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10 Best Toaster For Artisan Bread 2026 in the United States

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Our Top Picks

#1

Winner

Smeg 50's Style Retro Aesthetic 4 Slice Toaster 6 Presets with 2 Extra Wide Slots, Pastel Blue

The Smeg 50's Style Retro Aesthetic 4 Slice Toaster stands out with its distinctive pastel blue color and retro design, making it an attractive choice for those who appreciate vintage style. The toaster features two extra wide slots, perfect for artisan bread, which is often thicker than standard bread. The self-centering racks ensure even toasting, while the automatic slice pop-up and anti-slip feet add to the convenience and safety of use.

The removable stainless steel crumb tray simplifies cleaning, which is a nice touch for maintaining the appliance. With six browning levels, you can customize the toast to your preference, and the three preset programs (reheat, defrost, bagel) offer versatility for various toasting needs. The lift and look feature is absent, which means you can't check the toast without interrupting the cycle. This could be a minor inconvenience for some users.

The appliance is relatively lightweight at 4.43 pounds and operates at 1400 watts, ensuring quick toasting. However, the toaster’s larger dimensions (8"D x 16"W x 9"H) might require more counter space. The toaster's durability is backed by its stainless steel construction, ensuring it can withstand daily use. This toaster is well-suited for anyone who enjoys artisan bread and wants a stylish appliance that offers essential toasting functions along with a touch of retro charm.

#2

Breville BTA720XL Bit More Toaster, 2 Slice, Brushed Stainless Steel

Rating
9.1
Slot Size
Adjustable Browning Control
Lift and Look Feature

Most important from
7525 reviews

Slot Size
The extra-wide slots easily accommodate thick artisan bread and bagels, making it ideal for specialty toasting needs.
Adjustable Browning Control
Controls feel high quality and intuitive, with six browning settings that consistently produce golden toast.
Lift and Look Feature
The Lift & Look feature lets you check toast progress without interrupting the cycle, adding great convenience.
Bagel Setting
The bagel setting toasts the cut side evenly without overcooking the outside, perfect for dense breads.

The Breville Bit More Toaster is a solid choice if you often toast artisan bread, thanks to its extra-wide 2-slice slots that easily fit thick slices, bagels, and dense pastries. It offers six browning settings, so you can pick exactly how toasted you want your bread, and the LED progress indicator helps you keep an eye on the toasting without guessing. Features like 'Lift & Look' let you check your toast without stopping the cycle, and 'A Bit More' lets you add extra time to get the perfect crispness. The bagel setting ensures even toasting on the cut side without overcooking the outside. You can also defrost frozen bread and reheat toast without burning it.

Its compact size is great for smaller kitchens, and the stainless steel design looks sleek while being easy to clean with a pull-out crumb tray. On the downside, it only toasts two slices at a time, which might be limiting for larger households, and the 1000-watt power is average, so toasting might take a bit longer compared to higher-powered toasters. Some users might find the manual lift and lowering lever less modern than automatic pop-up ones.

If you want a reliable, easy-to-use toaster that handles artisan bread well without a lot of extra bells and whistles, this Breville model fits the bill nicely.

Rating
9.1
Slot Size
Adjustable Browning Control
Lift and Look Feature

Most important from
7525 reviews

Slot Size
The extra-wide slots easily accommodate thick artisan bread and bagels, making it ideal for specialty toasting needs.
Adjustable Browning Control
Controls feel high quality and intuitive, with six browning settings that consistently produce golden toast.
Lift and Look Feature
The Lift & Look feature lets you check toast progress without interrupting the cycle, adding great convenience.
Bagel Setting
The bagel setting toasts the cut side evenly without overcooking the outside, perfect for dense breads.
#3

Breville BTA820XL Die-Cast Smart Toaster, 2 Slice, Brushed Stainless Steel

Rating
8.8
Slot Size
Lift and Look Feature
Bagel Setting

Most important from
3536 reviews

Slot Size
The toaster accommodates wider bread slices and looks stylish on the counter.
Lift and Look Feature
The peek feature is more useful than expected, allowing you to check your toast mid-cycle.
Bagel Setting
Though initially disappointed, the toaster proved its worth with perfect bagel and homemade bread toasting.

