How to choose a toaster: what options to look for when buying

Who at breakfast will refuse aromatic hot toast? But to get a piece of bread really tasty, you need to know how to choose the right toaster. The huge selection of this household appliance on store shelves can scare an incompetent buyer, so we will help with the choice, describing all the possible characteristics. Then you will not doubt which toaster you need.

Origin history

The cooks of Ancient Rome constantly equipped thousands of soldiers on military campaigns. Through experiments, they realized that bread is stored longer if it is fried. Of course, there was no electricity at the time of the Roman Empire, bread was simply strung on sticks and roasted on fire. The Romans conquered many lands and did not hide from the local recipe for their crisp bread. Over time, toasts became popular in England, and already their conquerors of land brought the recipe to America. However, despite the fact that the electrification of the country took place in America at the beginning of the 20th century, the first toaster was not invented there.

It was released in 1893 at the British firm Crompton & Company, but the invention was unsuccessful, the toasts were obtained with a strong burning smell and were unsuitable for food. To the delight of housewives, in 1909, the American firm General Electric launched a new appliance that baked bread without smoke and fire. The first decades of the 20th century in the United States can be figuratively called the era of toaster building. Many companies competed among themselves, trying to improve the device which people liked. In 1919, the first toaster with a timer saw the light, and in 1926 the technology came to the point that the bread themselves began to pop out of the toaster. At the end of the 20th century, the device could not only fry bread slices, but also independently bake baked goods, leave patterns on slices or simply warm buns.

Types of Toasters

All toasters are divided into 3 categories depending on the type of control.

Automatic

This option has an automatic shutdown system. The owner only needs to put the bread inside and indicate the time of cooking, you do not need to follow the cooking. As soon as the toasts are fried, they will “jump out” thanks to the spring mechanism, after which the appliance will turn off. If you want to make breakfast a minimum of time, this option is for you.

Semi-automatic

In these models, toasted bread will have to be extracted independently, but before that, the device will notify you when the cooking is finished with a special sound signal and turn off. Availability controls the thermostatic switch by analyzing the surface temperature of the toast.

Mechanical (manual)

These are the simplest models that can only toast bread (do not defrost and do not heat). They do not have a timer, so the frying process will have to be controlled. To turn a piece of bread to the other side, you need to turn the handle. The disadvantage of mechanical appliances is that you can’t leave them if you don’t want to eat burnt toasts, but the advantage is that they are the cheapest.

Key Features of the toaster

To make the right choice of a toaster, when buying it, you should pay attention to the indicators described below.

Power

This is the main characteristic of the toaster. The speed of toasting bread depends on power.For the operation of this electric device, from 600 to 1700 watts are needed. Despite the fact that these are rather big indicators, you can not be afraid of energy overruns, since the device works only a couple of minutes. And the more powerful the appliance, the faster it dries the bread slices.

Spaciousness

When choosing a toaster, pay attention to the number of compartments in it. In oblong models, 2 pieces can be cooked at the same time. There are also devices with two compartments, in each of which 2 or even 3 slices can be placed. This option is suitable for a large family.

A roomy model allows you to quickly prepare a delicious breakfast for everyone, without taking a lot of time. The disadvantage of such a device is that it is quite bulky. There is similar to the previous model, but for frying two pieces. It is more compact when compared with previous versions of toasters. For a small kitchen, this will be the perfect choice.

Body material

Manufacturers offer two options for the material the toaster is made of:

• Plastic. This option is more common, because this material is very durable, lightweight, does not require special care, and most importantly - inexpensive. Its advantage in a variety of colors: you can choose the color of your kitchen.
• Stainless steel. Costly models are clad in metal cases. They may have a glossy or matte finish. We advise you to purchase a device with a matte, because fingerprints, smudges and spots that will constantly have to be washed off will remain on the gloss.

The coating material does not affect the performance or service life, the choice depends on personal aesthetic preferences.

The presence of a pallet

It would be nice to get a toaster that has a pallet. During cooking, small slices and breadcrumbs constantly fall into the structure, even if you do everything carefully. On some models, a tray is located at the bottom, which greatly simplifies the care of the electrical appliance. It can be pushed and discarded fallen pieces of bakery products.

Some models have simple slots at the bottom. Through them, all the leftovers are poured onto the table, not gathering inside. This option is not very convenient, because you have to constantly wipe the surface of the kitchen table.

Manufacturers of budget toasters do not even cut through the bottom. From such devices you need to shake the crumbs, turning them over. It is a must to clean the toaster! If a lot of crumbs accumulate, the device will break.

Additional functions

Household appliances of a high price category have a number of additional functions:

• Grate for heating. Located above the body. Any pastries can be put on it, and it will become warm thanks to the rising air currents. Also on it already cooked toasts will not cool. Additional frying products are not exposed.
• Auto centering. Pieces are located strictly in the center of the compartment, which contributes to their uniform frying. This function also protects against burning.
• Defrosting. Using this function, you can defrost slices of bread that were stored in the freezer. After defrosting, the toasts will start to brown until golden brown.
• Stop button. By pressing it, you turn off the device at any time. No need to wait for the toaster to finish. This may be necessary if you see that the bread is toasted faster.
• Cooking small pieces. You can safely fry croutons for soup or small slices for canapes.
• Drawings on toasts. Some models are able to burn a variety of patterns or images of animals on bread. Big fans of this feature are children.

Advanced Toasters

Those who think that toasters only toast pieces of bread are very mistaken. Modern models have stepped forward and may surprise.

The grill toaster not only copes well with its main function, but it can also bake a variety of bakery products. If this toaster also has convection heating, then the baking will be ready very quickly. The disadvantages of such a device in its large size. Also, carefully read the instructions before use: in some models it is impossible to cook baked goods with filling.

A toaster sandwich maker will help you prepare hot sandwiches with toppings. Externally, this appliance is similar to 2 small non-stick pans that are opposite each other. Sandwich components are stacked between them, then the plates are connected. On both sides, even frying begins. In addition, you can make waffles or other dough products in the sandwich maker.

We hope this article helped you, and after reading it, you know how to choose a toaster for your home. Choose a device with the features you need and enjoy fresh toast at least every day.