So why own a slice-style toaster in the first place? For starters, some slice toaster evangelists claim they toast bread more efficiently and more evenly than an oven-style model ever could. It offers more versatility than a slot toaster and can do everything from bake off a couple midnight snack cookies to air fry to, yes, toast bread. Here at Epi, we’re big proponents of the countertop oven. At $90, it strikes the right balance when it comes to price versus performance, design, and build quality. Our overall favorite, though, was the Breville ‘A Bit More’ two-slice toaster. After testing options ranging in price from $18 to upwards of $450, we ultimately decided to recommend four winners that are sure to satisfy your toasting needs regardless of space limitations, household size, or budget. To find that platonic ideal of a toaster, we crisped up a lot of slices of toast.

We also wanted to know if there was a reason to consider spending $400 on a toaster-or would a $35 one suffice? Our goal was to find a toaster well-designed enough to fit neatly into a small space, sturdy enough to stand up to near-constant use, and reliable enough to perform a grab bag of tasks ably, whether during a rushed school day breakfast or leisurely weekend brunch. We’re talking slot-style models here, not toaster ovens-while we here at Epi love the multifunctionality those oven-style appliances offer, our top picks in that category take up more countertop real estate than someone who’s just looking to crank out golden pieces of toast is probably willing to give up. For all the toastable-gluten heads out there, we went on a hunt for the absolute best toaster.

Top rated egg slicer