Four Slice Toasters

Find out home your home's kitchen could benefit from a new 4-slice toaster

Two-slice toasters are insufficient for many households. Many people do not eat breakfast alone. One person may want a bagel toasted lightly, while another person may want an English muffin toasted dark. For those that do eat alone, two slices may not be enough. A four slice toaster is a much better choice for many reasons. Instead of taking turns standing at the toaster while the rest of the food gets cold, people can toast four pieces at once and eat together.

Here are some things to look for when shopping for four slice toasters.

Slots

Four slice toasters can come with thin or wide slots. Look for a toaster with wide slots, as wider slots can accommodate varying thicknesses of bread as well as english muffins and bagels.

Adjustable Settings

Four slice toasters come with adjustable settings depending on how light or dark you prefer your toast. These settings include gradations between light, medium, and dark. Many offer additional settings including defrost, reheat, and keep-warm.

Removable Crumb Tray

Always look for a sturdy toaster with a removable crumb tray for easy clean-up.

Stainless Steel

A popular feature in kitchen appliances today is stainless steel. Many toasters are available in this option including the Cuisinart Classic Brushed Stainless Toaster, KitchenAid 4 Slice Toaster (which also comes in red or black), and T-Fal Avante Deluxe 4-Slice Toaster (also comes in black). Stainless steel is desirable for its sleek appearance.

Separate Dials

Many four-slice toaster models have two separate dials - one dial operates two slots. This is useful for a person who may only want to toast two slices of bread or for those who want to use two different settings. All of the previously named models of 4 slice toasters include this feature.

Types: Upright, Angled, or Oven

The Cuisinart CPT-180 and KitchenAid KMTT400SS are of the typical upright toaster design while the T-Fal Avante four slice toaster is designed at an angle. This gives the toaster a unique, modern look and saves space. Some may find this toaster easier to use than typical upright toasters.

A toaster oven will take more counter space than an upright toaster but is great for those who want to minimize use of a standard oven. The Black and Decker TRO480BS 4-Slice Toaster Oven can easily bake a pizza, pie, or of course, four slices of bread. It comes with five settings - bake, broil, bagel, toast, and keep-warm - and has a temperature which can be adjusted up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. It comes with a timer, crumb tray, and baking pan.

Attached Egg Basket

Another very popular model is the Back to Basics 4-Slot Egg and Muffin Toaster which has a few additional features beyond what most four slice toasters can do. This upright toaster has an egg basket which can hold up to eight eggs. Eggs can be poached, hard-boiled, or soft-boiled. This feature can also be used to warm pre-cooked meat.

With so many different options available when it comes to four slice toasters, it helps to do a little research ahead of time so you end up with the perfect toaster for years to come.