120 V) Premium See on Amazon
The four toasters we recommend
We kept four models that match four different breakfast habits: sandwich bread every weekday, thick bagels and English muffins, long slices from the bakery, and a toaster that has to look good because it never leaves the countertop. All four are sold on Amazon.com, run on standard 120 V outlets, and have a pull-out crumb tray. Where they really differ is slot width and length, and how much the machine does for you. If you are rebuilding your breakfast corner from scratch, pick the toaster together with the coffee machine: they fight for the same strip of counter and the same outlet.
Cuisinart CPT-122: the best toaster for most people
The CPT-122 is the toaster we would hand to almost anyone. Cuisinart's spec sheets list 900 watts, two 1.5-inch-wide slots with a high-lift lever, a seven-setting shade dial and separate defrost, reheat and cancel buttons. At roughly 11 × 6.5 × 7.2 inches it fits next to a coffee maker without crowding it, and the limited three-year warranty is longer than what most budget toasters offer.
Illustrative image- Two 1.5-inch slots, high-lift lever
- 7 shade settings
- Defrost, reheat and cancel
- Limited 3-year warranty
| Type | 2 wide 1.5-in slots |
|---|---|
| Power | 900 W |
| Presets | 7 shades |
| Functions | Defrost, reheat, cancel |
| Controls | Dial and high-lift lever |
| Included accessories | Slide-out crumb tray |
Pros: wide enough for most store-bought bagels, seven well-spaced shades, high-lift lever for short English muffins, three-year warranty, small footprint.
Cons: the housing is plastic and feels light; a recurring complaint in long-term owner reviews is one side of the slice coming out a shade lighter than the other; the cord is short, about 32 inches per the spec sheet.
Who it's for: couples, small families and anyone who mostly toasts sandwich bread, frozen waffles and the occasional bagel.
Breville BTA820XL Die-Cast Smart Toaster: the upgrade for bagels and thick bread
Breville's two-slice smart toaster replaces the lever with a motor: press a button and the carriage lowers the bread, then raises it at the end of the cycle. "Lift & Look" raises the slices mid-cycle so you can check the color without canceling, and "A Bit More" adds a short burst of time when the toast is almost there. Breville lists 900 watts, extra-wide slots, a five-step browning slider with an LED progress bar, plus bagel and defrost modes, all in a brushed die-cast body.
Illustrative image- Motorized carriage
- Lift & Look and A Bit More
- Bagel and defrost modes
- Die-cast body
| Type | 2 wide slots |
|---|---|
| Power | 900 W |
| Presets | 5 shades |
| Functions | Bagel, defrost, Lift & Look, A Bit More |
| Controls | Buttons, motorized |
| Included accessories | Front crumb tray |
Pros: the most control of any two-slice toaster here, true bagel mode, wide slots that take artisan bread and thick brioche, sturdy die-cast housing.
Cons: high price tier with a one-year limited warranty; the motorized carriage is one more moving part that can wear out over the years; slots are wide but not long.
Who it's for: bagel households and anyone who hates guessing between a pale slice and a burnt one.
Breville BTA830XL Die-Cast Long Slot: the long slot toaster for sourdough and big families
This is the same smart system stretched into two long slots that hold four slices of sandwich bread or two full slices from a long loaf. Breville rates it at 1,600 watts, with Lift & Look, A Bit More, bagel and defrost. It is the toaster that solves the classic sourdough problem: the top of the slice sticking out of a standard slot and coming out raw.
Illustrative image- 2 long slots for 4 slices
- 1,600 watts
- Motorized Lift & Look carriage
- Bagel and defrost modes
| Type | 2 long slots (4 slices) |
|---|---|
| Power | 1600 W |
| Presets | 5 shades |
| Functions | Bagel, defrost, Lift & Look, A Bit More |
| Controls | Buttons, motorized |
| Included accessories | Front crumb tray |
Pros: four slices per cycle, whole bakery slices fit lengthwise, the same precise motorized controls as the two-slice model, crumb tray pulls out from the front.
Cons: about 15 to 16 inches long, so it claims a lot of counter; high price tier; it is heavy, about 8 pounds according to retailer listings, so it tends to stay put.
Who it's for: families of three or more, and anyone who buys sourdough, rye or country loaves.
Smeg TSF01: the design pick that stays on the counter
The Smeg TSF01 is the '50s-style toaster people buy for the look and then keep for years. Underneath the curves it is a solid two-slicer: two wide slots with self-centering racks, six browning levels, reheat, defrost and a bagel setting that toasts only the cut side. Smeg's US spec sheet lists 950 watts on 120 V and a footprint of about 7.7 × 12.1 × 7.6 inches. It comes in a long list of colors, which is also why it shows up on so many holiday gift lists.
Illustrative image- 2 wide self-centering slots
- 6 browning levels, bagel setting
- Reheat and defrost
- Steel body, many colors
| Type | 2 wide slots |
|---|---|
| Power | 950 W |
| Presets | 6 levels |
| Functions | Reheat, defrost, bagel, cancel |
| Controls | Dial and buttons |
| Included accessories | TSSR01 rack sold separately |
Pros: self-centering racks for even browning on homemade bread, real bagel mode, steel body, official accessories easy to find.
Cons: high price tier for toasting performance you can get for much less; the TSSR01 sandwich rack is sold separately; glossy paint shows fingerprints and the metal gets hot during use.
