The Best Toaster

How we picked

To decide Australia’s best toaster, we started with CHOICE, Australia’s leading consumer advocacy group. They’ve put a lot of toasters through their paces in their test kitchen, which gave us insights into the technical performance of some toasters. 

We then turned to ProductReview.com.au, Australia’s first consumer opinion website. This let us know which toasters are most loved by Aussies. 

Our final check was Canstar Blue, an Australian consumer review and comparison website. Their toaster brands survey let us know which brands are most trusted by Aussies, although it didn’t give us specific models. 

Armed with plenty of toaster-contenders, we narrowed them down by our criteria. We wanted toasters that covered a range of budgets and needs: from toast addicts who’d use it daily to toast dabblers who’d let it gather dust in the cupboard. Regardless of what features they offered, we wanted them to be easy to use and clean.

Toasters are subjective. Some people love carbonated toast. Others want their bread barely kissed by heat. So, we didn’t delve too deeply into their perceived performance. We also didn’t specifically focus on size: this guide covers both the best 4-slice and 2-slice toasters.

Once we applied our criteria, we found the top toasters in Australia.

Important features to consider

Ready to go toaster shopping? Keep an eye out for these features. 

Number of slices 

Toasters are available in 2- or 4-slice size. What you choose depends on the size of your household and how much toast you eat. A 4-slice toaster suits families well. They are a lot bigger though, so make sure you’ve got plenty of space. To avoid wasting energy, look for toasters with eco modes. These normally allow you to toast 1 or 2 slices of bread, without heating up the other slot’s elements. 

Easy to use 

Look for easy-to-understand controls. They might have icons or text. Dials and buttons are standard and suitable for most users. 

Defrost setting

If you’re taking bread directly from the freezer and putting it in the toaster, a defrost setting adds extra time to thaw the bread. Even our most affordable toaster, the Kambrook The Smarter Choice KTA120, has this feature.

Reheat setting

If you haven’t eaten your toast straightaway and it’s gone cold, the reheat setting will heat it back up for you. Again, even our most affordable toaster has this. 

Crumb tray

All toasters should have an easily removable crumb tray. Bonus points for this being at the front, so you don’t need to pick it up and move it to get to the tray. 

Slot length

If you’d like to toast more than your standard bread, something like ciabatta, pay attention to slot length. You may need to get a long slot length toaster. This isn’t necessarily a feature you pay more for: our Sunbeam runner-up is long length and its RRP is just $50. 

What you get if you spend more

Paying more is unlikely to get you better toast results. But it may get you a better-looking toaster (hello Dualit NewGen).

LED progress indicator

If you’re wondering how far through the cycle your toast is, look out for a toaster with a LED progress indicator. It’s ideal for anyone who doesn’t like surprises. 

High lift lever

To avoid small things like bagels or hot cross buns getting stuck in the toaster, some toasters offer a high lift lever. It also helps you avoid burning your fingers as you struggle to extract them.

Motorised lift

For that hotel-at-home feeling, opt for a motorised lift. Rather than popping your toast up, it’ll gently raise it. Only our Breville winner offers this.

Multiple settings

As well as standard defrost and reheat, some toasters offer other settings, like dedicated bagel ones. 

Preview feature

Whether you smell burning or you’re impatient for perfection, some toasters have a preview feature. This lets you check your toast’s progress, without interrupting the toasting cycle. 

Dual controls

Different to eco mode – which only heats up 1 slot’s elements – dual controls mean you can use 2 different toasting cycles at the same time. Which means if you’re preparing toast for more than 1 person, or are using different types of bread, it’s a handy feature. 

Good looks

If you want to make a statement in your kitchen with a stunning toaster, you’ll need to pay more to enjoy the retro stylings of Smeg and Dualit.

If bread in all its forms does it for you – think thick artisan loaf, fruit toast, crumpets, bagels or pastries – you’ll love Breville the Smart Toast (in stainless steel). Its 4-slice capacity offers wider slots, capable of handling larger-than-standard bread sizes.

It has 5 settings to customise your toasting experience: Fruit Bread (which also works for crumpets), A Bit More (if it’s not quite toasted enough), Lift and Look (to check progress without cancelling the cycle), Defrost and Bagel. A sliding toasting scale is combined with LED lights to show you the toast browning progress. Forget having to press your toast down: it has 1-touch lowering. This automates the toast-lowering for gentler handling. It also gently and quietly raises it up when it’s done, rather than noisily popping it up. It beeps to let you know when your toast is ready. 

Easy clean, it has a crumb tray at the front which means you don’t need to pick up the toaster to empty it. 

If you’re toasting bread for more than 1 person, the dual independent controls are handy. These mean each pair of toasting slots can work independently, for different brownness levels. 

At RRP $199.95, this is a toaster for people who love toast in all its forms and will frequently use it. Breville was rated #3 in Canstar Blue’s recent toaster brand survey and this is currently ProductReview.com.au’s most popular toaster. Over 200 Aussies have reviewed it, where it’s earned 3.5 stars. 

