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toaster

“Cheap toasters disappoint; spend more or stay home.”

balance MIXED VERDICT

Check $19.99 on Amazon open_in_new

6.2

Inside Scoop Score

Mixed · 6.2 / 10

auto_awesome INSIDE SCOOP

The Inside Scoop

THE VERDICT

The budget options here — Bella at $19.99 and Elite Gourmet at $15.99 — hold solid Amazon ratings but America's Test Kitchen found most toasters in this class deliver uneven results, require constant fiddling, and have slot dimensions too shallow to toast a full bagel properly. The Keenstone at $79.99 has zero reviews and no testing data to support its price. The real winners from expert testing — the Breville 'A Bit More' at $79.99 and the Dash Clear View at $36 — aren't even in this listing set, which tells you most of what you need to know.

Anchored by America's Test Kitchen's review

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Fits artisan and thick bread

Long-slot designs handle oversized artisan loaves, thick bagels, and English muffins that standard 2-slot toasters simply cannot accommodate.

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Bella color options look great

The Bella slim toasters come in appealing colors like Oatmilk and Seaglass that America's Test Kitchen testers openly praised on camera.

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Ultra-low entry price

At $15.99–$19.99, the Elite Gourmet and Bella units are low-risk purchases for anyone who just needs basic toast without committing real money.

Owner Reception

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shopping_cart Amazon 18,600 ratings

80% loved 15% critical

Critical reviews ≈ 2,790

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Before You Buy — What Nobody Tells You

Most owners are happy — only 15% of 18,600 Amazon ratings are 1–2★. These are the specific gripes worth weighing before you buy:

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Bagel setting works backwards

On the Bella slim toaster, the bagel setting heats only the outer elements, meaning you must insert bagels cut-side facing out — the opposite of what any normal person would do.

— from America's Test Kitchen top reviewer

lightbulb Always place bagels cut-side facing the outer walls, not the center, or skip the bagel setting and toast manually.
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Toast flies out on pop-up

Some long-slot toasters in this style have such a violent carriage release that toast physically launches out of the slot onto the counter or floor — something you'd never catch in a store demo.

— from America's Test Kitchen top reviewer

lightbulb Stand nearby at the end of the cycle and keep the toaster away from counter edges.
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Slot depth leaves a raw stripe

Long-slot toasters with a slot depth under about 5.5 inches leave the top of bagels and thick bread sticking above the heating element, resulting in an untoasted band across the top of every slice.

— from America's Test Kitchen top reviewer

lightbulb Run a second short cycle flipped upside-down, or buy a toaster with at least 6.5-inch slot depth.

groups VERDICT

Who it's for

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Best For

Someone who bakes or buys artisan loaves regularly, wants a splash of color on the counter, and is fine spending under $20 as a low-stakes starting point.

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Skip If

Anyone who wants reliable, set-it-and-forget-it browning — spend at least $36 on the Dash Clear View or $80 on the Breville instead.

smart_display VIDEO REVIEWS

Video reviews

6:10

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The best toasters of 2025, tried and tested

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"We tested the best toasters to find out which models deliver perfectly browned slices every time. After weeks of trying different ..."

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