Being someone who cooks for the family for more than 20 years, I have seen many appliances that are absolutely necessary for the kitchen, and some of them that are just wasting of money and kitchen space.
Best 4-Slice Toaster Reviews
4-slice toaster I find as one which is totally necessary and must-have, especially in kitchens like mine – my husband and two sons are very finicky and always looking for a nice piece of a meal, is that breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
And to be honest, sometimes, nice and crunchy toast is the only thing tempting enough to get us out of bed.
What is The market offering us today when it comes to the 4-slice toasters?
When I was buying my first one, the choice was quite simple due to the fact that most of the toasters were totally similar and the choice was easy.
Nowadays, a variety of different devices are available, and even the price range is not huge.
Therefore, I have decided to spend some time, reading reviews, and testing some of the toasters, so I can be sure that I am selecting the one that will fit all our needs.
4-Slice Toasters’ Main Advantages
Having them in the kitchen actually gives me more time for other things.
Having two boys (and sometimes even three, during the days when my husband acts like one) gives me a chance to prepare bagels/toast quickly and in a way that my boys want – Steven likes lite toast, but Morgan loves them soft inside but crunchy outside.
For this reason, it made sense to me that what we need is a 4-slice toaster. After this was clear, I have started my research and chose some of them for testing.
Kitchen Space
Although they cannot be installed in the kitchen like ovens, I like toasters to be smaller, lighter, and to look nice. The size of a 4-slice toaster is very similar to all producers, but I can argue design.
My kitchen is dominated by silver color, so I prefer silver ones even though they come in different shapes and colors (mostly silver and black).
If you neither like any of those colors, you can always buy some toaster covers that will fit any kitchen. Also, if your counter is too small, then the toaster-size matters for you.
Related: Long Slot Toaster Reviews
Options to Think About
- Getting a toaster for my kitchen is something that I consider seriously, even though it might seem quite easy. When choosing one, there are some options to be discussed, such as:
- Size of slots – 1 1/2 inches slots is typical, although you can find toasters with smaller slots.
- Defrost option – so far, I have seen most of the toasters have a defrost option. Some of them have universal defrost, and some of them have separate ones for bagels and for toast.
- Multi toasting function – even though most of the time I need all four slots, it’s a quite good option to be able to use only two slots (2-slice) at the time (or all four).
- Cool-touch exterior – This is useful not only during the usage of the toaster but when it comes to its removal from the kitchen desk. The cool exterior will allow you to move the 4-slice toaster immediately after usage, even the slots inside are still warm.
- “Keep warm” option – sometimes during busy mornings, especially when my boys have their swimming training quite early, I forget to take the toast out and serve them immediately and then toast tends to get cold. Keep warm option gives me an additional few minutes by keeping toast/bagel warm.
- Toast boost – well, these options were quite usable when my kids were really small. When they were trying to pull the toast out, they were often touching the top of the slot, and their fingers got burned a bit. This option gives you an extra lift so they can be easily removed.
- Cleaning and removable crumb tray – after any meal, the cleaning time comes. During the past 20 years, I have realized that having a crumb tray speeds up the process significantly. Also, toaster slots can be removable and washed in a dishwasher for best cleaning results.
- Materials – Well, I am looking for a durable one. So either you can get the plastic, aluminum, or stainless steel one.
- Retracting cable or cord wrap – I find this option very useful, especially if you do not keep your toaster on the counter all the time. One of those two options will make your life easier when storing your toaster somewhere else.
See Also: Great Bread Knives Reviewed For You
Most Recommended 4-Slice Toasters: Detailed Reviews 2022
For a few months, I was reviewing experiences, reading various tips for different toasters. After I have shortened my list, searched the web, and actually went to stores to see some of the “live,” I decided to test 5 of them.
Based on my research, experience and based on what my family needs, I have chosen the following 4-slice toasters to enter my final round:
Cuisinart CPT-435 Countdown 4-Slice Stainless Steel Toaster
This one looks like a “digital king” among analog toasters. The first thing we have seen is two LCD countdown displays, one for each of the two trays. The toaster has usual options like a bagel, defrost but also has the reheat function, which will allow you to heat up your toast or bagel again, without burning it. Quite useful.
It is solid as a rock, made out of stainless steel. When we tried it, bagels had a crispy top and chewy bottom, exactly as my husband loves them. In slots, which are extra wide, you can put almost anything you want, from toast to frozen pancakes. The hi-lift lever will allow you to lift your toast higher when grabbing it with your fingers.
Things I liked:
- “Star Trek” look when compared to other appliances
- Excellent options and material, cool exterior
- Hi-Lift lever
- Very good cord wrap underneath the device for easier storage
- Extremely consistent toasting
Things I didn’t like:
- You will need short lessons on how to use it
- A bit higher price when compared to other reviewed products
- Toasting early in the morning, when your family is still sleeping, is not recommended since the beep is loud, not as a fire alarm but quite loud
Oster TSSTTRWF4S 4-Slice Toaster
Another analog guy. With a solid, stainless steel exterior, this Oster toaster looks like the one my mother had when I was a child. It has usual options: bagel, frozen, reheat and cancel. A very nice option is a retractable cable, which is perfect when you are moving it from the kitchen.
