The 14 Best Toasters To Buy For Value In 2023

Life truly is better when you have a toaster. If you have a couple of slices of bread on hand, a crunchy bite of toast is a crack-of-dawn pick-me-up that requires the bare minimum effort — an important quality if you aren't a "morning person." It could be the fuel to munch on while you wait for the tea to steep, the perfect pairing with a jolt of java, or enjoyed alongside a tall glass of orange juice. In a matter of minutes, you have a warm, cozy start to the day.

While toasters have been around since the invention was first patented in 1906 (via Hagley Museum and Library), they seemingly only perform one function. But, the latest items on the market prove that the bar can be raised in toaster technology. We'll guide you through some of the more cutting-edge models. We'll also provide some chic retro-inspired designs to add a little character to your kitchen counter. And for children and the young at heart, we'll throw in some whimsical novelty fare. Don't worry, we're also factoring in the important cost of entry.

While the RetroToast 2 Slice Toaster from Austrian-based Mueller Home embraces a sleek and attractive nostalgic design, don't let it fool you into thinking that it's a basic model with no bells and whistles. It both is and is not your grandma's toaster.

It features a range of seven different browning settings. Depending on your and your family's personal preferences, you can go from soft and slightly warmed to a dark, crispy roast with ease. For bread coming out of the freezer, no problem, as it has a defrost setting. For the individual who slept in and missed breakfast, it has a reheat feature.

As far as visual appeal, some may opt for the safer, less exciting color options of black or white for a neutral, monochrome aesthetic. But, if you like the style and want this toaster to truly let its retro vibes shine, consider choosing pink or turquoise. It also features a nook underneath to tuck away the cord when the toaster is not in use.

This unique, quirky design for a toaster from Nostalgia looks like it came straight out of an episode of "The Jetsons." The Retro 3-in1 Breakfast Station is a major time saver for Rosie the Robot or whoever might be preparing the morning vittles as it's equipped to not only make toast but a full-course breakfast feast.

Its steamer basket can hard boil half a dozen eggs or heat up some healthy veggies. Underneath the steamer basket, you'll find a handy nonstick grill that can sizzle up some classic breakfast meats like bacon and sausage. With its three functions, it's not difficult to imagine how this toaster can be useful beyond breakfast.

As it's only capable of toasting two slices of bread at a time, this is probably a more appropriate device for smaller households. But its multi-functionality is an excellent fit for kitchens with limited space or a lack of an oven range.

This 2 Slice Touchscreen Toaster from tried and true brand Cuisinart features an attractive, modern design. Although the company has been around for over 50 years, it has consistently been a trailblazing innovator in kitchen appliances. Perhaps this is because its founder, Carl G. Sontheimer, was a passionate foodie and a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (via The N.Y. Times). While the company is most famous for changing the game in food processors, rest assured you can also rely on its toasters.

This particular model features touchscreen technology. This is ideal if you want your toast at the touch of a button and aren't interested in a device with an overwhelming assortment of knobs and levers that can consume extra space. That's helpful whether it's permanently fixed on your countertop or kept in storage between uses. It boasts six browning settings as well as bagel and defrost options, all of which make it an excellent pick for the price.

What better and easier way to brighten up a kiddo's morning than with a Mickey Mouse toaster from Disney? Your breakfast table can be a FastPass ticket to the Magic Kingdom with this adorable appliance.

Beyond providing the most important meal of the day, seeing the happy face of indisputably the GOAT of cartoon characters might spark curiosity in the culinary arts. Maybe the young one will go from the Mickey Mouse Club to joining a cooking club. Also, consider adding a slice of cheese post-toast for a lunch option — mice are notorious fans of cheddar.

This is a no-frills toaster, so don't expect it to work well with bagels or defrosting. But, it is part of a long line of Mickey-themed appliances, cookware, and dishware offered by the Mouse House. For dedicated Disney devotees who want to deck out their kitchen accordingly, this is a must-buy.

May the toast be with you (sorry). Or, make that two toasts. This "Star Wars"-themed toaster appropriately challenges the eater to look inward and choose one of two paths. We recommend showing your support for the good guys and toasting your bread with the iconic Rebel Alliance Starbird logo. But if you woke up on the wrong side of the bed, channel the Dark Side and opt for a menacing slice emblazoned with the Imperial Army crest.

If you're the only member of the household that obsesses over collectibles from "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away," this attractive black and white design featuring a TIE fighter is not overly gaudy and blends in with appliances that may not be as strong with the Force. Of course, if you prefer appliances put away, it can easily be stored in a cabinet.

This toaster only has five toasting settings and no other specs beyond that. But, whichever team you pick, after you chomp down on this toast you're sure to start off your day ready to go to battle. "This is the way."

If you are currently a cat owner or have ever been one, you're familiar with the morning routine. It's just before sunrise, you're fast asleep, and your precious pet pounces on the bed, wakes you up, meowing in your face, begging for food and attention. Well, why not flip the script a bit and not only feed kitty but have kitty feed you?

For dedicated Sanrio fans and cat people around the world, this perfectly pink Hello Kitty Two-Slice Toaster can provide a bit of a truce in the daily battle with our feline friends. It serves up two slices toasted with the visage of the precious whiskered face of Hello Kitty herself.

As with many novelty toasters that boast putting a pop culture icon onto a hot slice of bread, there's little this toaster can offer beyond that. It does provide a smile, but don't expect it to defrost, reheat, or warm up a solid bagel.

Before we launch into the benefits of a long slot toaster, here's a piece of trivia: The loaves typically found on supermarket shelves are known as Pullman loaves. The origin of the name is due to its popularity in railroad icon George Pullman's dining cars in the 19th century (via The Cook's Cook). The resulting slices are roughly square-shaped and are what many toasters are designed to toast.