Who it's for: open kitchens with a color scheme, and gift buyers who want something that feels special.
| Cuisinart CPT-122 Compact 2-Slice Toaster, 7 shade settings | Breville BTA820XL Die-Cast 2-Slice Smart Toaster | Breville BTA830XL Die-Cast Long Slot Smart Toaster, 4 Slice | Smeg TSF01 2-Slice Toaster, '50s Retro Style (US 120 V) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | For most kitchens | For bagels and thick bread | For sourdough and big families | For design or a gift |
| Type | 2 wide 1.5-in slots | 2 wide slots | 2 long slots (4 slices) | 2 wide slots |
| Power | 900 W | 900 W | 1600 W | 950 W |
| Presets | 7 shades | 5 shades | 5 shades | 6 levels |
| Functions | Defrost, reheat, cancel | Bagel, defrost, Lift & Look, A Bit More | Bagel, defrost, Lift & Look, A Bit More | Reheat, defrost, bagel, cancel |
| Controls | Dial and high-lift lever | Buttons, motorized | Buttons, motorized | Dial and buttons |
| Included accessories | Slide-out crumb tray | Front crumb tray | Front crumb tray | TSSR01 rack sold separately |
| Price band | Budget pick | Mid-range | Premium | Premium |
| See on Amazon | See on Amazon | See on Amazon | See on Amazon |
Slot size decides which toaster to buy
Before wattage and before looks, think about the bread you actually buy. Supermarket sandwich bread fits any standard slot. A slice of sourdough, rye or a country loaf is often taller than a standard slot is deep, and the part that sticks out stays pale. That is what long slot toasters are for. A wide two-slicer can sometimes take a long slice turned sideways, but you will usually end up flipping it halfway through.
Slot width matters for bagels, Texas toast and thick brioche. The Cuisinart's 1.5-inch slots handle most store-bought bagels; the Breville and Smeg slots are a little more forgiving with bakery bagels. Self-centering racks keep the slice the same distance from both heating elements, which is why homemade bread with uneven slices comes out more evenly on the Smeg and the Brevilles.
A quick tip that saves returns: measure a slice of your usual bread against the product dimensions before you order. Almost nobody does it.
Bagel mode, Lift & Look and the features that matter
Three features earn their keep every week. Defrost extends the cycle for frozen bread, handy if you freeze bakery loaves in slices. Reheat warms toast that went cold without darkening it. Bagel turns down the outer elements so the cut face toasts and the crust stays soft. The two Brevilles and the Smeg have a dedicated bagel setting; on the Cuisinart you simply use the wide slots and a lower shade.
Breville's motorized extras are the real step up. Lift & Look lets you check the color without canceling, and A Bit More fixes the "almost" slice in seconds. Are they worth the jump from budget to premium? For daily bagel eaters, yes. For two slices of sandwich bread before work, the Cuisinart does the job.
About that shared outlet: a toaster, an electric kettle and a coffee maker running together can trip an older 15-amp kitchen circuit. If you are shopping for the kettle too, our guide on which electric kettle to buy covers models that heat quickly without hogging the circuit.
Speed, cleaning and everyday use
Wattage mostly tells you how fast a cycle runs. Most two-slice toasters sit between 800 and 1,000 watts; the long slot Breville climbs to 1,600 because it heats four slices at once. In practice the difference between the Cuisinart and the two-slice Breville is control, not speed.
Empty the crumb tray often. Built-up crumbs char and smoke on the next cycle, and they are the main reason a toaster starts to smell after a few months. Never reach into the slots with a fork or knife to free a stuck slice, even when the toaster has just been unplugged, and never rinse the body under the faucet: a barely damp cloth is enough.
Don't buy it if…
Skip the Smeg if you want the most even toast for the least money: you are paying mainly for design and materials. Skip the long slot Breville if your counter is narrow or the toaster has to go back in a cabinet every morning. The Cuisinart is the wrong pick if you only buy long bakery loaves, and the two-slice Breville makes little sense if nobody at home eats bagels or thick bread. Planning to wait for Amazon Black Friday? Our event page explains how to tell a real deal from a relabeled list price.
Our verdict
For most kitchens: Cuisinart CPT-122, because it handles everyday bread and bagels well, takes little space and carries a three-year warranty.
For bagels and thick bread: Breville BTA820XL, the motorized controls take the guesswork out of browning.
For sourdough lovers and big families: Breville BTA830XL, the long slots toast the whole slice, four at a time.
For design or a gift: Smeg TSF01, wide self-centering slots in a toaster you will want to leave out.
See it on Amazon.com Paid link
Sources and criteria for this guide
We compared manufacturer spec sheets and manuals from Cuisinart, Breville and Smeg USA with listings from major US retailers, and we read toaster coverage from Consumer Reports, Reviewed and RTINGS. We paid close attention to owner reviews written months after purchase, looking for recurring problems with uneven browning, hot housings and carriages or levers that wear out. Every pick is sold on Amazon.com in its US 120 V version, has defrost and bagel modes and a pull-out crumb tray.
If you bake your own sandwich loaf, even slices that fit the slots start with a well-kneaded dough: our guide to the tilt-head stand mixer explains which motor handles bread and pizza dough.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 2-slice or 4-slice toaster better?
What is a long slot toaster?
Are expensive toasters worth it?
How do you clean a toaster safely?
What does the bagel setting on a toaster do?
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Emily Carter
Editorial byline of the English edition for home, kitchen and beauty. Angle: what verified reviews say happens after a month of use, and the cheap products that surprise.
Guide produced by the editorial team with AI tools from verified sources and published under the editorial responsibility of Andrea Bertolotti. How we work · Report an error
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