The Best Toaster
An inexpensive, reliable toaster that makes evenly browned toast and lasts a decade-plus of daily use — exactly what a toaster should be. · Updated June 25, 2026
Cuisinart 2-Slice Toaster
Cuisinart CPT-122 2-Slice Compact Plastic Toaster
★star.shop pickWirecutter pickReddit favorite
Pros
- Toasts evenly and consistently across batches — the thing that actually matters in a toaster
- Cheap (around $22) and widely available, so it's easy to replace if it ever dies
- Compact footprint that fits even crowded counters
- Simple controls and a small plastic body that shrugs off heat without breaking
- Reddit and BiFL owners routinely report 10–15 years of daily use from Cuisinart toasters in this class
Cons
- Plastic build feels less premium than stainless or metal toasters
- Standard-width slots won't fit thick artisan slices or long bread
Minor nitpicks
- Not user-repairable — when it eventually fails you replace it rather than swap a part (though at ~$22 that's a non-issue for most buyers)
- Lacks status-symbol looks of a Dualit or Smeg
The other picks
- r/BuyItForLifeDualit Classic Toaster — Handmade, fully repairable, and a design-museum icon — but expensive, underpowered on 120V US power, and owners admit it doesn't make better toast
- r/BuyItForLifeSunbeam Radiant Control Toaster (vintage) — Legendary auto-lowering, bread-temperature-sensing design that fans call the best toaster ever — but only available secondhand or restored
- WirecutterBreville BTA720XL 'Bit More' Toaster — Wirecutter's upgrade pick with a handy 'a bit more' button, though Reddit reports poorly placed buttons and a few early knob failures