Are you the kind of person who simply loves their early morning toast and sandwiches?
Well, a good toast or sandwich always comes down to the crispiness of the bread and that is why a good toaster is a must.
For most homes, it is an indispensable kitchen appliance but with so many brands and models out there, how do you pick a 2-slice toaster that is value for money and yet will give you the perfect toast each time?
Tough isn’t it? Well, this why we did all the hard work you. We tried and tested 15 toasters and picked out the 5 best 2-slice toasters that will not only add some glamour to your kitchen but more importantly, give you the best toast.
Detailed 2-slice Toaster Reviews
#1: KitchenAid KMT2203CA Toaster
- 2 Extra-wide, long slots for the flexibility to toast a variety of breads from bagels, to english muffins, thick breads and more.
- Automatic lift & lower feature lowers bread into the self-centering racks upon sensing bread in a slot, then lifts once it has reached the selected shade.
- Auto Keep Warm initiates when toast hasn't been removed from the toaster within 45 seconds, and automatically lowers to keep warm, for up to three minutes.
- Your toast, just the way you like it with 7 shade settings to choose precisely how light or dark you would like your toast.
- Specialty settings for your perfect toast - select either Defrost, Bagel or A Little Longer to achieve your idea result.
This KitchenAid 2-slice toaster is the perfect combination of functionality and looks. With its candy red design, it is sure to grab the attention for anyone walking into your kitchen and if they happen to use it, well, they might even want to take it home with them and here’s why.
Best Features
First and foremost, this is more than just your average toaster. That is because it comes with extra-wide slots that allow you to toast more than just bread.
From bagels to English Muffins that are about 1 1/8” thick, the toaster can crisp them up all for you within minutes (your morning breakfast like Eggs Benedict is about to get a whole lot yummier).
And the reason it toasts so perfectly is that you have all the control you need as it allows you to choose from 7 shade settings. From lightly toasted to darker ones, you can now enjoy toast just the way you want it.
Further supporting this are the 4 functions which include bagel, frozen and “A Little Longer” and plain toast function.
But what if I forget about my toast in early morning mayhem? Will it come out burnt (we have all been there, haven’t we?)?
With the KitchenAid KMT2203CA, you can leave the toasting completely to the toaster and go complete the other morning chores. That is because the toaster automatically lifts the toast once it reaches the desired shade and function.
Oh, and if you still haven’t remembered your toasts yet, there is also a Keep Warm function that kicks into action after 45-seconds and lowers the toast for it to stay warm for about 3-minutes (because for some of us, cold toast is as bad as a burnt toast).
And it is super convenient to use as well since it also automatically lowers the bread into the toaster when it senses it in the slots and function and shade have been set (smart, isn’t it?).
Just in case you are choosy about colors or the Candy Red body does not suit your kitchen’s design, you can also go with Onyx Black, Pearl White and Sugar Pearl (Silver).
The Aluminum build makes it one of the sturdiest toasters around while the Chrome finish gives it the vibrancy and shininess that make it so eye-catching, certain adding to the decor of your kitchen. It is also relatively compact and will conveniently sit on your countertop.
Drawbacks
The toaster is on the heavier side. It weighs about 10 pounds and isn’t the easiest to move around until and unless giving your arms an early morning workout is what you were going for.
Lastly, it is also on the expensive side as it costs over $250 but considering the features it comes with, it is worth every penny.
Pros
- The extra-wide slots allow you to toast bread, bagels and thicker English Muffins
- Keep warm feature automatically activated if the toast isn’t removed within 45-seconds
- Keeps the toast warm for up to 3-minutes
- The toaster automatically lowers the lifts the bread once it is toasted
- You get 7 shade settings and 4 toasting functions
- It is available in multiple shades to best suit your kitchen design
- The eye-catching design and colors will make it the centerpiece of your kitchen countertop
- Aluminum build gives it excellent durability as it will last you for years to come
Cons
- Moving it is not as easy since it weighs about 10 pounds
- It will cost you over $250 but features make it worth the money
Not just for a family of 4-5, its top of the line features mean this toaster is the perfect appliance even for small cafes looking to serve lip-smacking breakfast to their customers.
#2: Dualit 27441 NewGen 2-Slice Toaster
- Hand assembled in Great Britain
- Extra wide 28mm slots to accommodate thin and thick sliced bread, bagels, muffins and even a Sandwich Cage to make grilled cheese sandwiches
- Patented insulated steel body
- Award winning protected Preheats elements, a patented design which increases toasting efficiency & element longevity
- Removable built in drip tray
The Dualit 27441 2-slice toaster is another excellent choice and goes toe to toe with KitchenAid on most fronts like design and functionality. Plus, it costs lesser. Here’s all you need to know about it.
Best Features
The Dualit NewGen Toaster also features extra-wide slots giving you the freedom to toast not just bread but also bagels and muffins so you can have something new each day.
Also, don’t just hate it when you forget to defrost the bagels beforehand and now have to wait for it for hours? Well, not anymore. The Dualit 27441 makes defrosting bread effortless and time-saving with its defrost function.
For a sandwich freak like me, the wider slots work like a charm as they can fit in the Dualit Sandwich Cage which makes toasting grilled cheese and other sandwiches a breeze.
But won’t the cheese spill all over the toaster? Thanks to the built-in drip tray, you do not have to worry about extensive cleaning or damage to the toaster from melting cheese and meat fat.
Oh, and 1 sandwich cage and warming rack are provided with the toaster so you do not have to spend a penny extra to enjoy their benefits.
All of the quick toasting and defrosting is done by the patented ProHeat element which preheats in minutes and is also one of the most durable elements in a toaster.