It features a removable crumb tray for easy cleaning and a lever which will help you to lift higher smaller pieces of toast, so your fingers are safe. Testing went quite well; most of the time toast and bagels went out fine, but it happened a few times that toast was burned more when it was not resting squarely within the guides.
Things I liked:
- It looks like from the sixties
- Retractable cable
- Hi lever lift for smaller pieces
Things I didn’t like:
- Pieces are not toasted evenly all the time
- Have to be careful when placing toast into the tray, so it is resting properly within guides
- Not both levers are working the same – one of them works more smoothly than other
Hamilton Beach 24810 4-Slice Long Slot Keep Warm Toaster
Well, I have to admit, I love its modern and stylish look, from the moment it came out of the box. This 4-slice toaster has nice rounded buttons, and they have a backlight. But the first problem for us occurred when we were placing it in our kitchen.
The cord is attached toward the front of the toaster and is not practical at all. All slots are extra wide and extra tall, so you can put really nice and big pieces inside, which we find very useful.
Toast came out very well as well as frozen bagels. A very interesting option is “keep warm.” It will keep your toast warm for an additional 3 minutes, even if you forgot to take the toast out immediately, which often happens in our family, especially during our morning hectic hours.
It’s not quite quick, but it makes a nice toast. It took around 3 minutes to toast one nice piece of toast on a setting of 5.
Things I liked:
- Extra-wide and deep slots, able to accommodate large pieces
- Keep warm option will keep your toast or bagels warm for an additional 3 minutes
- Buttons with backlight
- Toast boost lifts toast/bagel higher, so you do not have to worry about your burned fingertips
Things I didn’t like:
- You cannot use trays separately
- The cord is positioned “silly” facing the front of the appliance, which I do not find practical at all. That means that the tray for bread crumbs is facing the rear of the device, being not practical at all.
- It “beeps” a lot. Even beeping is useful as a reminder that toast is ready, I find it annoying, especially when you are toasting a lot, as we do in our home.
Cuisinart CPT-142 Compact 4-Slice Toaster
Well, after unpacking it, CPT-142 was not what I was expecting. The first thing that was “strange” was the plastic exterior of this white toaster. I cannot say it does not look nice, but having all competitors choosing aluminum or stainless steel, this choice looks at least strange.
Aside from that, the toaster has all the usual options: bagel, defrost reheat and cancel. Shade control settings have 7 levels, slots are extra wide and it features a high lift lever.
While we were using it, it performed well. I have noticed that when using settings 7, the dark settings, English muffins end not as dark as you would expect. Bagel function works nicely, producing crispy on top, chewy on bottom bagels.
Things I liked:
- Simplicity of exterior
- Extra-wide trays
Things I didn’t like:
- Plastic exterior – I wonder how the heat will affect it during a long time of usage. The exterior is not cool. To be fair it is also not warm and you can move it around without any problems.
- Toast and bagels are not toasted evenly all the time, especially when settings are on 7.
Hamilton Beach 4-Slice Cool Touch Toaster
After unpacking this 4-slice toaster the first impression that comes to my mind is: “this looks practical!”
And to be honest, it is.
The toaster has two sections with two trays each. Each section can be controlled separately so I can toast in first and bagel in the second one. The toaster has usual options: frozen toast, frozen bagel, bagel, all combined with 5 levels of power.
Crumb trays are big enough and they come out easily. The device has a cool-touch exterior so I do not have to worry in case any of us accidentally touches it. After all of this, it was time to test it within our kitchen.
Although all options are working quite well, the frozen bagel one was the one I liked the most. It toasts one side and only warms up the other, so you get the cut side toasty and the top and the bottom only warmed.
Things I liked:
- Good, stylish look
- Practical and wide trays so you can use ticker toast
- Can use only two trays if you do not need all four at all times
Things I didn’t like:
- Not all crumbs are getting into the tray so you can sometimes you will find yourself holding the toaster upside down over the sink, trying to clean crumbs
- It’s a bit bulky when compared to my previous one
- I would really appreciate the toast boost on this appliance, I would not have to worry about my fingertips at all times.
Decision Time – Who is going to be my next Toasting Buddy?
Well, after spending months with all the above-mentioned appliances, the only fair thing to do was to gather the family once more and use all five of them at the same time.
By having different people with different and sometimes finicky tastes, maybe together we can make a fair decision.
In the end, the 4-slice toaster and the clear winner is Cuisinart CPT-435 Countdown 4-Slice Stainless Steel Toaster.
It has all the features that one family should have: all relevant options, stainless steel exterior, and the possibility of making two different sets of toast, one for each family member.
Hi Lever lift and reheat options are on par and it provides the best possible value for the money paid.
What do you think? Which 4-slice toaster do you use?
Let me know in the comment below!