You can make breakfast more healthy, tasty and varied with a very simple device - a toaster. Quality models allow you to toast bread to a delicious crust in a few minutes, and some offer an even wider range of functions. Today we will figure out how to choose a toaster for your home, what parameters and options to look at first of all. Choosing the right model of the device will significantly save money and time that you usually spend on preparing breakfast. In addition, toasted bread has been proven to be healthier than toasted bread in a skillet.
Content
Budget
When planning to buy a toaster, the first step is to calculate the budget that you are willing to spend on it. It should be noted right away that it is better to buy a toaster a little more expensive and use it for more than one year, rejoicing in the absence of breakdowns and shortcomings, than to buy a device cheaply and throw it away or hide it in a closet after a month of use. Also, the company that released the device plays a significant role - it is advisable to give preference to well-known manufacturers. The cost of devices is very diverse, there are both expensive models with a wide range of functions and various gadgets and budget ones.
When buying a device, it is worth considering that a good device can be purchased and for 3000 rubles it is not necessary to spend a lot of money for a personalized brand or unnecessary functions!
Criteria for choosing a good toaster
Choosing a good toaster according to the parameters and taking into account all the recommendations, you select in advance for yourself the most convenient, profitable and functional model that will satisfy all your needs. Below we will provide a description of the main features and functions that make the toaster an indispensable tool in the kitchen. Although this device does not have so many functions, the lack of some of them causes discomfort during use.
Number of branches
To choose the right toaster for your home, pay attention to how many compartments for slices of bread it consists of. There are models with 1, 2, 4 compartments:
- if there is only one compartment, you can put two slices in it next to each other
- two compartments are separated by a partition and are intended for roasting two or four toasts
- device with four compartments for large amounts of bread
Why is this parameter important? The choice in favor of this or that model of toaster depends on the size of your family. For one person, an inexpensive but good toaster with one compartment will work, but in a family of 3-4 or more people, no one will probably want to wait for their turn at breakfast, so choose a device with 2 or even 4 compartments.
Power
Probably the most important parameter that you should pay the most attention to when buying. If you want to choose an inexpensive but high-quality toaster, pay attention to its power, as the speed of toasting depends on this parameter. The power can be in the range of 700-1600 W, the more it is, the faster you get a crispy crust, while the inside of the bread will remain soft. If, for example, we take two models of the same capacity, then the one that is more powerful will cope with its main task much faster.According to the advice of experts, it is recommended to choose a toaster with a power of 800-1100 W, this indicator is the most correct and quick to prepare a delicious breakfast. It is worth remembering that the devices work for a few minutes, so this will not greatly affect the consumption of electricity. In addition, in such a good toaster, the slices of bread are toasted quickly and evenly.
We recommend watching a useful video:
Heating element type
Which toaster to choose from depends on your budget and the requirements for the device, for example, the type of heating element, because it can be of two types:
- metal - simple, reliable, used in almost all standard models, its main drawback is the presence of odor when heated
- ceramic - more modern and durable, it is distinguished by uniform heating and economical energy consumption, but at the same time it is quite expensive
The higher price of a toaster with a ceramic heating element will pay off over time, and the benefits are clear. As you know, it is this part that breaks down most often in electrical appliances.
Control type
Toasters come in three types of controls:
- automatic assumes that the device independently monitors the toast preparation time, and when it comes to an end, the toasted slices immediately "jump out" out due to the built-in spring mechanism
- semi-automatic models also offer a time control function, however, you need to take out the toast after cooking
- mechanical toasters require constant attention from the user; toasts must not only be taken out manually, but also turned over during cooking.
It is worth noting that the last mechanical type of control is not entirely convenient, although such models are the cheapest. Nevertheless, we recommend choosing semi-automatic toasters if the value for money is especially important for you, and if the budget allows, then you can acquire a full-fledged automatic device.
Housing
The choice of the case is an equally important parameter, if the case is not of high quality, the device will get very hot and cause discomfort when using, as you understand, there are two main types:
- Plastic - most models are made of this material, as a rule, these are inexpensive and mid-priced toasters. They are lightweight, durable and modern and varied in design. In addition, plastic is easy to care for and safe as it does not conduct electricity.
- Metal ("stainless steel", aluminum) - is most often used in more expensive models, these models are considered more durable and attractive.
The plastic model of the toaster is perfect for everyday use. We are not talking about a blender or a meat grinder, which are subject to significant loads, so the reliability of the plastic will be quite enough. If you prefer the appearance of a metal product, then in this case we recommend giving preference to an aluminum toaster. Such imperfections as fingerprints, water droplets that can get to the surface during the working process in the kitchen, etc. are alien to him.
Useful functions
If up to this point you thought that a toaster can only fry bread until golden brown and nothing else, you are deeply mistaken - modern manufacturers equip their equipment with a mass of additional functions that, according to experts, can be very useful: One-sided frying - toasts are browned only on one side, useful if you do not like heavily fried bread. Defrosting - allows you to put frozen bread in the compartments.First, the slices are fully defrosted, and then the toaster automatically starts toasting. Heating - useful in a situation where the toast is cold and needs to be heated. When using this function, the bread is not toasted again and therefore does not burn. Auto centering - promotes that the slices of bread are located exactly in the middle in relation to the heating elements. Without this function, the bread in the toaster can cook unevenly, and this way you get the same toast toasts, regardless of their thickness. Crumb tray - a necessary function that greatly facilitates the cleaning of crumbs. In the process of toasting toast, crumbs appear in any case, and in large quantities. If there is no pallet, they will either accumulate inside the case or spill out onto the table surface through the holes. It is imperative to get rid of the crumbs, since they can catch fire. The pallet simply slides out from under the bottom of the case and is quickly cleaned. Cable compartment - can be useful in many situations, for example, if the appliance cord is too long and gets in the way all the time, or you are temporarily not using the toaster. Thanks to the compartment, the cable is stored neatly and the risk of breakage is minimized. Sound signal - serves as an effective reminder for those who always turn on the appliances and forget about them. As soon as the toast is ready to eat, the system will sound an alert. Not all of these features are required. For example, if you are not used to freezing bread, do not need one-sided heating, will eat toast immediately after cooking, then there is simply no need for the corresponding functions. But without centering, automatic shutdown of the toaster and pallet, you definitely cannot do it. Thus, the choice of additional functions is yours. 
Rating of the best toasters of 2020
Now you, dear readers, know exactly which toaster is better to buy and not get confused in the characteristics and additional functions. After carefully reading this manual, you can easily buy a good device in a store, even without the help of a consultant, who, by the way, often recommend the product that has been gathering dust in the window for more than a year. Now, drawing the line, we just have to consider the rating of the best toasters for 2020, the reviews of which are extremely positive.
- Bosch TAT 3A011 / 3A014
- Electrolux EAT 5300
- Bosch TAT 61088
- Philips HD 2595
- Polaris PET 0702L
- Bosch TAT 6901
- Delonghi CTO 2003
- Philips HD 2596
- Philips HD 2630
- Electrolux EAT 5300
Conclusion
Someone may consider a toaster not a very useful purchase, without which it is quite possible to do without. However, if you have ever tried toasted slices of bread, love breakfast in the form of hot and aromatic toast, then we have successfully figured out how to choose a good toaster, and customer reviews on the forums and reviews of certain models will help you make the final choice. Enjoy a delicious breakfast with aromatic toasted bread.