We would highly recommend a long slot toaster if you're a fan of rustic, artisan loaves that come in varying shapes and sizes and typically have wider slices. It's especially worthy of consideration for any home bakers who like to experiment with different recipes with results that won't fit into a standard toaster.

A particularly appealing Long Slot Toaster model from Redmond offers an attractive, minimalist design. Its stainless steel coating will fit nicely into any kitchen decor. It also provides bagel, defrost, and reheat functions. And, if you find yourself pulled in the Pullman loaf direction, it serves as a four-slice toaster for wider bread sizes, too.

If you're tight on kitchen space and looking for a compact toaster of the long slot variety, Lofter has designed a sleek and slender 2 Slice model. It's small but mighty. Although it's a particularly narrow long slot toaster, it's still designed to accommodate thicker bread slices if that's your jam.

A key feature we should highlight about Lofter's toaster is that it has a warming rack that allows you to gently heat up your favorite breakfast pastries. Our recommendation would be to use it for danishes or croissants.

This toaster comes with all the requisite specs we have come to expect from any modern toaster. It has six toast settings to suit individual preferences, as well as defrost and reheat settings. Unfortunately, it does not have a specific setting for toasting bagels. However, it has extra-wide slots that measure 1.7 inches, which provides enough room to get your schmear on.

Opting for a toaster oven over a standard toaster typically comes at a higher cost. Consider, though, that a toaster oven has multiple functions beyond toasting bread making it a worthwhile long-term investment in your stock of kitchen appliances. Beyond toasting, it bakes and broils. For those who are building their wedding registries, take note.

Proctor Silex offers a 4-Slice toaster oven at a bargain price of $59.99 (at the time of publication). They also kindly provide free shipping when you order the item.

This purchase is a great option for not only your everyday morning toast — it can fit up to four slices — but also for heating up all manner of bread-based meals. With a range of 200 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, you can properly heat a wide variety of international bread treats too, including naan, injera, tortillas, or even leftover pizza.

If you're going to drop a bit more dough on a multi-functional toaster oven, why not go with a heavy hitter from the likes of Black+Decker? As a brand that's been around for over 100 years and is well-known for its line of appliances and hardware, you can trust and have faith in the reliability of its products.

Let's be transparent about the size of this Black+Decker Extra-Wide Toaster Oven, as it is a rather large device — much longer and wider — compared to your standard toaster. It has enough space for a 13-inch by 9-inch pan, in fact. But it's a sensible purchase if you have storage space for it, or if you lack an oven and can place it on your countertop.

The roomier space accommodates three racks. It also provides two timers, which are extra helpful when you're cooking several different types of food at the same time.

For those in the market for a toaster but not particularly picky about design or seeking a high-tech gadget, look no further than this very budget-friendly Amazon Basics 2 Slice, Extra-Wide Slot Toaster. With only a few clicks of the mouse, your brand-new toaster will arrive in no time, especially if you happen to be a Prime member.

Amazon Basics' brand does live up to its name in this instance. This toaster is very basic indeed, and it would appear that not much thought or effort went into making it pop, visually speaking. But if aesthetics aren't your concern, do keep in mind that the controls are on the slimmer side of the device. That may be important to consider if you have limited countertop space.

This toaster has the capacity for two slices and handy settings for frozen bread and bagels. Going beyond the basics, it also offers extra-wide slots for thicker slices of bread, which will certainly be of help if you're utilizing the bagel setting. To make cleaning the toaster a snap, a tray slides out so you can easily dump out any crumbs.

For those who are gluten-free, we have good news for you. The QuikServe Toaster from West Bend specializes in getting your toast on whether you're into gluten or steering clear of it by including a gluten-free setting.

Gluten-free bread is characteristically very dense compared to bread that contains gluten, and it will turn into a brick under high heat. The setting on this toaster takes that into consideration and provides a lower temperature. While it also comes with a longer cook time, the results are worth the wait.

One additional unique feature of this toaster is its serving tray. Rather than popping up when the toast is ready, it's delivered to you hot and fresh at the bottom of the appliance via a drop-down serving tray.

While it is a very slim toaster, it is bulky in height and length. The control functions are on the longer side, so factor these dimensions into consideration before purchasing.

We all have a particular opinion on just how brown the bread should be toasted. Much like when buying coffee beans, some prefer a lighter roast and some prefer a darker roast. But with toast, this doesn't have to be a contentious debate.

Hamilton Beach has a 4 Slice Toaster with Extra-Wide Slots that features two independent levers that control two slices each. This makes it easy to accommodate individual preferences whether it's for a fast breakfast bite or a hearty lunchtime sandwich. It's the perfect device to allow for the softies and the crusties to enjoy a meal together.

This model has a classic and straightforward stainless steel design. It's also built with extra-wide slots for added functionality if you want to warm up bagels. Plus, this model also comes with two separate slide-out crumb trays making clean-up a snap.

For those who want controls on the shorter side to suit their kitchen layout and are seeking a retro-inspired design, Oster has a 2-Slice Toaster with Quick-Check Lever that will be the perfect fit. In contrast to other retro designs, which tend to have pastel pops of color, it offers a selection of bolder hues, such as a crimson red shade and a cobalt blue. Black and white are also available if colors aren't a concern. So if pink and turquoise aren't your favorite, but mid-century decor is your aesthetic, go with this Oster model.

It offers a quick-check lever so you can peek at your toast mid-cycle and determine whether or not it's toasted enough to your liking. It also keeps up with the competition by having extra-wide slots, a bagel setting, and a defrost setting. And, there's an easily-removable crumb tray to ensure your device stays clean and well-maintained.