Toasters

[bitchstewie]

I need a new toaster and usually I go with buy cheap buy twice but have alway bought cheap toaster in a hurry.

Don't mind paying (within reason) if it lasts but don't want to be paying just because it looks nice in the kitchen.

Are Dualit and other expensive toasters actually better and worth the money?

Any recommendations please?

[Bannock]

As with most things, buy the second cheapest one in the shop. Works for wine in restaurants too.

[RizzoTheRat]

Supermarket own brand thick and thin long slot toasters, unlike most named brand toasters, seem to be designed to actually take a slice of bread. I don't know why this is such a difficult concept for many toaster manufactures to get thier heads around. Mine's 5 or 6 years old and still going strong, but can't remember if it was Sainsburys or Tescos.

[PushedDover]

Dualit, only bettered by 'Aga-toast'

[vixen1700]

Had a Dualit at one point and it wasn't any better than the Morphy Richards that replaced it, which was over £100 cheaper.

[LeadFarmer]

They nearly all have slots that are too small to take normal slices of bread, especially Warburtons Toastie. I went as far as cutting out a template of s slice of Warburtons and taking it with me to the shops when buying a toaster.

[tomsugden]

Another vote for Dualit. Made in the UK, all parts are DIY replaceable, and you'll never need to buy another.

[cb31]

Bought a dualit 4 slice stainless one about 15 years ago. Had to replace the timer years ago which was a few quid and took a few minutes. Nice toast and still looks great today. Well worth the outrageous cost in my eyes, we'd been through multiple cheap ones before that.

[monthou]

In 25 years I've replaced 2 elements on our Dualit. Still shiny, it will outlast me.

[Rayy]

I have a 2-slice Dualit model from the early 1990s. It has had a few heating elements over the years (easy DIY to replace) but otherwise works perfectly despite 30 years' use.

[vixen1700]

Just mentioned this thread to my Mrs. and says Sage is the one she rates very highly.

[CoupeKid]

We’ve got a Morphy Richards which was a wedding present for SWMBO’s first marriage. It must be about 20 years old and is still going although it doesn’t get much use.

All this proves of course is that 20 years ago Morphy Richards made decent toasters.

[untakenname]

tomsugden said:

Another vote for Dualit. Made in the UK, all parts are DIY replaceable, and you'll never need to buy another.

I have a Dualit and it's not DIY replaceable, also it doesn't say anywhere that it's made in the UK.

Bought it a couple of years back and accidentally broke the element trying to get a stuck bagel out of the toaster a week in, took it apart and the parts weren't user serviceable (elements were all spot welded together and clipped together by folding the thin sheet metal).







Half of it still works but it's no better at toasting or made than a cheap £20 one, the best toasters seem to be vintage ones that use sensors to work out when the toast is done rather than by an arbitrary time dial.

https://www.theverge.com/22801890/sunbeam-radiant-...

[bitchstewie]

I don't want to go all judgemental on you but isn't that a "cheaper" Dualit?

I noticed they seem to make a few different ranges and I wonder if some aren't UK made and aren't quite as serviceable and repairable or something like that?

[monthou]

untakenname said:

tomsugden said:

Another vote for Dualit. Made in the UK, all parts are DIY replaceable, and you'll never need to buy another.

I have a Dualit and it's not DIY replaceable, also it doesn't say anywhere that it's made in the UK.

Bought it a couple of years back and accidentally broke the element trying to get a stuck bagel out of the toaster a week in, took it apart and the parts weren't user serviceable (elements were all spot welded together and clipped together by folding the thin sheet metal).







Half of it still works but it's no better at toasting or made than a cheap £20 one, the best toasters seem to be vintage ones that use sensors to work out when the toast is done rather than by an arbitrary time dial.

https://www.theverge.com/22801890/sunbeam-radiant-...

The uk ones are the Dualit Classics. Their other toasters are more along the lines of overcomplicated fancypants sweatshop throwaways - at a cheaper price.
We had a Dualit kettle. Looked great, felt solid, lasted a couple of years, no user serviceable parts, scrapped.

edit:

Dualit said:

Patented Perfect Toast Technology:

Join the toaster revolution with Dualit's patented Perfect Toast Technology. Each variable in this smart toaster is calculated, from the temperature of the room and the toaster, to how many slices it has toasted or how long it has had to cool.

How do I manage without that?

Edited by monthou on Thursday 31st March 15:54

[ecsrobin]

bhstewie said:

I don't want to go all judgemental on you but isn't that a "cheaper" Dualit?

I noticed they seem to make a few different ranges and I wonder if some aren't UK made and aren't quite as serviceable and repairable or something like that?

Yep the above post is a dualit architect which is not sold as user repairable. The classic on the other hand is.

[loughran]

Get a Magimix Vision. It's better than watching the telly.

[55palfers]

This is the one you want.

Ours is over 20 years old and the toast is as good as day 1

[untakenname]

Was a hundred pounds if I remember correctly which imo isn't cheap though as this is Pistonheads I'm guessing the better ones are triple the price.

Looking at youtube it says it's 'designed and engineered' in UK so likely made in the far east though I assumed they were all made in UK as that's what people pay a premium for.

[anonymous-user]

55palfers said:

This is the one you want.

Ours is over 20 years old and the toast is as good as day 1

This.

I hate to be a terrible bore, but I'm going to say Dualit classic/original like nearly everyone else in this thread.

My parents have had theirs 24 years, and it still works perfectly and still looks good. They have replaced the elements once so far and it was an easy DIY job.

We've had ours 12 years and just about to do a 'service' on it and replace the elements, which cost £7 each from Dualit. The 'Original' model is still made in the UK and they claim they will continue to sell all the user serviceable parts to make it last 'a lifetime'.

https://www.dualit.com/products/original-toasters

£200 well spent in my opinion, and they are a timeless look.