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This expensive model toasts bread exquisitely. And its design is elegant, so it looks great on a counter. But it still has some of the pitfalls of cheaper toasters, so it may not last long enough to justify its high price.

Consumer Reports

CR's take: Stylish and stainless, the two-slice Breville Bit More BTA720XL garners an Excellent rating in our ease-of-use tests, meaning the controls are clearly presented and easy to set. This toaster has wide slots and settings for cut bagels and frozen bread; it defrosts the bread, then toasts. And if your toast turns out too light? Press the button labeled "A Bit More" and it will toast a little longer.

CR's take: Stylish and stainless, the two-slice Breville Bit More BTA720XL garners an Excellent rating in our ease-of-use tests, meaning the controls areclearly presented and easy to set. This toaster has wide slots and settings for cut bagels and frozen bread; it defrosts the bread, then toasts. And if your toast turns out too light? Press the button labeled "A Bit More" and it will toast a little longer.

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CR's take: Its outstanding performance in CR's tests make the Breville BTA820XL one of the highest-rated models in our ratings. This toaster is sleek, attractive, and spendy. It utilizes a push-button control and lever to operate. There's even a place to stash the cord. It earns a Very Good rating in our toasting-time tests. Features include settings for bagels and defrosting, as well as a "Lift and Look" button that allows you to make adjustments mid-toast and "A Bit More" button that lets you add a touch more browning before it's done.

Upgrade Pick

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America's Test Kitchen

The price is right on this model, which made pretty toast without any fuss. We loved its glass window to monitor browning. A “reheat” button lets you warm up cooled toast or add a bit more browning. Its profile is compact, and the exterior stays cool. On the medium setting, toast was too light, but once we pushed the dial higher, it came out reliably golden and uniform on both sides; the highest setting made great “dark” toast. This toaster might have won if it didn't occasionally throw toast onto the counter or floor, which can be comical but unsettling. (A backup copy did the same.)

Budget Pick

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TechGearLab

We think the Elite Gourmet ECT-3100 is one of the best bargains on the market, especially for a baker that wants to toast an artisanal loaf or for a family that wants to be able to make lots of toast at warp speed. In our tests, this toaster performed great, producing good toast, delicious frozen waffles, and even browning bagels consistently &mdash; a feat many other models weren't able to achieve. We're also pleased with the built-in warming rack that can help you bring your croissants or other pastries to the next level.
This model's drawbacks are minor. First, it does not have a specific bagel setting. This design means that even though it can brown a bagel nicely, both sides will be toasted, and this conflicts with the conventional wisdom that says only toasting the cut side makes for a better bagel. Additionally, we observed some minor inconsistencies in the toast in general. However, these complaints are minor and did not detract from the overall fantastic experience that the Elite Gourmet ECT-3100 provided in our tests. 

We think the Elite Gourmet ECT-3100 is one of the best bargains on the market, especially for a baker that wants to toast an artisanal loaf or for a family that wants to be able to make lots of toast at warp speed. In our tests, this toaster performed great, producing good toast, delicious frozen waffles, and even browning bagels consistently &mdash; a feat many other models weren't able to achieve. We're also pleased with the built-in warming rack that can help you bring your croissants or other pastries to the next level.
This model's drawbacks are minor. First, it does not have a specific bagel setting. This design means that even though it can brown a bagel nicely, both sides will be toasted, and this conflicts with the conventional wisdom that says only toasting the cut side makes for a better bagel. Additionally, we observed some minor inconsistencies in the toast in general. However, these complaints are minor and did not detract from the overall fantastic experience that the Elite Gourmet ECT-3100 provided in our tests. 
Read more: Elite Gourmet ECT-3100 review

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We think the Cuisinart CPT-122 offers the best bang for the buck for its strong overall toasting performance, consistent results, and affordable price tag. It placed high on the leaderboard in many of our test metrics, only coming up a little short when toasting bagels and frozen waffles. What users can expect is evenly toasted bread, great handling of frozen bread, awesome strudels, and an easy-to-use interface.
Many toasters struggle to do well in our bagel tests, and the Cuisinart CPT-122 is no exception. While the bagels we made with it were light gold to deep brown, they were a little unevenly heated and just a little underwhelming. Waffles could also have been better, repeating similar uneven heating issues observed during bagel testing. Aside from underwhelming bagels and frozen waffles, you won't find a better buy for performance across the full range of our tests, but if bagels are your preferred toasted snack, then seriously consider a toaster oven over a standard toaster.

