I made the mistake of getting a toaster from someone on Facebook just because it was $10.
Without doing any research or not knowing how many different types of toasters there were out there, I bought it simply because I didn’t know that toasters (brand new) could easily fall under the $20 price range.
With that same mistake, I was then able to understand the world of toasters, and now I can provide that information for those of you who think the same way I did.
After reading this post, I am 100% sure you will be able to find the best toaster to fit YOUR life and its so-called want and “needs.”
So before you go out there and purchase just any old toaster you find at Walmart, let me give you some pointers before you start swiping that credit card of yours, as not all toasters are created equal.
I had to deal with a toaster that couldn’t even pop up right, so trust me, I know that buying a bad toaster is very much possible.
What Do You Want Your Toaster to Do?
If you want your toaster to simply toast bread as all toasters do, then that is fine.
Now if you want it to do other things like warm up some bread or be able to make actual sandwiches, then you can have that too.
Keep in mind that you are not limited to the basic toaster as there have been so many different styles that have been created that I’m sure you will find to be very helpful to you.
Does your soon-to-be toaster toast your bread evenly?
Does it come with a crumb collector?
These are some of the questions you need to ask yourself before you give into any old toaster that you come across.
Those are great questions when deciding on which one to pick, but now let’s get into what you need to look out for before you buy.
How Many People Are in Your Household?
This is a big deal in the land of toasters.
I personally had a two-seater toaster for the longest time (yes, that same $10 garbage), and I have four kids that I have to feed.
Rather than making an investment that didn’t require much money, I dealt with that crappy appliance for years.
You need to keep in mind that there are toasters that can toast four or even six slices of bread at once.
Sounds like a no-brainer but trust me, there are people that don’t know this.
How Much Counter Space Do You Have?
I once stayed in a studio that had absolutely no counter space, and my mom gave me one of the many old toasters she had.
This one just so happened to be a four-seater, and boy, was this a big inconvenience for me.
It’s pretty funny, but I did own that toaster before I had any kids and ended up having a two-slicer when I had my four kids.
Sounds crazy, but that’s exactly how it went.
Now for you, I’m sure you have a lot more counter space than I did in that studio.
What you do need to know is if it can fit without having you put it away after every use, as it can become a problem if you have a big toaster, as I did.
So get a toaster that allows you to make life easier by having you leave it out there as some kind of accent piece of some sort.
What Extras Might You Consider?
Gone are the days of toasters doing what they do best.
Toast bread.
From a simple browning setting comes the more advanced toasters that can do some crazy stuff.
Bagel settings?
Countdown timers?
Warmers?
Pause toasting?
Holy cow!
I don’t have to push up the toaster in fear that I am burning something.
Toasters have come a long way, and if you’re living in a box, welcome to the world of innovation that we live in.
There are so many features I never knew existed, and that my friend is thanks to doing some research after realizing that I had a toaster that needed to be replaced.
So before spending on your next toaster, keep in mind that there are things that you can include if you want your new friend to do more than toast bread.
How Much Are You Willing to Spend?
Although you can find a bunch of very inexpensive toasters, there are those that can go well over $50 and into the $100 playing field.
Not to say that you need one of those fancy ones, but you just need to stay within your limits.
And trust me, there are many toasters for under $50 that can do all the fancy stuff that you would normally see in an overpriced model.
Conclusion
Get a toaster that fits YOUR lifestyle.
There are literally hundreds upon hundreds to choose from, so before you take the one in the middle aisle of Walmart because it was on sale, explore your options, and you will see that there are more to choose from, especially online.
Amazon has a huge selection, and even Walmart online does as well.
Don’t settle for anything just yet, as your next toaster can possibly do more than just toast.
Hey, you might even find one retro-looking model that I’m sure some of you home decor-type people can appreciate.
