Kitchen Aid 2-Slice Toaster with Manual Lift Lever

This toaster is quite cheap, has the slimmest profile of any on this list, and comes with only basic settings — making it a good option for those who don’t want to spend too much, need something space-saving, and don’t require a bunch of bells and whistles. But its main selling point is that it’s fast (no small deal for busy weekday mornings and quick-fix snacks).

Pardilla says on the first setting, her slices went in and came out before she could blink (but were still a bit pale for her taste). The second setting gave her browner edges. And the third produced a golden center. She notes that while the slots may look small at first glance, they are actually extra-wide with “self-centering” guides to ensure an even toasting on both sides. And one more plus: Alexandra Shytsman of the New Baguette has the older, similarly oblong-shaped version with the same “extra lift” lever, which helps her grab English muffins without using tongs.

The only caveat is that the crumb catcher on the bottom has to be pried off — pulled sideways, then lifted up. “This takes a little elbow grease,” Pardilla says, “but not so much as to be a problem. You get the hang of it after a couple of tries.”