Our favorite value option is the Cuisinart CPT-122, which offers great toasting performance, consistent results, and an affordable price tag. It placed high on the leaderboard in many of our test metrics, only coming up a little short when toasting bagels and frozen waffles. What users can expect is evenly toasted bread, great handling of frozen bread, awesome strudels, and an easy-to-use interface.
Many toasters struggle to do well in our bagel tests, and the Cuisinart CPT-122 is no exception. While the bagels we made with it were light gold to deep brown, they were a little unevenly heated and just a little underwhelming. Waffles could also have been better, repeating similar uneven heating issues observed during bagel testing. Aside from underwhelming bagels and frozen waffles, you won't find a better buy for performance across the full range of our tests, but if bagels are your preferred toasted snack, then seriously consider a toaster oven over a standard toaster.
Read more: Cuisinart CPT-122 review

CR's take: The Cuisinart Countdown Metal CPT-415  snags an Excellent rating in our color-range tests (as do the other toasters featured here), popping up toast just as you like it. There are settings for bagels, defrost, and reheat, and Cuisinart's three-year warranty is longer than most brands in our ratings.

CR's take: Gluten-free bread, which is denser than regular bread, doesn't toast quite the same. Bella picked up on this and added a gluten-free setting to the two-slice Bella Pro Series 90062. "It works as promised, turning out nicely browned toast on both sides, and you no longer have to guess when it's done," says Aminata Ndiaye, a CR test engineer. As for regular bread, the Bella earns an Excellent rating in our time tests, putting it among the fastest two-slice models in our ratings. Overall, it combines top performance and a reasonable price, making it a CR Best Buy.

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Our favorite toaster is the Smeg 2-Slice thanks to its sleek look and perfect bagel toasting prowess. If a supreme bagel or stylish good looks appeal to your morning routine, the Smeg is the one for you. This slot toaster is the only one we've tested that creates the ideal bagel crunchy on the cut side and doughy on the back. This toaster is no one-trick pony and also makes near-perfect toast and frozen pastries. The Smeg has intuitive controls and super cool retro styling, so you get the best of all worlds with this king of the kitchen countertop.
The downside to the Smeg is its steep price tag. Its price is more on par with a versatile toaster oven. If you aren't a bagel aficionado, you can definitely find a more affordable option to create similarly stellar toast. However, if you are obsessed with making perfectly warmed bagels and enjoy the retro aesthetic, the Smeg might be well worth the extra money.

Our favorite toaster is the Smeg 2-Slice thanks to its sleek look and perfect bagel toasting prowess. If a supreme bagel or stylish good looks appeal to your morning routine, the Smeg is the one for you. This slot toaster is the only one we've tested that creates the ideal bagel crunchy on the cut side and doughy on the back. It's no one-trick pony; it also produces near-perfect toast and frozen pastries. The Smeg has intuitive controls and super cool retro styling, so you get the best of all worlds with this king of the kitchen countertop.
The downside to the Smeg is its steep price tag. Its price is more on par with a versatile toaster oven. If you aren't a bagel aficionado, you can definitely find a more affordable option to create similarly stellar toast. However, if you are obsessed with making perfectly warmed bagels and enjoy the retro aesthetic, the Smeg might be well worth the extra money.
Read more: Smeg 2-Slice review

CR's take: Not only does the Oster 2-slice TSSTTRJB2S turn out terrific toast, it also comes at a low price. This CR Best Buy has a push-button control, and features include settings for bagels, defrosting, and reheating. In our tests, it earns a Very Good rating for ease of cleaning and toasting time.

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