Toasters are a regular feature in household kitchens everywhere. It takes care of your early morning toasts with just a few twists and turns of knobs.

With the hundreds of toaster models out in the market, you need to know what kind of toaster you need before you go out to buy one.

Your checklist in buying a toaster

What is the capacity of the toaster?

You can select toasters that can accommodate two, four and six slices of bread at a single time, but this depends on what you need. If there are many of you in the house, you can opt for the one with a bigger capacity. The width and depth of the slots in the toaster is also one factor to consider.

Is it user-friendly?

The best toasters are those with simple manual dials and clear visual indicators which will tell you if the toast is done. You can also choose a toaster with a manual ejector button because this could stop the toast from burning.

Is the price right?

Toasters are available in the market for as low as $10 or as high as over a thousand dollars, depending on the model, brand and the features included.

Is the style and design appealing?

Toasters nowadays come in almost any size, style and colors or color combinations making it easy for you to pick out one that would fit in with the theme of your kitchen. Some toasters are appealing to the younger members of your family and come decorated with cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh and Kitty.

Other features and functionalities to consider

• having a toaster with a removable crumb tray at the base makes for easy cleaning

• A temperature regulator (most have them, but some do not)

• Warming & defrosting features

• Automatic shut-off feature when food items get stuck

• Retractable cord storage

In buying a toaster, you can select a breakfast sandwich toaster or the standard sandwich toaster, whatever suits your need.

A breakfast sandwich toasters offers several other functions like poaching, boiling and steam-scrambling eggs, warming a pre-cooked ham or sausage while toasting bread at the same time.

This means that you can toast a full breakfast at the same time with the breakfast toaster.

Bottom Line

Manufacturers of toasters like Hamilton Beach Cuisenart, Proctor-Silex, Oster, Salton, Farberware, Viking, Kitchenaid, and Krups to mention a few have made it their concern to make the toasters fit your style.

Of course, when you opt for a toaster that has more features, you should be willing to throw in a few more dollars. What is important is that you find the brand and model that fits what you are looking for in a toaster.

Filed under: Buying Guides, Toasters