Toasters: Breville the 'A Bit More' 2-Slice Toaster is our No-Brainer pick

Start with how many slices you make

Count the slices you toast on a normal morning, then check your counter space. Wide slots matter if you toast bagels or thick bread.

Breville the 'A Bit More' 2-Slice Toaster

Breville's 'A Bit More' toaster is our top pick because its controls fix everyday toast problems. Lift & Look raises the bread to check it without canceling, and the A Bit More button adds a short burst when a slice comes up pale. Breville also lists bagel and frozen settings and an LED progress display.

Cuisinart 4-Slice Compact Toaster

For a busy household, the Cuisinart CPT-142 toasts four slices with separate controls for each pair. Cuisinart lists 1.5-inch-wide slots, a seven-setting shade dial, and bagel, defrost and reheat buttons. Its compact body takes up less counter space than many four-slice models.

Cuisinart 2-Slice Compact Toaster

The Cuisinart CPT-122 is the simple, low-cost toaster that does the basics well. It has two 1.5-inch-wide slots, a seven-setting shade dial, bagel, defrost and reheat buttons, and a high-lift lever for small items. Cuisinart backs it with a 3-year limited warranty.

Choose by slots and controls

Pick the Breville if you want the most helpful controls. Pick the Cuisinart four-slice if several people eat at once. Pick the Cuisinart two-slice if you want reliable toast at a low cost.

What stands out

• Breville's Lift & Look checks toast without canceling
• The CPT-142 has separate controls for each pair of slots
• Both Cuisinarts list 1.5-inch-wide slots

Watch out for

• Shade settings vary between toasters; start low
• Empty the crumb tray often
• Match the full model code; colors and bundles vary

Before you buy

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Choose by how many slices you make at once, then confirm the slot width and full model code.

Think about the fit: Choose by how many slices you make at once.

Check before buying: Slot count and width, controls, footprint and warranty

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