The 5 best long-slot toasters in 2023, tested and reviewed

Pros: Toasts evenly, control buttons are easy to understand and use, high-lift lever prevents fingertip burning, easy to clean, visually appealing.

Cons: Doesn't toast as quickly as some competitors

The best long slot toaster delivers on both performance and aesthetics. The Breville "A Bit More" Long Slot Toaster has a brushed stainless steel exterior, giving it a polished and modern look. The control buttons are clearly labeled with words, and the LED lighting on each button doesn't blink or waver. We appreciated the progress light running parallel to the browning switch, which removed any "how much longer do we need to wait?" guesswork.

The Breville toaster was successful when toasting standard slices of bread and sliced bagels, and thanks to the "Frozen" control option, we were able to get an even brown on frozen slices. However, it's this device's signature control — the "A Bit More" button — that really sets it apart. If your toast pops up and you're not happy with its level of brownness, you can hit "A Bit More" to give it a slightly longer toast cycle that's calibrated to darken the bread one more shade without the risk of burning.

Another thoughtful design feature is the High Lift lever, which helps lift the toast away from the heat source so you don't burn your fingers. The lever also has a "Lift and Look" notch that will lift the bread mid-toast so that you can check on its progress without interrupting the cycle. Plus, the crumb tray is flat enough to be fully concealed when using the toaster and spacious enough to catch any errant crumbs or seeds. 

This toaster's price feels reasonable for its overall quality, and we recommend it for families, shared living situations, and any household that really enjoys toasted bread products.

Pros: Inexpensive, toasts quickly, clearly labeled control buttons and browning knob, lightweight and compact

Cons: Doesn't toast as evenly as other models, can only toast 2 standard slices of bread at a time

For a budget long slot toaster, the Dash ClearView Long Slice Toaster is the way to go. The light and streamlined model can easily be tucked into a small countertop corner or kitchen cabinet, and its plastic facade hides scratches and dings. 

The Dash ClearView is easy to operate; to toast a room-temperature piece of bread, you just push down on the side lever. You have the option to customize the toast for bagels or frozen bread, and the temperature knob provides seven browning levels. We were impressed by the Dash ClearView's speed: it toasted a bagel in just 2 minutes and 20 seconds and fully-frozen slices of bread in 2 minutes and 35 seconds. By contrast, the KitchenAid model that we tested took 3 minutes and 15 seconds to toast a bagel, and the Breville that earned our top-ranked position required 3 minutes and 5 seconds to toast frozen bread.

The most unique feature on the Dash is the Clear View: a window on the front of the device allows you to watch the toasting process. If you don't like surprises, you'll find the Dash ClearVIew's window as reassuring as it is fun to watch. 

Another well-built budget toaster is the Hamilton Beach 4-Slice Long Slot Toaster, which features easy-to-read controls, even browning, and a "One Slice" option that calibrates the machine to properly toast a single slice of bread.

Pros: Even toasting, display-worthy looks, easy to clean, bright LED lighting on control buttons, well-integrated crumb tray

Cons: Expensive, buttons have symbols rather than words

A splurge-worthy appliance must feature striking visuals and a superior ability to do its job; the Zwilling Enfinigy 2 Long Slot Toaster succeeds on both fronts. The toaster's gentle curves and matte stainless steel finish feel crisp and modern. With LED lights that clearly illuminate the control buttons, the setting symbols are cleverly designed and easy to interpret. 

The Enfinigy 2's slots are spacious and capable of handling irregular bread slice shapes, along with multiple standard slices and bagel halves at once. We found that the toast level was even on all tested bread products, the timing was efficient (two and a half minutes for frozen bread and just over two minutes for bagels), and the concealed crumb drawer right at the front of the machine made post-toasting cleanup simple. The temperature knob offers seven browning options, and the push lever can be used to lift the bread out of the slots safely and smoothly.

Pros: Comes in multiple colors, iconic shape, extra-wide slots, easy to program

Cons: Very expensive, "bagel" button is confusingly labeled

Smeg appliances appear in upscale interior design spreads and aspirational influencer posts on a regular basis, and that's because these retro-inspired items are as photographable as they are useful. The Smeg 4-Slice Toaster can be purchased in eight enamel colors all with a sleek stainless steel control panel. The toaster features a push lever, temperature knob with a reheat setting, Defrost button, and Bagel button. However, we did notice that the decal on the Bagel button is more reminiscent of a baguette than a bagel. 

Our testing proved that, at least in the case of the 4-Slice Toaster, Smeg isn't just a pretty face. We experienced quick and easy toasting for standard bread, frozen bread, and bagels — the dark-gold color of each toasted bread product was as photogenic as the toaster itself. The extra wide slots can easily fit multiple bread slices and bagel halves, and the lever knob smoothly lifts the finished toast away from the hot surface when you're ready to plate.

