The Best Two-Slice Toasters of 2025

The world of toasters has some exciting bells and whistles, but the best toasters also excel at what matters—crisping up bread slices, bagels, and frozen waffles without scorching them.

We tested top-selling models to find the best two-slice toasters at the right price. We deliberated about the perfect color for toast, searched for the bagel setting, and struggled to grab the small half of an English muffin from toaster slots. After testing, our favorite is the Breville Die-Cast 2-Slice Smart Toaster (available at Amazon for $149.95) . This Breville toaster doesn’t come cheap, but its even toasting and solid build—plus some special features—make it an absolute pleasure to use. For a more affordable option, check out the Cuisinart 2-slice Toaster CPT-122.

Or, if you're looking for something more robust, see our recommendations for the best toaster ovens or the best four-slice toasters.

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Other Two-Slice Toasters We Tested

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What to Consider When Buying a Toaster

Slot Size and Versatility

If all you use your toaster for is toasting slices of sandwich bread, you can assume that most toasters will work for your needs. However, if bagels, crumpets, or homemade sourdough have a regular place in your breakfast rotation, you’re going to want to make sure any toaster you buy has one (or more) wider slots (or expandable slots) that can accommodate your thicker items without crushing them or burning them.

Speed and Efficiency

When the coffee is perking and the eggs are just shy of done, you don’t want to be stuck waiting for the toast to finish. Some toasters cook faster than others. Quartz heating elements get to temp faster and cook more evenly than coil-based toasters, which may be worth considering if you hate waiting for your bagel to get the perfect shade of toasty brown.

Ease of Cleaning

Toasters are crumb magnets – and crumbs left too long in your toaster are a trigger for smoke and a smoky, off-putting taste in your food. Look for removable crumb trays that slide smoothly and do a good job catching the cast-off crumbs. A toaster with a finish that resists fingerprints and wipes clean easily can keep your toaster looking good on your counter.

How We Test Two-Slice Toasters

Each two-slice pop-up electric toaster we test is rated first and foremost on how well it toasts bread. We look for a range of toast shades and even toasting on all sides. We also test for consistency across repeated use, and we check out the bagel setting (if offered).

We also consider user experience, including how easy the controls are to use and whether the special features—defrost setting, bagel option, etc.—are actually helpful. The heating elements for all the toasters cause the appliances to get too hot to touch around the slots, so we test whether English muffins and bagels pop up high enough to grab without burning your fingers.

We also evaluate how well each one is constructed, including wide slot and long slot toasters built to handle different types of bread. And while we don't include appearance or size in our ratings, we take them into consideration, as this is one kitchen appliance that will almost certainly take up counter space in your home.

What You Should Know About Two-Slice Toasters

How to Make Sure a Two-Slice Toaster Toasts Evenly

Different types of bread require different settings to toast evenly. A slice of white bread might need a lower temperature and less time to toast well, while a thick rye bread might need a higher setting to reach the right crispiness.

Learning toaster settings is also important to get the toast you want. Be patient and let the toaster work properly instead of hitting the cancel button to check it. Stopping the toaster and starting it again is a great way to burn your toast, since the timer starts over, but the bread is nearly done.

Another common mistake is putting bagels into the toaster the wrong way. If your toaster doesn’t have a bagel setting, put the bagel soft side facing in to prevent it from toasting unevenly or burning. Bagels are dense and require more toasting time than a slice of bread, so learn your settings to avoid burning your breakfast.

How to Clean a Toaster

Toasters are prone to gathering dust, lint, and even (disgustingly) bugs. Keeping your appliance clean is important, and requires more than just giving it a shake over your kitchen sink.

First, unplug the toaster so that you won’t electrocute yourself. Then, pull the crumb tray out and gently wash it with warm water and dish soap.

While the crumb tray dries, clean the bread slots with a damp cloth doused in vinegar. Make sure not to wet the toaster too much, because it will take a long time to dry. Wipe the toaster’s insides with a damp cloth to remove any leftover vinegar residue and let it dry upside down, giving it one last shake for good measure. If the idea of dust and bugs in your appliance understandably grosses you out, you can also purchase a cover to protect it.

Read More About Kitchen and Cooking Topics on Reviewed

• The Best Toaster Ovens: A toaster oven is an under-appreciated kitchen workhorse – these are the best models around.
• The Best 4-slice Toasters: When you need more toasting power, upgrade to a four-slot toaster from Breville, Zwilling, and Cuisinart for some of the best around.
• The Best Serrated Bread Knives: A good serrated knife is worth its weight in gold, but not all of them are worth your money – we named the best of the best.
• The Best Waffle Makers: Whether you’re making Belgian waffles, mini waffles, or just want the classic model, they’re all delicious, and we’ve tested all kinds of makers to find the ones that work.