In this Cuisinart toaster review, we will be discussing the best Cuisinart toaster appliances available today. In olden times, civilization was such that the people would be more than happy with a slice of unevenly toasted bread. Nowadays, people are more finicky about their toast, to say the least.
While some might like their toast to be lightly kissed with heat, others want it on the verge of cinders. In the era of smart devices, the ability to toast to order is still woefully insufficient.
Different types of toasters
There are two main types of toasters you will see on the market today, each available in different sizes. They are the pop-up toaster and the countertop toaster oven.
Pop-up Toaster
This is perhaps the most common type of toaster out of the two. When someone says ‘toaster’, they automatically picture a small kitchen appliance with either two or four slots on the top where the bread pops in. After pressing down the lever and waiting for some time, the toast pops out.
These types of toasters come in either two or four-slice varieties and are designed specifically for toasting. While most toasters work with standard-sized slices of bread, others offer wider toasting slots that can accommodate other types of pastries like Texas toast or bagels.
This type of toaster is quite affordable and can be found almost everywhere. They are also very easy to use. The pop-up toaster was designed for making toast in a simpler way.
Countertop Toaster Oven
A countertop toaster oven is basically a toaster that is more like an oven than a conventional toaster. While this appliance is great for making toast, it can also be used for other types of cooking. Some people buy this toaster oven as a replacement for a standard oven, which uses more electricity and time to cook.
If you have a large family of nine or ten, then a toaster oven is a better alternative than a pop-up toaster. The appliance can make enough toast for the whole family and will make your mornings easier.
Of course, countertop toasters tend to be costlier than the pop-up ones, but they will also provide you with a wide array of uses apart from just making just toast. They may have a rotisserie function, bake cookies, and even make small-sized pizzas.
The Top 4 Best Cuisinart toasters
Cuisinart has been manufacturing the best kitchen appliances and cooking tools since 1973. Today, it is one of the top names in the culinary world. All products manufactured by this company are top-shelf and safe. Here are some of the top Cuisinart toasters for you.
* Cuisinart CPT-180 Metal Classic 4-Slice Toaster
The Cuisinart Metal Classic is a great toaster for families. With the help of this Cuisinart 4 slice toaster you can now make toast a lot faster. It is fitted with dual control panels from which you can adjust the browning of the bread and choose between toast selections. Also, the high lift carriage will ensure that you do not burn your fingers while taking out the toasts.
The toaster allows you to personalize your toast.
With the browning dial, you can choose the shade of your toast. This big and shiny toaster is fitted with options like shade, defrost and reheat functions to accommodate a wide variety of bread and other food items like waffles and pancakes.
The slots measure up to 1.5 inches wide and can accommodate thicker cuts of bread; you do not have to trim your toast separately. Cleaning the toaster is also very easy, thanks to the pull-out crumb tray. The Cuisinart classic toaster is made from stainless steel and comes with the brand’s long and reliable history. It is convenient while adding a modern appeal to any kitchen.
Pros
- The toaster is covered with a warranty period of three years
- The toaster provides you with a range of custom controls like defrost buttons, six-setting dials, bagel buttons, etc.
- The slot dimensions allow you to toast thicker slices of bread
Cons
- This toaster might be on the expensive side
- Some types of bread and thicker slices might take a longer time to toast
* Cuisinart CPT-440 Touch to Toast Leverless 4-Slice Toaster
If you are looking for a big-budget Cuisinart toaster, then the CPT-440 Touch toaster is a great toaster that you can keep in consideration. It’s a beautiful toaster fitted with a digital display. This Cuisinart stainless steel toaster is easily one of the best selling toasters today.
The toasting functions are all great and work excellently.
It is an automatic toaster which means you do not have to wait and watch for the toast to rise; it gets raised automatically. All you need to do is drop the bread into the toaster and enter your function. You have options such as reheat, defrost and Bagel functions. It will shoot the bread right out once it reaches the perfectly toasted level.
The Cuisinart metal toaster also has self-centering and wide slots for those who love making artisan slices of bread and bagels. The self-centering feature means that the toaster can place the bread automatically for the best browning. The toaster is also dishwasher-friendly, so you can clean out all the specks of dust and crumbs quickly and easily.
Pros
- With no levers, there is a minimal hassle when it comes to toasting the bread to perfection
- The automatic functions do not require you to keep watch over the toaster
- This is a steady toaster that has yielded reliable results, according to several reviews
Cons
- Apart from the lever, this toaster does not offer unique functions compared to cheaper toaster models
- Some reviews state that the toaster beeps quite loudly while toasting
* Cuisinart CPT-160 Metal Classic 2-Slice Toaster
Cuisinart is known to deliver the most high-performance and durable kitchen appliances to date. This Cuisinart CPT-160 toaster is no exception. The toaster is fitted with all the features that are expected in a two slice toaster.