Pros: Slim profile conducive to small kitchens; easy-clean plastic facade; especially springy high-lift lever; actual toasting levels line up well with the numbers on the temperature knob

Cons: Can only toast 2 slices of standard bread at a time

Anyone who has one of the best KitchenAid stand mixers knows how durable and powerful this brand's appliances are — we're pleased to report that KitchenAid's 2 Slice Long Slot Toaster is just as functional and display-worthy. The Long Slot Toaster is narrower than most competitors, making it an ideal choice for apartment dwellers and those looking to minimize countertop clutter.

This model can toast two standard bread slices or bagel halves at once, and the single long slot works nicely for larger slices. However, it may not be the best long-slot toaster for large households since it can't toast more than that at once.

When it comes to toasting, the KitchenAid toaster didn't produce the rich golden color that we expect from a medium-toasted slice of room-temperature or frozen bread. The texture proved crispy and appealing, but the coloration was lighter than we hoped to see. However, we found that the bagel function of this toaster was highly effective, producing perfectly-golden halves. The high lift lever deserves its prime spot in the toaster's official name because it removes any need to bring your fingers close to the scalding toaster slots.

Settings: Slot toasters are, by nature, simple devices to operate. For that reason, we recommend paying particular attention to how the best long-slot toasters try to streamline their toasting processes. Look at the labeling on the temperature knob and the programming buttons — is it easy to tell which button does which task, and does the temperature knob offer enough browning options? Is there a "Stop" button that will enable you to easily end the toast? Can you add extra cook time without starting a whole new toasting cycle?

Levers: Burnt fingertips are a common risk of slot toasters, so we advise seeking out a model with a high-lift lever. This will guide your toasted bread upwards and remove the need to stick your fingers even slightly inside the slots. 

Aesthetics: Whether you want a long-slot toaster that will perfectly match your stainless steel appliances or you'd prefer a model in a bright and vibrant color, there are options on the market to suit all tastes. Look for different colors and materials (enamel vs. stainless vs. plastic). 

Cleanup: The best long-slot toasters can be effectively cleaned by turning them upside down over a trash can and giving them a good shake. Still, a crumb tray is a useful tool for keeping crumbs, seeds, and other disposable bits consolidated. Some models have larger crumb trays than others, some have them positioned at the front of the device, and others keep them at the back. All types can work effectively, as long as you remember to empty them.

Toaster setup: We first evaluated how long it took to remove the toaster from its packaging, whether there were any extra pieces (like crumb trays) that needed attachment, and whether the toaster could be plugged into a 2-prong or 3-prong outlet.

Room-temperature bread slices: We began our toasting tests on the best long-slot toasters by determining how long it would take to toast two standard slices of room-temperature sandwich bread (we put two in each long slot) to "medium" brownness. Then we studied the toasted bread and looked for browning depth and evenness to see if it reached the color that we anticipated over the entire bread surface

Frozen bread slices: We repeated the bread toasting test, but with frozen slices this time. We used the "Defrost" mode on all models that included this option.

Bagels: We sliced a sesame bagel in half and ran it through the toast test (both halves went in the same long slot), programming each toaster to "Bagel" mode. 

Cleanup: Finally, we pulled out the crumb trays after each toast cycle and determined how well they were able to collect and consolidate the crumbs and seeds, how easy they were to find and remove, and how easy they were to put back in place.

What's the difference between a "regular" slot toaster and a long slot toaster?

As its name suggests, the difference between a "long slot" toaster and a "regular" toaster is the length of the slots. For a toaster to be considered "long slot"it should be able to hold two pieces of standard sandwich bread in a single slot with little-to-no overlap. 

How is a toaster oven different from a long slot toaster? 

Like all other slot toasters, a long slot toaster is designed to achieve one single task: toasting bread and bread products. By contrast, the best toaster ovens can both work as a toaster, a mini convection oven, and sometimes an air fryer. Their larger size enables them to toast sandwiches, muffins, and other items that aren't correctly shaped for slot toasters, and they can also bake frozen pizzas and some smaller dishes, broil meat, and even roast vegetables. 

What's the best way to keep your long slot toaster clean?

Standard toaster maintenance involves unplugging the toaster, removing the crumb tray, and clearing out the crumbs and seeds. Then, you give the crumb tray a rinse and gentle cleansing with soap and a sponge (don't run it through the dishwasher, as these pieces aren't dishwasher-compatible) before thoroughly drying the tray and replacing it in its spot. Check our full guide on how to clean a toaster.

However, a "deep cleaning" can benefit the longevity of your toaster, so we recommend doing it a few times a year. Start by unplugging the toaster and emptying and cleaning the crumb tray (as described above). Then, turn the toaster upside down over the trash can and give it a firm shake to dislodge any crumbs that may not have made it down to the tray yet. Use gentle soap and water and a soft cloth (KitchenAid recommends a microfiber towel) to wash the exterior of a plastic or enamel-coated toaster. For stainless steel, consider following up the soap-and-water cleanse with stainless steel polish to maintain its shine.