This is because they come with an armor type plating which guards the filament against any kind of damage making it almost unbreakable (yeah, this toaster can actually take a beating).
And even if any of the parts were to give you trouble, each of the parts is replaceable or repairable ensuring the toaster will last you a lifetime saving you not only hundreds of dollars but also helping you be eco-friendly.
Furthermore making it an eco-friendlier choice is the fact that you can choose which slot you want heated using the selector, in turn, also saving you a few bucks on the electricity bill every morning. Plus, it automatically shuts off once the toasting is done.
It is also very compact quite compact. Plus since it has an adjustable rear and weighs just about 7 pounds, it is much easier to move around if needed.
Lastly, there is a toaster for all kinds of kitchen decors as there are over 20 colors available. That means you can go from a traditional chrome finish or spice up the interiors with some jazzy yellow or red.
Drawbacks
One small drawback of the toaster is that it does not give you shading options like the KitchenAid KMT2203CA or have functions like Keep Warm or Little Longer.
Also, you will need to lower the bread manually in this case but that should only take you a mere second.
Pros
- Easily fits in bagels and muffins due to the extra-long slots
- You can also use it to defrost your bread
- The Dualit Sandwich Cage allows you to toast an entire grilled cheese sandwich, etc. as a whole
- Drip tray prevents melting cheese and fat from damaging the toaster
- Removable drip tray and crumb tray make cleaning easier
- Allows you to select which slot to heat
- All parts are either repairable or removable so the toaster will last you a lifetime
- The patented heating element is protected by an armor coating so it does not break easily
- It is compact, lightweight and has an adjustable rear foot which makes it highly portable
- Automatically shuts down once toasting is done
- Available in over 20 colors
Cons
- Bread needs to be lowered automatically
- Does not give you as many shading or toasting options like the KitchenAid KMT2203CA
#3: Hamilton Beach 22623 Toaster
- TOAST THICKER BREADS: This 2 slice toaster is perfect for toasting all kinds of bread, whether you’re making bagels for breakfast, avocado toast for a snack or a club sandwich for lunch. Extra-wide slots fit thicker breads and bagels
- EASILY RETRIEVE SMALLER BREADS: Toast Boost gives smaller breads like English muffins and gluten-free bread slices an extra lift, so they’re easier to retrieve from the bread toaster after toasting
- STOP THE TOAST CYCLE ANY TIME: Use the Cancel button on this metal toaster to stop the toasting cycle at any time. No waiting to get your toast
- CUSTOMIZE YOUR TOAST SHADE: Get the perfect amount of golden brown. This toaster has 7 toast shades to toast bread to the shade you like
- AUTO SHUTOFF FOR PEACE OF MIND: The toaster automatically shuts off at the end of the toast cycle, even if toast gets jammed
Looking for a 2-slice toaster on the cheap? how about one that will cost you less than $20? But isn’t the low-cost only that makes this toaster the best 2-slice toaster for budget buyers.
Here’s all you need to know about it
Best Features
Even at a cheaper price, this Hamilton Beach Toaster gives you the freedom to toast your bagels and buns as it is equipped with extra-long slots as well.
But that’s not where the buck stops.
Like your breaded toasted brown? Or do you prefer shades of charry black on it? Either way, the Shade Selecter lets you choose between 6 shades (a feature not all cheaper toaster give).
Also, do you ever have your hands burn while taking the toast out? To prevent this, Hamilton Beach has equipped the toaster with the Toast Boost technology.
This simply uplifts the bread or bagels a little more so you can grab it and get it out with ease.
The toaster also has an automatic shut off feature which saves electricity and once you are done with all the toasting, the special cord storage allows you to neatly wrap the wire for easy storage.
This not only adds to the portability but also prevents the wire from any kind of damage when it is stored in the shelves on cupboards.
And yes, it will easily fit in any cupboard due to its sleek design which means it has dimensions of just 10.2 x 6.3 x 7.1 inches. Plus it weighs a mere 2.8 pounds (you can lift this baby with one hand).
So you do not have to break your back cleaning the crumbs out of the toaster, there is a crumb tray which conveniently collects all the crumb and pops open so you can shake all the crumbs out (takes a mere minute to do it).
Even can your kids can use the toaster without any worries as it has a SureGuard shock-resistant element.
Drawbacks
Firstly, the toaster does not toast as evenly as the KitchenAid or the Dualit. This means while it has an automatic turn off feature you would still want to keep an eye on the toasting or you could end up with burnt edges after a few months of usage.
Secondly, the toaster is not the most durable of all. If you use it too often, it will last you around a year. This makes the toaster suitable only for dorms and couples with little toasting to do on a daily basis.
Lastly, the design isn’t the most attractive and does not give you any color option (just in case you were particular about that).
Pros
- It is available for less than $20
- Ideal toaster in terms of price and functionality for individuals in dorms or couple
- This too features extra-long slots to toast thicker bagels, buns or bread
- Shade Selector lets you choose the amount of chariness you want on the toast
- Toast Boost technology lifts toasts slightly so it is easy to take out
- Automatic shut of feature saves electricity and prevents toast from burning completely
- Weighs a mere 2.8 pounds and is super easy to move around
- Crumb tray collects breadcrumbs and can be emptied out in minutes
- SureGuard shock-resistant element makes it safe to use even for kids
Cons
- Toasting can be uneven so make sure you keep an eye on it
- Not the most durable of toasters especially if you used on a daily basis
- No additional designs provided
Yup, the Hamilton Beach 22623 has got its set of flaws when it comes to durability and toasting but considering you can grab it for $20, some its features are pretty darn impressive making it worth the consideration if you are on a budget.