Back to Basics Egg & Muffin 2 Slice Toaster, TEM500
33 Stores $25 - $50
Toaster Buying Guide
Today’s toasters can do a lot more than make toast. With higher slice capacity, wider slots and even additional appliances built into them, choosing one you like that offers everything you want can be challenging. Whether you simply want to toast bread and bagels or you need something to defrost waffles or heat pastries, Pronto’s Toaster Buying Guide can help bridge the gap between all the things toasters can do and what you’ll actually use (see Pronto’s Toaster Oven Buying Guide for appliances that go far beyond simple toasting).
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the five
What are the five key points I need to look at?
Toaster settings
When shopping for toaster controls, you can choose between a dial that selects your toasting preference and preprogrammed buttons to choose the length of your toasting cycle. Look for a toaster that offers self-centering slots for even toasting.
Features and functionality
Look for a toaster with good pop-up functionality and a bread lift so you don’t have to reach into a toaster to retrieve your food. Removable crumb trays make for easy cleaning. Wide slot sizes will accommodate bagels and other large food items.
Additional controls
Many toasters offer additional features, such as defrost, reheat and keep-warm settings. Consider their usefulness when comparing, as these features add to a toaster’s cost.
Do looks matter?
Choose a toaster that will fit your available counter space and does what you need it to do. Four-slot toasters are wide and bulky but can efficiently provide toast for an entire family. Two-slot and tandem toasters can save space on your counter. Don’t sweat the toaster’s finish: You can always get a toaster cover.
Safety
Chrome and stainless-steel toasters stay cooler than plastic and some offer stay-cool tops and sides. Bread lifts keep little fingers from reaching in for foods, reducing the chance of a burn.
pronto pick
What product do we recommend?
We like the Hamilton Beach 24559 Classic Chrome 4-Slice Toaster, a simple and effective toaster with a versatile design in an affordable price range. It features four wide slots, a removable crumb tray for easy cleaning and a cancel button. This toaster shuts off automatically even if foods get stuck and includes a defrost setting for frozen pastries. It’s a versatile toaster that can provide toasted bagels for the entire family without breaking your budget.
experts say
About.com – “This stylish Model 53288 T-Fal Bagel Deluxe 4-slice Toaster is the perfect breakfast appliance for a family. The slant design and wide self-adjusting slots makes for easy removal of toast or bagel, and the retro-styling, yet modern stainless look, would add charm to your kitchen. Controls are right up front - just where you can easily operate them.” Source: About.com
Cooks Illustrated – Farberware FST200 Toaster: “We were able to brown toast to five different shades, from no color to deep, dark brown. The plastic exterior stayed cooler than the exterior of any other toaster, and the defrost feature worked perfectly.” Source: Cooks Illustrated
Slate.com – Krups 2-Slice Digital Toaster- “I'm very fond of this toaster. Its slots are wide—the widest, in fact, of the models I tested, so getting a bagel in and out of this baby is a dream. Its well-designed lever makes retrieving English muffins a breeze.” Source: Slate.com
hot buzz
What's the latest in the world of toasters?
Back to Basics’ egg and muffin toaster has been a hit since its introduction in 2005 when the manufacturer touted it as bringing you the “drive-thru breakfast without the drive.” This multifunctional appliance can toast bread, poach or steam-scramble an egg and warm pre-cooked sausage all at the same time, and its steam-directing technology times it so everything is ready at once. With wide slots, auto-shutoff and an easy-clean touchpad, you’ll be whipping up breakfast in less time than it takes to order at a fast-food chain.
Wallet Impact
What can I expect in my price range?
| Price | Description | Good Pick (see all Toasters) |
| $ | Simple, no-frills toasters, useful for making toast from regular loaf bread or for heating English muffins. Shop carefully. Toasters in this range may have lesser-quality heating elements that result in uneven browning or bodies that become dangerously warm to the touch. |
Compare prices at 9 stores $20 - $36 |
| $$ | Toasters in the middle range tend to perform reliably and offer a few additional features and functions you might find handy, like bread lifts or fine control over temperature for perfect browning. You’ll also find self-centering slots and some combination of advanced features, though you’ll have to pick and choose—you won’t get all of them in one toaster. |
Compare prices at 7 stores $52 - $75 |
| $$$ | High-end toasters feature innovative designs and advanced features with digital controls, like keep-warm, defrost and reheat settings. Look for large-capacity slots to handle artisan breads and removable bases with dishwasher-safe crumb trays. |
Compare prices at 6 stores $130 - $200 |
shop talk
What are the terms and definitions I need to know about?
Bread lift
A built-in lever that raises items safely above a toaster’s top, so you don’t have to reach in with your fingers or a fork to remove things.
Crumb tray
A compartment that collects bits of bread shed during toasting. Removable crumb trays slide out of the toaster. High-end models feature a removable base, which can be emptied and cleaned before being replaced in the toaster.
Defrost
A toaster setting that calculates additional time and heat for toasting frozen foods. While you can sometimes achieve the same result by increasing your heat setting, using that method can also result in burnt food and possible fire hazards.
Keep-warm setting
A feature that keeps foods inside the toaster without continuing to brown them. This lets you enjoy warm toast at your leisure without having to reheat it.
Sandwich cage
A wire mesh basket that will hold the pieces of a sandwich together in the toaster. A sandwich cage should have stay-cool handles for safe removal from the toaster.
Self-centering
Toasters with this feature have slots with wire mesh on either side. This holds toastables upright for even browning on both sides.
Warming rack
A rack on top of a toaster that keeps toast (and other bread products) warm. The warming rack can also double as a bun or pastry warmer.
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