Philips Viva Collection Toaster, 950 W, 1 Liter, INOX, Black/Silver

Product Information

High lift saves you from burning your fingers by pushing the slots up so you can retrieve your toast safely. A bagel setting is handy for anything, like bagels or English muffins, that you want to toast on just one side.

Two levers each control a pair of toast slots, and each pair can operate separately, so it’s easy to toast one side lighter and the other side darker at the same time. This toaster’s display rests in standby mode when it’s not being used and wakes up at the touch of an icon, ready to help with breakfast tasks.

While a two-slice toaster will only have a single browning control (timer), on a four-slice model you may be provided with one or two such controls. A single control means the timer is set for all four slots, which is fine if you all want your toast done the same way. Two timers means you can set each pair of slots separately so you can toast, say, crumpets on one side while doing toast on the other, or have “his and hers” slots set to your personal preferences. What features should I look out for in a toaster?

One caveat from the tests: We enjoyed the toast popping all the way out of the toaster, though these pieces could easily end up on the floor. Anti-slip feet keep this steady on the counter, and the removable crumb tray makes it easy to clean. If you're looking for a very affordable, no-frills toaster, there are tons of options, but one thing our testing proved is that there aren't a lot of basic four-slice toasters that won't regularly burn your toast or malfunction. Efficiency and a simple design are what made the Procter Silex 4-Slice Wide Slot Toaster stand out in our tests. Breville BTA830XL Die-Cast Smart Toaster 4-Slice Toaster: The Breville Die-Cast Smart Toaster is one of the more expensive models on the market, and we found that its automated lowering/rising function was very fun to use, but it didn't serve a real purpose. The bagel even got caught a few times during testing, so it doesn't work perfectly. What really took this off our recommendations was the overly hot highest setting that burned toast and bagels.

We’ve tested all the top models to find the best toasters that deliver the finest, most perfectly cooked toast

But what type of bread did you toast? A piece of half and half with a combination of burnt and lightly done sides? Or a slice of white bread heated for the bare minimum for it to be considered warm bread? Or even a slice of wholemeal burnt to a crisp? Well, whichever you choose, we have the bread type and toast-making appliance for you. Even though aluminum foil is designed to withstand heat, it's not a good idea to use it in a toaster; there isn't enough clearance in toaster slots to make sure the foil isn't touching the heating elements. Save the foil for a toaster oven or standard oven. Sleek design and high-quality appliances are what Zwilling is known for, and we were not disappointed in its four-slice toaster. It comes with seven browning settings, plus defrost, reheat, and bagel functions, all easily viewable with LED-lit controls. When your bread is done, you have both a soft-lift and high-lift option. Smeg, an Italian company, has been making inroads in the American market and gaining a following thanks to the retro look of its appliances and unique color options that will make a statement in any kitchen. The exterior of this toaster is powder-coated steel with polished chrome accents, but its accolades go beyond just its good looks. Before cleaning your toaster, unplug it and make sure it's completely cooled down. Then, remove the crumb tray and shake loose crumbs from the tray into a trashcan or the sink. The tray can be washed by hand if needed, and should be completely dry before returning it to the toaster.