Types

Toasters are pretty basic. But even these humblest of appliances are being designed to look at home in custom kitchens. Design gurus seem to have devoted less attention to toaster ovens, which tend to be boxy, though some have fairly sleek trim and details. When deciding what type of toaster you want, you might want to consider style as well as substance.

Toasters

Of the 12 million toasters sold annually, two-slice models outsell four-slicers by about 3 to 1. Toasters come in a variety of exterior finishes, such as chrome, copper, brushed metal, and colors.

Toasters have morphed beyond the square metal box. Retro and contemporary designs abound, as do models that look perfectly at home in high-end designer kitchens. But great looks don’t necessarily equal great mechanics: Many upscale toasters we tested were middling performers.

Toaster ovens

Toaster ovens come in two types: countertop models that entail a tradeoff between counter space and capacity, and models that mount underneath cabinets. The "footprint" a toaster oven leaves on your counter might be a concern if you’re tight on space. The smallest toaster oven we tested leaves a 16 x 8-inch footprint; the largest is 20 x 10 inches. But the smaller the toaster oven, the smaller its capacity.

More than 90 percent of toaster ovens sold are equipped with a broiler function—a handy feature if you want to cook burgers.

If speed is of the essence, consider a toaster oven that uses infrared heating, which speeds toasting. For ease of use, select a model with an electronic touchpad and a porcelain interior. Some toaster ovens come with nonstick pans.

See also:

Microwave ovens

Electric grills

Mixers