Toasters

Slot count and slot length decide whether a toaster is useful, more than the number of shade settings printed on the dial.

A two-slice toaster is enough for one person. A four-slice toaster earns its space when two people want toast at the same time, or when you are thawing a pack of buns. Long slots, the Bit More style of carriage, take a thick slice and then lift it high enough that a small piece of bread does not hide under the rim.

Some toasters in this range watch the colour of the bread and stop, instead of running for a fixed number of seconds. That is why a frozen slice and a fresh slice can share a setting and come out closer in colour. It is not magic on a slice that is already very dark, or on bread you have cut so thin it dries before it colours.

Crumb trays fill up. A tray that has not been emptied smokes, and the smoke smells like burning crumbs rather than like toast. Pull the tray while the toaster is cold and unplugged. Do not turn the toaster upside down over the sink while it is still warm.

One slice in a two-slot toaster can come out uneven if you always use the same slot and never the other. Use the slot the manual prefers for a single slice, often either slot, but check.

Sealed plates for cheese toasties are under grills and sandwich makers. Waffle plates are separate: waffle makers.