The Cuisinart 2 slice toaster has reheat, defrost and bagel functions, which deliver great performance. The appliance also looks stunning because of the stainless steel. Its combination of colors make it a perfect addition to any modern kitchen. The shade control setting is amazing and is capable of lightly shading or completely darkening the toast.
You have a wide range of browning options as well.
The high carriage in this toaster allows you to remove the toasted bread without burning your fingers. The crumb tray is removable so that you can clean it comfortably. Additionally, the cord wrap underneath the toaster allows you to wrap the power cords safely when not in use.
Pros
- Thanks to the stainless steel body, the toaster looks amazing and is a great addition to the kitchen
- You can easily fit a large and uneven slice of bagel without any issue
- The high-lift feature and the shade control settings give you more toasting freedom
Cons
- There is no beep to notify you whether the toasting process is done or not
- Some reviews state that the toaster does not toast the bread evenly
* Cuisinart CPT-420 Touch to Toast Leverless 2-Slice Toaster
The CPT-420 is one of the most recommended two slice toasters available on the market today. The appliance looks breathtaking and will take the aesthetics of your kitchen to the next level. There are also a wide variety of functions like reheat, defrost and bagel toasting options.
This Cuisinart slim toaster is equipped with a lot of handy functions which allow you to utilize it with ease. The LCD display tells you how much longer you will have to wait for the bread to be toasted. The controls are very easy to understand and use. The crumb tray is of the best quality and allows you to clean the toaster without much hassle.
This is also one of the cheapest models of modern leverless toasters available on the market. It is a great value for the money and offers much better performance than other more expensive toasters. It is well adapted to handle all your toasting needs.
Pros
- The leverless feature means that you do not have to watch over the appliance while it toasts the bread
- The carriage lifts high enough to let you take the bread out easily once the toasting is done
- While it is fitted with a lot of independent controls, the toaster is quite easy on the pocket
Cons
- Some reviews complain that the toaster toasts the bread quite unevenly
- There have also been reviews that the highest setting does not produce the required shade
Toaster: A Buying guide
In the case of any electronic gadget, a range of options is always available. You need to keep certain factors in mind when you are searching for a toaster.
Durability
A decent toaster should last you for several years. Some reviews mention customers making good use of decade-old toasters. You need to consider the durability factor of the toaster and make sure that it will last a good amount of years before giving out.
Once you decide on a toaster model, make sure to check the brand’s reputation. You can also get in touch with past customers to learn about their experiences hands-on. Some toasters also offer warranties to give you much-needed peace of mind. Generally, the higher priced models are better-made and will last longer.
Ease of cleaning and use
Most pop-up toasters (even countertop toaster ovens) are very easy to understand and use. All you need to do is figure out the setting in which you prefer to make your toast. This method might cost you some time and some burnt toast as well. Once you find the right settings, things will simplify a bit.
On the other hand, cleaning a toaster is a bit on the complicated side. With a crumb tray, cleaning the toaster becomes a bit easier. You can also opt for a toaster with a non-stick interior. They will be very easy to clean.
Settings
Some toasters come with the most basic settings – light, medium, and dark. While most customers are satisfied with these setting options, others need a wider range. You will see many different sophisticated models that offer different things.
It is common for many pop-up toasters to include the bagel option that browns one side of the bread/bagel more than the other. If you like making frozen waffles or freeze your toast, you will need a toaster that offers you a defrost option. Some toasters also offer a higher range of darkness options.
Uses
If your needs are simple like making standard-sized slices of toasted bread, you can go for any toaster and you will be fine. You just need to make sure that you avoid toasters on the cheaper end of the line.
If you are thinking about toasting pop tarts and a variety of pastries like waffles, English muffins, and bagels, you will have to search for a pop-up toaster that has big enough slots and the correct settings to match your needs.
Costs
A pop-up toaster is comparatively cheaper than countertop toaster ovens. You cheap and simple bare-bone models that will get the job done and make toast just fine. But you need to remember: the cheaper the model is, the more chance it has of breaking down soon. Also, these models will not give you a lot of options.
Costlier models are made with better materials that are guaranteed to last for a long time. These models also offer a lot of different settings and features for additional types of cooking techniques. But most customers simply want a toaster that is reliable and durable.
Size
The final question you need to ask yourself is the size of the toaster. Some points that you need to consider are how many slices of bread you want to toast in a single go, how much counter space you can afford for your toaster, and how big you need the toaster slots to be.
If you are going for a normal, everyday toaster with the capacity to toast two to four bread slices, you can opt for the regular-sized toaster. If you plan to go for more than four slices, you should choose a toaster with more than four slots.
Final Word
If you are a morning person, then a toaster is a very important appliance to have in your kitchen. You can save a lot of time that you would otherwise spend to manually toast your slice of bread. The Cuisinart toasters have been making waves around the world because of their high-end product quality. With the help of the above Cuisinart toaster review, you can choose the best toaster for yourself.
