Is there anything more comforting than hot, buttered toast with a steaming mug of tea in the morning? Given the joy it brings, getting the right toaster is more important than you might think. Good Homes magazine has picked seven of the best toasters on the market to ensure the perfect breakfast…

1. Optional accessories

You can count on Smeg to make your worktops look sleek and sexy and their 50s style toaster is no exception. Coming in eight shades, from black, cream, and bright red to pastel pink, green and blue, Smeg’s TSF03 four-slot steel toaster (£199) will add a pop of colour to the kitchen.

Looks aside, this one is super practical and great for big families (or hearty toast eaters) there’s four spacious slots and six browning levels to accommodate every taste of toast, whether its burnt or naked. It’s also got two independent controls, pre-set programmes for reheating, defrosting and single-side toasting and a separate bagel button. Who doesn’t love a bagel button? Sandwich racks and bun warmers can be bought separately.

2. Perfect browning

If you’re looking for a smart compact toaster for your kitchen, then the Dualit’s Domus two-slice toaster (£85.99) could be the one. It’s also a great buy for any best toast techies out there, as it comes with so many features.

Namely its Perfect Toast Technology, a patented technology which calculates not only the temperature of the toaster but also its surroundings, which pretty much guarantees you will get your toast just how you like it every time. Genius.

It also toasts right to the edges and has a patented Peek & Pop feature that means you can lift the toast with the eject button, mid toasting without interrupting the cycle. Burnt toast will be a thing of the past.

3. Playful pattern

Brighten up your worktop with Russell Hobbs’ brilliant Emma Bridgewater Polka Dot model (£79.99) and bring a bit of fun to your kitchen. Falling on the more reasonably priced end of the market, this one has less of the snazzy features, but does the job well.

It’s got two wide toasting slots to easily toast all kinds of bread, three toast settings and a cancel, defrost, and reheat function. This one is perfect for toasting crumpets and teacakes, as it’s got a high lift function to remove smaller pieces of bread. Invest in the matching Emma Bridgewater kettle and mugs and make tea time a lot more exciting.

4. Innovative features

You can count on the Classic Collection from Rangemaster (£149.99) to produce a sleek all-singing, all-dancing kitchen appliance that weighs in as one of the best toasters on the market. This one has style and substance, with four long slots that hold extra thick toast, and a bagel feature, that handily toasts one side while warming the other.

Frozen bread is defrosted quickly and toasted well and there’s six browning levels, plus a lift-and-look feature to check midway through a cycle. The crumb tray is easy to remove and cool-touch sides, mean there’s no danger of the toaster getting too hot.

5. Curvy design

If you’re bored of all the regular rectangular on the market, then The Funky Appliance Company has you covered with the Funky toaster (£109.99). With a curved design and triangular buttons, this one has a slightly sci-fi feel about it.

The controls are easy to use and come with a handy high-lift function, wide, deep slots, and the option to control each side of the toaster so whatever your family’s toast preference, everyone will be happy. It also has handy anti-slip silicone feet. This cool design is one of Good Homes’ favourites of this pick of best toasters.

6. Good all-rounder

If you like the retro feel of a Smeg kettle and toaster, but fancy something a fraction of the price, then the Swan Retro (£69.99) is a great all-rounder in this pick of best toasters. With automatic shut-off, electronic browning control and slots that take varying sizes (toast, crumpets, bagels, and muffins), the Swan Retro is perfect for families.

Its four wide slots are even self-centering which means a much more even toasting. Coming in a variety of colours, it’ll brighten up any kitchen.

7. Eco-friendly

Finally, a sustainably designed toaster, the Philips Eco Conscious 5000 Series (£49.99) credentials are excellent. Made from bio-based plastics from plant oil waste for a low environmental impact, it has eight browning settings, while the automatic power button saves more energy.

Small and compact, this toaster looks super smart with its silk white matte finish and won’t take up loads of space on the worktop. It has a bun-warming feature and a handy lid that you can pop on top to keep the toaster clean. For every one of these toasters sold, you’ll be helping reduce C02 emissions.

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