Toasters come in all shapes and sizes, but most have similar features. Some toasters have extra wide slots for bagels or thick slices of bread, while others have a frozen bread setting that lowers the bread slowly to prevent it from burning. Some toasters even come with a built-in warming rack for buns or croissants. But no matter what type of toaster you choose, there are a few features that all toasters should have.
Here are some things to look for when shopping for a new toaster:
1. Even Toasting: Most toasters have two heating elements, one on each side of the toast slots. This ensures that your toast is evenly browned on both sides. If you frequently eat Toast with butter or jam, you'll want to make sure that your Toaster has an even Toasting feature.
2. Adjustable Settings: All good Toasters will let you adjust the darkness settings so you can get your toast just the way you like it – whether you prefer it light and fluffy or dark and crispy. Some Toasters even come with special functions like a bagel setting or a defrost setting (which comes in handy if you forgot to take your frozen waffles out of the freezer).
3. Easy cleanup: No one likes dealing with crumbs, so make sure your new Toaster has a removable crumb tray that can be easily emptied (preferably without having to turn the Toaster upside down). Some higher-end models even have self-cleaning features – now that's convenience!