Best 2 Slice Toaster (5 In-Stock Picks for Bagels and Thick Bread)

Most toasters fail at the same job: the second slice. One side comes out dark, the other barely warm.

A good 2 slice toaster fixes that with even heat, wide slots and a few smart buttons. It does not need to cost much.

The short version: The Breville A Bit More Toaster (BTA720) is the best 2 slice toaster for most kitchens. It has extra wide, deep slots, an LED progress bar and a “Lift and Look” button, for $109.95. If you toast bagels or thick bread, check slot width before anything else. Aim for about 1.4 to 1.5 inches.

Our Picks at a Glance

• Best overall: Breville A Bit More Toaster (BTA720)Jump to review ↓
• Best for single slices and long bread: Hamilton Beach Gourmet Sure-Toast (22996)Jump to review ↓
• Best retro style: BUYDEEM DT620 Retro 2-Slice ToasterJump to review ↓
• Best for small kitchens: Cuisinart CPT-122 Compact ToasterJump to review ↓
• Best budget: Hamilton Beach 2 Slice Stainless Steel Toaster (22794)Jump to review ↓

Every pick was listed as in stock on its maker’s own site when we checked. Prices are the makers’ own and change often.

Toaster	Slots	Shade Settings	Size (W x D x H)	Maker’s Price
Breville BTA720	Extra wide and deep	Variable, LED progress	8.2 x 11.3 x 7.3 in	$109.95
Hamilton Beach 22996	Extra wide, 6.5 in long	7	7.5 x 13.6 x 9 in	$44.99
BUYDEEM DT620	1.4 in wide	7	8 x 9.2 x 7.4 in	$49.99
Cuisinart CPT-122	1.5 in wide	7	11 x 6.5 x 7.2 in	$39.95
Hamilton Beach 22794	Extra wide	Digital display	6.3 x 11.1 x 7.6 in	$37.99

1. Breville A Bit More Toaster (BTA720): Best Overall

The Breville A Bit More is built around two small frustrations. Toast that comes out a shade too light. And toast you cannot check without cancelling the cycle.

The “A Bit More” button solves the first. Press it and the toaster lowers the bread for a short extra blast. You do not have to guess a new setting and start over.

“Lift and Look” solves the second. It raises the bread so you can check the colour, then lowers it again without stopping the cycle. Breville also adds dedicated bagel and frozen buttons.

The LED bar shows how far along the toast is. Deep slots take a full slice of sourdough without the top sticking out. Breville listed it at $109.95 with “Add to cart.” It costs more than the rest, but it has the most useful controls.

Who should buy it: Anyone who toasts thick bread or bagels daily and wants control over the exact shade.

2. Hamilton Beach Gourmet Sure-Toast (22996): Best for Single Slices and Long Bread

Most people toast one slice at a time more often than two. And one slice in a two-slot toaster often browns unevenly. Hamilton Beach’s Sure-Toast mode is designed for exactly that. The company says it evenly toasts both sides of a single slice.

The slots are the other standout. At 6.5 inches long, they take longer slices like bakery loaves and Texas toast. Self-centering guides hold the bread in the middle of the slot, so both sides sit the same distance from the heat.

The Toast Boost lever lifts small items like English muffins higher, so you can grab them without burning your fingers. Hamilton Beach listed it at $44.99 and in stock.

At 13.6 inches deep, it is long. Measure the counter space, especially if it will sit under upper cabinets.

Who should buy it: Solo cooks and anyone who buys large bakery loaves. It suits the kitchens in our guide to the best small kitchen appliances for cooking for one.

3. BUYDEEM DT620 Retro 2-Slice Toaster: Best Retro Style

The DT620 looks like a toaster from a 1950s diner. It comes in stainless steel plus bright colours like green, yellow, red and blue. For a kitchen where the toaster lives on the counter, that matters.

Under the style it is a solid toaster. The 1.4-inch slots take bagels and English muffins. Seven shade settings cover light to dark, and the bagel mode toasts the cut side.

BUYDEEM listed the stainless version at $49.99 and the colours at $59.99, all in stock. At 9.2 inches deep, it is one of the shorter toasters here, which helps on a shallow counter.

The warranty is shorter than Cuisinart’s, at one year. That is the main trade for the style and price.

Who should buy it: Anyone who wants a toaster that looks good on display. It pairs well with BUYDEEM’s kettles, covered in our guide to how electric kettles work.