The Breville Die-Cast Smart Toaster, 2-Slice, Brushed Stainless Steel, is designed to cater to the needs of artisan bread lovers. One of its standout features is the wider slots that accommodate larger bread slices, thick bagels, and dense pastries, ensuring versatility. The adjustable browning control with an LED indicator is useful for achieving your preferred toasting level, making it simple to monitor progress. Innovative features like 'Lift & Look' allow you to check your toast mid-cycle without stopping the process, and the 'A Bit More' button adds extra time if needed, which is a nice touch for perfecting your toast. The bagel setting ensures even heating, and the defrost function is handy for toasting frozen bread without a hitch.

Cleaning is made easy with a front crumb tray that can be pulled out and emptied without hassle. On the downside, the toaster's 2-slice capacity might be limiting if you have a larger household or frequently need to toast multiple pieces simultaneously. The product weighs 5.71 pounds, which is relatively heavy for a toaster, potentially making it less convenient to move around in the kitchen. Additionally, priced on the higher side given its features, it might not be the best choice for those on a tight budget. Despite these minor drawbacks, its build quality and the combination of user-friendly functions make it a practical choice for those who appreciate a good piece of toast and don’t mind spending a bit more for added convenience.

Rating
8.8
Slot Size
Lift and Look Feature
Bagel Setting

Most important from
3536 reviews

Slot Size
The toaster accommodates wider bread slices and looks stylish on the counter.
Lift and Look Feature
The peek feature is more useful than expected, allowing you to check your toast mid-cycle.
Bagel Setting
Though initially disappointed, the toaster proved its worth with perfect bagel and homemade bread toasting.

Buying Guide for the Best Toaster For Artisan Bread

Choosing the right toaster for artisan bread can make a big difference in your breakfast experience. Artisan bread often comes in various shapes and sizes, and it tends to be thicker than regular sliced bread. Therefore, you need a toaster that can accommodate these unique characteristics. Here are some key specifications to consider when selecting a toaster for artisan bread, along with explanations to help you make the best choice.
Slot SizeSlot size refers to the width and length of the slots where you insert the bread. This spec is crucial for artisan bread because these loaves are often larger and thicker than standard bread. Toasters with extra-wide and extra-long slots are ideal as they can accommodate a variety of bread sizes without squishing or cutting them. If you frequently toast large slices, look for slots that are at least 1.5 inches wide and 5 inches long. For smaller or more standard-sized bread, a regular slot size will suffice.
Adjustable Browning ControlAdjustable browning control allows you to select how light or dark you want your toast to be. This is important because different types of artisan bread may require different toasting times to achieve the perfect crispness. Browning controls typically range from light to dark settings, often numbered from 1 to 7 or more. If you like your toast lightly browned, you’ll use the lower settings, while darker toast will require higher settings. Choose a toaster with a wide range of browning options to cater to your specific preferences.
Lift and Look FeatureThe lift and look feature lets you check the progress of your toast without interrupting the toasting cycle. This is particularly useful for artisan bread, which can toast unevenly due to its irregular shape and thickness. By lifting the toast to check its progress, you can ensure it reaches your desired level of doneness without burning. If you often find yourself needing to check your toast, this feature can be very handy.
Bagel SettingA bagel setting is designed to toast the cut side of a bagel while gently warming the outer side. This feature can be beneficial for artisan bread as well, especially if you have thicker slices that need more even toasting. The bagel setting typically uses higher heat on one side of the slot and lower heat on the other. If you enjoy a variety of bread types, including bagels and thick artisan slices, this setting can provide more versatility.
Defrost FunctionThe defrost function allows you to toast bread directly from the freezer. This is important if you like to store artisan bread to keep it fresh longer. The defrost function typically adds extra time to the toasting cycle to ensure the bread is properly thawed and toasted. If you often freeze your bread, look for a toaster with a reliable defrost function to save time and ensure even toasting.
Reheat FunctionThe reheat function warms up previously toasted bread without further browning it. This is useful if you get distracted and your toast cools down before you can eat it. The reheat function usually operates at a lower temperature to gently warm the bread. If you find yourself reheating toast often, this feature can help maintain the quality and taste of your artisan bread.

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