Why buy the Breville the Smart Toast

Wide slots – which means as well as bread, it can handle bagels, pastries and more.

5-settings – this customises the toasting to your needs, whether you’re toasting white bread, a crumpet or bagel or defrosting bread.

Lift and Look – want to check progress without cancelling the cycle? Now you can.

A Bit More – if your toast isn’t quite brown enough for you, add 30 seconds more browning without having to repeat a full cycle and risk burning it, not browning it.

Easy to use – thanks to all the 1-touch buttons that are clearly labelled.

LED progress lights: wondering how long it’ll take? LED progress lights show you how far along the toasting is.

1-touch lowering: there’s no pushing down your toast here. Simply press a button and the toaster will automatically, and gently, lower your toast before raising it automatically when it’s done – no noisy popping. 

Easy clean – with the crumb tray at the front, you don’t need to lift the toaster and shake it out.

Dual independent controls – which means you can use the toasting slots independently and produce different toasting results, at the same time. 

#3 Canstar Blue brand – Breville is highly rated by Aussies, who awarded it 4 stars for overall satisfaction, plus an excellent 5 stars on ease of cleaning, plus functions and features.

Looks: sleek, modern, inoffensive – it’ll look great in any kitchen.

Loved by Aussies – over 200 of you have reviewed this toaster at ProductReview.com.au, giving it a good 3.5 out of 5 stars. 

The not-so-good bits

Price – with RRP $199.95, it’s an investment.

2-year warranty – for $200, you’re only getting a 2-year warranty.

Quiet – this might be a good or not-so-good thing for you. Because it doesn’t pop your toast up, gently raising it instead, you won’t hear the characteristic ‘toast popping’ noise. You’ll need to listen for a beep, which some consumers complain is too quiet. 

In summary 

If you’re a toast fanatic, Breville the Smart Toast could be right for you. Extra wide slots toast a variety of bread with ease. Smart features like Lift and Look and A Little Bit More give you control over your toast. The 1-touch lowering and lifting makes for a gentler, quieter experience. Around $200, it’s an investment but loved by plenty of Aussies.

If you can’t bring yourself to spend $200 on a toaster, meet the Sunbeam Long Slot 2 Slice Toaster TA4520. It has a RRP of just $50. As its name tells you, it’s got long slots to handle a range of bread types, especially longer ones like sourdough or ciabatta. 

A QuickCheck feature lets you check the progress of your toast at any point without interrupting the toasting time. The high lift lever makes removing crumpets and muffins simple. It has 2 additional settings: reheat and defrost. 

It’s easy to use, featuring a dial to select your toasting level and a lever you push down to lower the bread. Self-centring slots help ensure your bread is always evenly toasted. 

It has good, although limited, consumer reviews with Aussies complimenting its ability to uniformly toast bread. Sunbeam is also Canstar Blue’s 6th most popular toaster brand. Aussies awarded it 4 stars for overall satisfaction but 5 stars for ease of use and cleaning. It’s also been put through its paces by CHOICE. 

It’s packing a lot less than our Breville winner – but it’s a lot more affordable. 

Why the Sunbeam Long Slot Toaster TA4520 is worth considering

Longer slots: which increase the flexibility of this toaster, allowing it to handle longer bread like sourdough and ciabatta.

QuickCheck feature – wondering how your toast is doing? Have a quick look, without interrupting the toasting time.

High lift lever – wave goodbye to getting crumpets and muffins stuck in the toaster. The high lift lever easily gets them out.

Easy clean – thanks to its removable crumb tray. 

Additional settings – reheat and defrost settings increase its functionality.

Easy to use – with just 3 buttons and a user-friendly dial.

Price – at RRP $50, it’s an affordable toaster with no bells and whistles.

The not-so-good bits

Limited consumer reviews – it currently has nearly 3 stars from only 25 reviews, meaning we don’t have much knowledge of how it performs in Aussie kitchens.

12-month warranty – not surprising for the price but you’d hope a toaster would last longer than 1 year.

In summary 

The Sunbeam Long Slot Toaster TA4520 is a no-frills toaster, although it has a few features that elevate it from the most basic ones. These include the longer slots and the QuickCheck feature. Easy to use and clean, it fits easily into a wide range of Aussie homes. Best of all, it costs just RRP $50.

The Competition

Not feeling our top picks? Here’s a round-up of other toasters that we liked the look of but didn’t quite make the cut. 

Kambrook The Smarter Choice KTA120

The most affordable toaster we reviewed, at RRP $29, the Kambrook The Smarter Choice KTA120 offers slightly less than our Sunbeam runner-up. Specifically, there are no long slots and no QuickCheck feature.

But you’re getting everything you need. It has a 7-browning option dial, plus 2 settings (reheat and defrost). It has extra lift for easily getting out smaller items, like crumpets. Plus, it has a removable crumb tray at the front. These minimal features mean it’s simple to use and clean.

It has good, although very limited, consumer reviews with people praising its value for money. It’s also been reviewed by CHOICE and Kambrook is Aussies’ 7th most popular toaster brand. 