4. Cuisinart CPT-122 Compact Toaster: Best for Small Kitchens

The CPT-122 is the shallowest toaster here, at just 6.5 inches deep. It sits sideways along the back of the counter, where most toasters would stick out. That is its whole appeal for a small kitchen.

It does not give up much for the size. The 1.5-inch slots are the widest we could confirm from a maker spec, so thick bagels fit. You also get reheat, defrost and bagel buttons, plus a high-lift carriage for small items.

Cuisinart backs it with a three-year limited warranty, the longest in this list. It listed the white model at $39.95 with “Add to Cart.” The black version showed “Out Of Stock” when we checked, so the link here goes to white.

The body is plastic with stainless accents. It stays cooler to the touch, but it does not feel as solid as a metal toaster.

Who should buy it: Anyone with a shallow counter or a tiny kitchen. Our countertop organization ideas for a small kitchen show where it fits best.

5. Hamilton Beach 2 Slice Stainless Steel Toaster (22794): Best Budget

This is the cheapest toaster here, and it still gets a stainless body and a digital shade display. Most toasters at this price use a plain dial with no clear numbers.

The auto shutoff is a quiet safety feature. Hamilton Beach says it turns off even if toast gets jammed. That covers the moment a bagel sticks in the slot.

The extra-wide slots handle bagels and artisan bread. Toast Boost lifts small items higher for easy grabbing. Hamilton Beach listed it at $37.99 and in stock.

It lacks the single-slice mode and long slots of the Gourmet model. For most daily toast, you will not miss them.

Who should buy it: Students, renters and anyone who wants a reliable toaster for under $40. It belongs on the list in our guide to how to stock a small kitchen for solo cooking.

How a Toaster Actually Works

A pop-up toaster is a simple machine. Thin wires line each side of the slots. When you push the lever down, electricity runs through the wires and they glow red hot.

That glow is radiant heat. It dries the surface of the bread first, then browns it. Browning happens because sugars and proteins in the bread react once the surface gets hot and dry. That reaction is what makes toast taste toasty, not just warm.

A timer controls how long the heat stays on. Older toasters used a simple heat-sensitive switch. Most newer ones use an electronic timer. When the time runs out, a spring pops the bread up and the power cuts off.

Why Toast Comes Out Uneven

Uneven toast has a few common causes.

• Bread sits closer to one side. The nearer side gets more heat. Self-centering guides fix this.
• One slice in a two-slot toaster. Some toasters heat all the wires the same. A single-slice mode adjusts for this.
• Heat builds up over several rounds. The second batch often comes out darker. Turn the dial down a step for back-to-back toasting.
• Crumbs near the wires. Burnt crumbs create dark spots and smoke. Empty the tray often.
• Bread of different thickness. Thicker slices sit closer to both walls. Cut bread evenly.

Slot Width, Bagels and Thick Bread

Slot width is the spec that decides what fits.

What You Toast	Slot Width to Look For	Helpful Feature
Sandwich bread	1 inch or more	Basic browning dial
Bagels and English muffins	About 1.4 to 1.5 inches	Bagel setting
Sourdough and artisan loaves	Extra wide and deep slots	Long slots, high lift
Frozen waffles	Standard width	Frozen or defrost button
Toaster pastries	Standard width	Reheat or low setting

The bagel setting deserves a note. It toasts the cut side at full heat and only warms the outer side. That keeps the inside crisp and the crust soft. Put the cut side facing the centre of the toaster unless your manual says otherwise.

2 Slice Toaster or Toaster Oven?

A toaster does one thing fast. A toaster oven does many things slower.

If you mostly make toast and bagels, a 2 slice toaster wins. It heats in seconds, sits in a small footprint and costs less. If you also want to reheat leftovers, melt cheese or bake a few cookies, a toaster oven does more. Our picks for the best small ovens and toaster ovens for baking in small kitchens cover the best of those.

Leftover pizza is a good test. A toaster cannot help, but a toaster oven or skillet does it well. Our guide on how to reheat pizza compares the options. For crispier results with less energy, an air fryer is another route, and our best air fryers under $100 cover budget models.

How Much Energy Does a Toaster Use?

A toaster draws a lot of power, but only for a couple of minutes. BUYDEEM lists the DT620 at 900 watts. A few minutes of toasting uses very little electricity overall.

It is still far more efficient than heating a full oven for two slices of bread. Our guide to the most energy-efficient small kitchen appliances explains how small appliances compare. For more ways to cut bills, see how to reduce kitchen energy use in a small apartment.

