Updated on Oct. 22, 2024
In our tests against thirteen other options, the Breville toaster stands out for its simple controls and high-quality build. Here's why we suggest splurging on this sleek and stylish pick.
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You’re in good company if you understand the frustration of playing roulette against your budget toaster. Nothing is more disappointing than trying to toast a slice fresh from the bread machine, only to remove a charred husk from your toaster’s narrow slots. And that’s assuming those thick, rustic slices even fit in the first place.
Because of this, I used to consider toasters a necessary evil. No matter how I approach things, I always over-toast my gluten-free bread slices. Frankly, I’m tired of my breakfasts being last-minute bowls of cereal rather than the protein-packed peanut butter toast I dream of.
I would have laughed if you had told me last year that I’d be pining after a pretty, feature-packed smart toaster. That was before I heard about the Breville toaster—and finally understood that owning one of the best toasters completely redefines breakfast.
The Breville toaster isn’t your grandma’s 1950s Toastmaster De Luxe. It’s sleek and futuristic and features simple, easy-to-understand settings and buttons. It doesn’t just look nice, either. This impressive pick outperformed roughly seven other toasters in rigorous testing, earning it a spot alongside six other winners.
Noteworthy features include a “lift and look” lever for checking in on a piece’s progress and the “a bit more” button that adds just a touch of extra toastiness to slices. The toaster is compact and solid, offering a slip-free bottom that holds itself against aggressive lever-pullers (guilty!). Special settings include “bagel” and “frozen” buttons and a slider bar to indicate toast level. Additionally, the slider features an LED light that acts as a countdown. This handy visual reference makes it easy to see how much time is left at a glance.
Sure, it’s priced a bit higher than a traditional two-slice toaster. But the Breville toaster is well worth the splurge if you’re sick of badly burned toast or cold-in-the-middle pastries. Plus, the brand has a proven track record of putting out top-rated appliances. Our favorites include some of the best drip coffeemakers, indoor pizza ovens, and the famous Bambino Plus espresso machine, which impressed our deputy editor.
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Over the course of several days, our Product Testing Team dedicated their time and Testing Lab to find the best toasters for every budget and need. This endeavor introduced us to various options, from pretty Beautiful-branded picks to practically-priced budget options. The Breville was our favorite “smart” option, earning its place in the top six. It flawlessly tackled tests in the following categories:
From the outside in, this toaster impressed with its high quality components and thoughtful touches. Remarkably, the luxe brushed aluminum Breville hides fingerprints very well, making it great for families. In addition, a bagel symbol indicates which way to insert halves, leading to perfectly crispy, indulgent lox bagels. Probably our favorite feature is that the interior levers are automated, so the bread descends and ascends on its own after you press “go.”
Regardless of the setting, the toaster offers quite an even amount of browning on both sides. We found that the first setting is ideal for most folks. It leaves bread pleasantly crunchy, pastries golden brown on the edges, and waffles crispy on one side while soft enough to soak in syrup on the other. If you trust any toaster with the spoils from your favorite bread delivery service, make it this one.
Team member Jessi Rhine has been testing the Breville toaster for about four weeks in her own home. Despite heavy use during breakfast, she comments that the toaster still looks brand new. She uses it alongside a Breville toaster oven. The two appliances form a classy duo that tackles everything from warming pastries to impeccably toasted slices ready for a smear of butter and jelly.
“We used only to use a toaster oven in the past. This new toaster seems faster and makes the toast brown on both sides, which is great,” she says. “I think this is a great toaster, and I would recommend it.”
So far, Jessi has only used the toaster on the first toast setting, which results in perfectly toasted bread. She notes that the ‘a bit more’ setting is a handy option to boost the darkness slightly without worrying about charring her breakfast. That said, she also finds the first setting dark enough, noting that she can’t imagine trying to enjoy a piece toasted on the fifth setting. In our tests, this produces a pretty blackened piece, which some folks may prefer.
Our testing team has three years of experience testing and evaluating everything from the best coffee subscriptions to the best flower delivery services. Many of us have backgrounds in kitchen and culinary careers ourselves. The remainder of our team are passionate home cooks who want to recommend the best products using honest and fair testing practices. Regardless of how popular or big the brand is, we would never recommend a product we don’t love.
According to the Testing Team, cleanup is simple. Remove the crumb tray, empty it, and replace it before using the toaster again. To remove additional crumbs, turn the toaster upside down over the trash bin and shake the crumbs free. Wipe the outside of the toaster with a slightly dampened soft cloth, then polish with a soft, dry cloth to dry completely.
The Breville toaster is available for purchase at major retailers, including the Breville site, Amazon and Walmart. While it’s pricier than other options, it’s as close to an heirloom toaster as possible, making it worth the splurge. With proper care and use, we expect this one to last through years of daily use.
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