Best toaster 2020: our top 6 buys for toasting bread (and more)

The best toaster will upgrade sourdough bread, crumpets, bagels (and more) into a vehicle for your favourite spreads and a starting point for many meals. And it's one of those appliances which can make or break a kitchen colour scheme or style, because it's usually displayed on the worktop.

With this in mind, there is A LOT to consider when choosing a toaster. We're talking functionalities, size, number of toasting slots, colour, design and the price (of course). To help you hone in on the best option for you, we've done all the research for you and rounded down the options to the six models in this guide. We've included budget models along with four-slice toasters, two-slice toasters and family-friendly models. Keep scrolling to see them.

If you want to create a your perfect toaster and kettle set, check our our best kettles guide which features our top stove-top and electric kettle buys. 

Best toasters you can buy right now

This classic Dualit four-slice Classic toaster comes from an iconic British brand and is now available in the new Naturals collection, which also includes matching kettles. The new colours are curated in collaboration with colour and trend forecaster Anna Starmer and comprises four hues inspired by nature. This four-slice model is packed with innovative features and functions to make life simpler every day.

ProHeat® elements

These benefit from a protective natural mineral layer (Mica) that covers the filaments, making them virtually unbreakable and easy to keep clean.  The extra ‘winds per square cm’ on the ProHeat® Elements ensure that bread is toasted more evenly. 

High-lift lever

This is handy for removing smaller slices and things like little muffins or crumpets that don’t always pop up properly to reach.

Flexible functions

These include a defrost setting, so you can add frozen slices – ideal for when you run out of a fresh loaf.

• Buy the Dualit Classic Four-slot Toaster

Tefal’s Loft breakfast set includes this toaster and matching kettle, which look fantastic on the worktop and can be used to give the kitchen an instant refresh. Inspired by traditional British ceramics, the toaster comes with all sorts of handy features designed to make breakfast and suppers quick and easy. This is a great model for families, as the four-slot design makes plenty of toast for all the family while the seven browning levels will keep everyone happy.

Extra wide slots

Ideal for thin and thicker loaves, as well as bulkier items such as bagels, crumpets and muffins. 

Additional settings

Thanks to the defrost, reheat and stop settings, you can control your toast easily and decide how brown to make it, as well as putting it on pause while you get on with other things, then reheating it when you’re ready.

High-lift lever

How many times have you got your fingers burnt by trying to fish out smaller slices or little muffins? With the high-lift lever, you get quick and easy access without the worry of scalding.

• Buy the Tefal Loft Four-Slice Toaster

With a Rose Gold finish exclusive to Currys and Smeg’s London store, and a Gold finish that’s available nationwide, Smeg’s latest small appliance offering is this stunning TSF01 two-slice toaster. It’s ideal for thin and thick cuts of toast as well as chunkier bagels and English muffins. As well as six browning levels, allowing you to select your perfect slice, there are also four functions for defrost, reheat, cancel and bagels.

Bagel setting

Not all toasters come with this extra feature, which is ideal for lunchtimes – think smoked salmon and cream cheese spread thickly on a toasted slice – or breakfasts with bananas or chocolate spread.

Illuminated dial

While you’re using the toaster, the dial lights up, which is great for those who find traditional controls difficult to see or if your toaster is relegated to a dark corner of the worktop.

Crumb tray

A touch-release removable stainless steel crumb tray is easy to take out and empty into the bin.

• Buy the Smeg TSF01 Toaster

The Russell Hobbs Inspire is a stylish looking toaster that comes in a choice of colours, we love this crisp white and stainless steel version with a textured rippled finish. It’s large enough for the whole family and comes with a host of features including variable browning, frozen, cancel and reheat settings.

Defrost option

No need to worry if you’ve run out of a fresh loaf, as you can keep one tucked away in the freezer and simply pop a frozen slice in this toaster.

Cancel button

Stop toast from burning if you have the variable setting on too high thanks to the handy cancel button.

Reheat setting

Pop your toast in, then if you’re not quite ready to eat it when ready, you can use the reheat setting to warm it up at a time that suits you. Great for those in a hurry or who get waylaid doing other things during breakfast.

• Buy the Russell Hobbs Inspire Four-Slice Toaster

This new Mesmerine toaster from Kenwood comes in an eye-catching textured finish, which is still smooth to the touch so it’s easy to clean. There are six browning levels for extra choice as well as a high-rise lever to remove smaller pieces of bread. Added functions include a defrost and cancel button and a bagel feature.

3D texture

As well as a choice of different colours, Kenwood’s new toaster also has a textured pattern finish for an eye-catching addition to the worktop.

Bagel function

This handy option means bagels are toasted on the outside but still soft in the middle.

Push crumb tray

A removable crumb tray is simple to remove and empty into the bin as well as being easy to clean.

• Buy the Kenwood Mesmerine Four-Slot Toaster

This on-trend Accents toaster is new from Morphy Richards and features a matt painted stainless steel body with rose gold details. It comes with reheat and defrost functions as well as variable browning control, a removable crumb tray, bagel button, reheat and cancel as well as a high-lift lever for smaller items.

High-lift lever

Ideal for retrieving smaller slices of bread as well as things like muffins and crumpets.

Reheat button

Sometimes you toast a couple of slices but you only have time to grab one, or maybe you pop the toast on, but no one’s downstairs yet ready to eat, so this option is great for reheating at a time to suit you.

Frozen bread setting

Keep a loaf in the freezer and you’ll never run out of toast in the morning again.

• Buy the Morphy Richards Accents Four-Slice Toaster

How to choose the best toaster

When you're looking to buy a your new best toaster there are a few things you'll need to consider before parting with your money.

Design and finish
Consider whether you want your toaster to make a statement on the work surface or whether you want it to blend in. Most of us keep it out on the worktop at all times, so you need to make sure it will comfortably fit. Take a note of the dimensions of the one you fancy and check that there’s enough space. The latest designs come in everything from on-trend metallic finishes to crisp clean whites and pops of bright colour.

Slot size
Do you need a four-slot toaster to feed the whole family or would two slots do? Bear in mind that four-slice models will take up more room on the worktop but they are handy for when you need to toast four items at the same time. Look for extra wide slots to cope with thicker breads or artisan loaves. A bagel setting is also a handy feature to look out for.

Added benefits
When you want to make breakfast time run smoothly, choose a toaster with a reheat function so you can warm up the toast when it’s ready to be eaten, as well as a defrost option for toasting straight from frozen.

What is the best toaster?

To recap...we love Dualit’s Classic four-slot, which now comes in a new collection of colours. Its parts are either fully repairable or replaceable – so you never need buy another toaster again, and it’s handmade in the UK, too.

More kitchen-related reads:

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• Best microwaves 2020
• The best fridge freezers