Important features Toaster or toaster oven?
Electronic touchpads are a good choice, as are the numbered dials found on many toasters. Less-convenient models have a shade dial with no numbers or unlabeled symbols that you might need instructions to decipher. If you favor oblong slices of bread, look for deep slots. Some slots are less than 5 inches deep; others are about 5 1/2 inches. A bread lift lets you raise smaller items such as English muffins above the slots so there's no need to fish around with a fork, a potentially dangerous exercise if you don't unplug the toaster. Another safety note: In late 2001, Underwriters Laboratories, a safety watchdog, called for an automatic shutoff of toaster heating elements when toast sticks in slots.
Toaster-oven variations include the use of a convection fan or infrared heat.
A slide-out crumb tray is easier to clean than one that's hinged. Some models incorporate a control that automatically defrosts and toasts in a single step, which is nice if you regularly prepare items such as frozen hash-brown patties. With toaster ovens, a nonstick or porcelain interior makes cleaning easier.
Electronic touchpads are a good choice, as are the numbered dials found on many toasters. Less-convenient models have a shade dial with no numbers or unlabeled symbols that you might need instructions to decipher. If you favor oblong slices of bread, look for deep slots. Some slots are less than 5 inches deep; others are about 5 1/2 inches. A bread lift lets you raise smaller items such as English muffins above the slots so there's no need to fish around with a fork, a potentially dangerous exercise if you don't unplug the toaster. Another safety note: In late 2001, Underwriters Laboratories, a safety watchdog, called for an automatic shutoff of toaster heating elements when toast sticks in slots.
Toaster-oven variations include the use of a convection fan or infrared heat.
A slide-out crumb tray is easier to clean than one that's hinged. Some models incorporate a control that automatically defrosts and toasts in a single step, which is nice if you regularly prepare items such as frozen hash-brown patties. With toaster ovens, a nonstick or porcelain interior makes cleaning easier.