Choose this if – you want to spend the minimum on a simple toaster that’s easy to use.

Smeg TSF02

The Smeg TSF02 is for people who want a beautiful looking toaster. The 50s styling is a joy to behold on your kitchen benchtop. Although it has 2 slots, like our Sunbeam runner-up, these slots are extra-long and wide. Which means you can toast 2 larger or longer bread slices (think ciabatta) or 4 ‘regular’ bread slices.

It offers 6 browning levels and 3 pre-set programmes: reheat, defrost, and bagel. This makes it incredibly easy to use. It also features a stylish push down lever. The crumb tray is removable for easy cleaning. 

It comes in a range of beautiful vintage colours and is RRP $199, with a 2-year warranty. It has a good number of consumer reviews, earning it just under 2.5 stars. 

Choose this if – looks are more important to you than extensive functionality.

Kenwood K-Sense TCM400

For alternative retro styling, consider the Kenwood K-Sense TCM400. It offers a great range of features. These include 1-sided toasting (ideal for bagels), a preview function (to see how your toast is doing, whether interrupting the cycle) and an eco-mode, which allows you to toast 1 slice at a time without heating up the other slot’s elements. 

It has 5 browning levels plus reheat and defrost settings. It comes in 5 different colours and has a funky, rounded look. You’ll pay around RRP $169 for the Kenwood K-Sense TCM400. Although it’s been reviewed by CHOICE, it doesn’t have any consumer reviews yet. 

Choose this if – you want a retro-looking toaster for under $200 with some good features, including preview and eco-mode, and are ok with it not having any consumer reviews. 

Dualit NewGen

Serious about toast? Here’s a serious price: RRP $400, making the Dualit NewGen the most expensive toaster we reviewed. Given it’s handcrafted in the UK, with the assembler’s name on the base plate, it’s not that surprising. Plus, it was first designed in 1946 and has won awards for its design. 

Beyond its looks, it has a dial to select your toast level plus a defrost and bagel setting. An energy-efficient slot-selector means you can heat either 1 or both slots, depending on what you need. The manually operated ejector lever lets you check the bread while toasting it, giving you control. 

It has a high-lift mechanism to remove small items easily and a removable crumb tray. All its parts are fully repairable or replaceable and it comes with a 5-year warranty. 

It has almost 4 stars on ProductReview.com.au, but from a limited number of reviews. Aussies love how all its parts can be replaceable (although given Dualit is based in the UK, this may not be as simple for Aussie-based customers) and how beautiful it looks. It hasn’t yet been tested by CHOICE.

Choose this if – you want a classic design icon as a toaster from a high-end brand, that’s been handcrafted and should last you a long time.

Sunbeam Café Series

A step up from our Sunbeam runner-up, the Café Series has extra wide and deep toasting slots, making it ideal for thicker bread. It has the same self-centring feature for even toasting and offers a crumpet setting too. 

It offers 6 browning options on a handy dial, plus a high-lift lever for things like crumpets and muffins and a removable crumb tray. 

It comes with a great 5-year warranty (on the elements only), which somewhat explains its RRP $199 price tag. It has almost 100 consumer reviews, awarding it almost 3 stars, and Sunbeam is Canstar Blue’s 6th most popular toaster brand. It hasn’t yet been tested by CHOICE.  

Choose this if – you want a 4-slice toaster that can handle thicker bread, with a dedicated crumpet setting, for around $200. 

DéLonghi Brillante CTJ4003

Another 4-slice contender, the DéLonghi Brillante CTJ4003 has a unique faceted finish. For RRP $129, you’re getting retro styling, plus a 5-level browning dial and reheat and defrost functions. 

It offers variable width slots to handle thicker bread, and the 2 slots can be heated independently. This means you can make 1 or 2 slices of toast without wasting energy. It also has 2 removable crumb trays for easy cleaning. 

Although it hasn’t been tested by CHOICE, it has great, although limited, consumer reviews. DéLonghi is also Canstar Blue’s 4th most popular toaster brand. 

Choose this if – you’d like a unique-looking toaster with variable width slots to accommodate different bread sizes, for just over $100.

The Bottom Line

A top toaster quickly and consistently produces evenly browned toast, done to your own specifications. It’s easy to use and clean and becomes a beloved piece of kitchen equipment thanks to its toasting prowess.

We think the Breville the Smart Toast is Australia’s best toaster. Thanks to its wider slots, it can handle a wide range of bread, from thick artisan loaves to bagels and pastries. With 5 settings, you can customise your toast to your needs. It promises no surprises, due to its Lift and Look and 1-touch lowering / lifting features. At RRP $199.95, this is a toaster for people who love toast in all its forms and will frequently use it.

A more affordable alternative is our runner-up, the Sunbeam Long Slot 2 Slice Toaster TA4520, at just RRP $50. Its long slots handle a range of bread types, especially longer ones like sourdough or ciabatta. It also has a QuickCheck feature (its equivalent of Breville’s Lift and Look) and offers reheat and defrost settings. Although it’s packing less than our winner, it’s (far) less expensive.