Toaster Safety and Cleaning

A clean toaster is a safer toaster.

1. Unplug it and let it cool. Always, before cleaning.
2. Empty the crumb tray weekly. More often if you toast daily.
3. Turn it upside down over the sink. Give it a gentle shake to free loose crumbs.
4. Wipe the outside with a damp cloth. Stainless steel shows fingerprints, so dry it after.
5. Never use a metal knife in the slots. The wires can be live and they break easily.

Keep the toaster away from curtains, paper towels and the wall. Heat rises out of the slots, and it needs space. If you keep it under a cabinet, pull it forward while it runs.

What Else a 2 Slice Toaster Is Good For

Toast is only the start. A good toaster handles most of breakfast.

• Bagels with cream cheese. Use the bagel setting, then spread while warm. Bought too much cream cheese? Our guide on whether you can freeze cream cheese explains what happens to the texture.
• Eggs on toast. Poached eggs and toast share a timeline, so start the eggs first. Our guide on how to use an egg poacher covers the timing.
• Frozen waffles. The frozen button adds time to thaw first. For homemade waffles, our picks for the best waffle maker with removable plates make cleanup easy.
• Burger and hot dog buns. A quick, light toast firms them up. For a crowd, a hot dog steamer and bun warmer does more at once.
• Toasted sandwiches. A toaster crisps the bread, but it cannot press or melt a filling. For that, see our picks for the best panini press for home use.

French toast is one job a toaster cannot do. It needs a flat, hot surface, like a skillet or a griddle pan for pancakes.

Good toast also starts with a clean cut. A serrated bread knife slices crusty loaves evenly, so both sides brown the same. Our best knife set under $100 picks include sets with a bread knife.

Which 2 Slice Toaster Should You Buy?

Buy the Breville A Bit More if you want the best control over thick bread and bagels.

Pick the Hamilton Beach Gourmet Sure-Toast if you often toast one slice or buy long bakery loaves.

Choose the BUYDEEM DT620 if style matters and the toaster lives on display.

Get the Cuisinart CPT-122 if your counter is shallow or your kitchen is tiny.

Go with the Hamilton Beach 22794 if you want a solid stainless toaster for under $40.

Building out breakfast? Our guide to the best hard boiled egg cooker and our picks for the best coffee maker with a grinder finish the setup.

Related Guides

• How to Use a Keurig Coffee Maker
• Best Tea Kettle for Gas Stove
• How to Clean an Electric Kettle
• Small Kitchen Gadgets Worth Buying When You Cook for One
• Vertical Storage Ideas for Small Kitchens
• Coolest Kitchen Appliances to Buy
• Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Common Kitchen Appliances

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best 2 slice toaster?

For most people, the Breville A Bit More (BTA720) is the best 2 slice toaster. It has extra wide, deep slots, variable browning with an LED progress bar, and one-touch buttons to add a little more time or lift and check the toast. Breville listed it at $109.95. If you want to spend less, the Hamilton Beach Gourmet 22996 at $44.99 is a strong budget pick.

Why does my toaster toast unevenly?

Uneven toast usually comes from uneven heat or bread that sits off-center. The heating wires on each side of the slot glow at slightly different strengths, and bread closer to one side browns faster. Self-centering guides help, and so does a single-slice mode that adjusts heat when only one slot is used. Crumbs building up near the elements can also cause dark spots.

How wide should toaster slots be for bagels?

Look for slots around 1.4 to 1.5 inches wide. The BUYDEEM DT620 has 1.4-inch slots and the Cuisinart CPT-122 has 1.5-inch slots. A bagel setting also matters. It toasts the cut side and only warms the rounded side, so the inside gets crisp without the outside turning hard.

Is a 2 slice toaster better than a toaster oven?

A 2 slice toaster is faster, smaller and cheaper for toast and bagels. A toaster oven does more jobs, like reheating pizza and baking small batches, but it takes longer to toast and uses more counter space. If you mostly make toast, a 2 slice toaster is the better tool. If you want one appliance to replace the oven for small jobs, go with a toaster oven.

How often should you clean a toaster crumb tray?

Empty the crumb tray at least once a week if you toast daily. Built-up crumbs can burn, smell and in rare cases catch fire. Unplug the toaster first and let it cool. Slide out the tray, empty it into the bin, and wipe it with a damp cloth. Never poke inside the slots with a metal knife.