Home / Best Inexpensive / Best Inexpensive Toaster in 2024
Served table for breakfast with toast and fruit, on blurred background

Best Inexpensive Toaster in 2024

/22 Comments/in , /by Mary Hunt

A toaster is just about the most basic piece of equipment in a working kitchen. Seems pretty simple, doesn’t it? We expect  the Best Inexpensive toaster to turn out evenly toasted bread, bagels, English muffins, toaster waffles, and perhaps even an occasional grilled cheese sandwich!

Best inexpensive toaster serving up breakfast with toast and fruit, on blurred backgroundWe want this countertop appliance to have a long lifespan without any breakdowns, where one side fails to toast or the toaster stubbornly refuses to pop up. And, of course, it should be affordable. Is this asking too much?

Thankfully it is not asking too much—we can have all these things in a toaster at a very affordable price provided we understand a few things and let go of unreasonable expectations. Now, before we get to the toaster you’ll love, we need to talk reality.

Your toaster will eventually fail

Do you ever wonder why your grandparent’s refrigerator lasted for 40 years and now it’s still going strong, cooling beer in your garage? Or why you had your first toaster for decades and still have it toasting away were it not for that harvest gold color.

The sad truth is that modern appliances are no longer built to last. Get used to it.

The boring truth

The research and technicalities for why toasters are built to fail are long and tedious, but allow me to wrap it up in a few sentences. It’s the heating element.

Vintage toasters (those that lasted for decades and now show up in antique stores, still operable) have heating elements made of nichrome (known initially as Chromel— which is 90% nickel, 10% chromium). It’s strong and conducts heat really well because of the nickel.

Nickel has become a costly raw material, so to cut manufacturing costs, companies use aluminum plus a little iron in its place to make the heating element in a toaster. Why? To reduce the cost.

Vintage chromel is super durable; heating elements using aluminum are more brittle and less ductile. They’re delicate and prone to early failure.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a $180 Breville or a $20 Cuisinart toaster. Your toaster is going to fail you. Consider yourself fortunate if you get five years of regular use out of a new toaster.

The good stuff

Now that we have all that negative information out of the way let’s move along to the good stuff.

There really is a fabulous, inexpensive toaster out there. If you need a replacement, this is the toaster I highly recommend. By the way, I have an early version of this toaster that we use daily. The only difference is that ours is black and silver, and the shade selection dial is slightly different. We’re into year 7 without any problems at all, fingers crossed!

Best Inexpensive Toasters

Our pick for Best Inexpensive Toaster is the Cuisanart Toaster pictured below. It comes in two options: Two slots and four slots. Other than that, the two models thatare the same.

This inexpensive, ordinary-looking toaster browns bread, bagels, English muffins, and even frozen waffles better than most other models I’ve tested.

It has extra-wide slots that accept a wide variety of things to be toasted. Pushing the lever down clamps the item in place, regardless of its width from thin-slice up to 1.5 inches.

This toaster has a very handy defrost feature, which means you can drop in frozen items, press “defrost,” and they will quickly defrost first, then move right into toasting mode.

Set to bagel mode, this toaster heats the bagel for a crispy top and a soft, chewy bottom, the way a bagel should be.

The reheat feature warms a piece of toast that may have cooled, without re-toasting it. The cancel feature is handy should you want to interrupt a setting.

The high lift lever allows you to lift the toast clear out of the unit after it has popped up, for easy removal from the toaster without burning your fingers.

https://www.everydaycheapskate.com/wp-admin/edit-comments.phpThis toaster’s setting knob offers various shades of toasted goodness from 1 to 7.

What about cleaning?

Clean-up is easy with the removable crumb tray. It even has a cord wrap underneath the unit to manage unsightly power cords while not in use.

 

Cuisinart CPT-122 2-Slice Compact Plastic Toaster, Slots for Bagels & Bread, 7 Shade Settings, Cancel/Defrost/Reheat Functions, Removable Crumb Tray, Small Kitchen Appliance for Home & Office, White
Cuisinart CPT-122 2-Slice Compact Plastic Toaster, Slots for Bagels & Bread, 7 Shade Settings, Cancel/Defrost/Reheat Functions, Removable Crumb Tray, Small Kitchen Appliance for Home & Office, White
    $39.95
    Buy on Amazon

    Check price on WALMART

    Given that modern-day toasters are not known for their longevity regardless of the price (see above), this Cuisinart’s three-year warranty is impressive. Choice of black or white.

     

    Save $11.64
    Cuisinart 4-Slice Compact Plastic Toaster, White, CPT-142P1
    Cuisinart 4-Slice Compact Plastic Toaster, White, CPT-142P1
      $59.95 $48.31
      Buy on Amazon

      Check price on WALMART

      The Cuisinart four-slot version is actually two independent toasters in one. Each side can have different settings and run independently at the same time. Each side has its own crumb tray, as well. Super compact with all the same features of the single unit above. Choice of black or white.

      What is EC Best Inexpensive?

      The mission in identifying  Everyday Cheapskate’s Best Inexpensive option is not to find the absolutely lowest price tag. On the contrary, it is to match quality with need. We want the lowest price for the level of quality we need, with only the features we will use. And we want products that will serve our needs well for as long as the more expensive options. Is that always achievable? No, but the mission here is to come as close to that standard as humanly possible.

       

      EverydayCheapskate is reader-supported. We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon, Walmart, and other sites. Thanks!

       

       

       

       

       

      Print Friendly, PDF & Email

      More from Everyday Cheapskate

      home decor

      10 Everyday Items You Never Think to Wash (But Should)

      a lit sparkler with an american flag in the background 4th of july hacks tips and recipes

      34 Fourth of July Recipes and DIY Hacks for a Stress-Free Holiday

      wooden die spell july with patriotic decor in background

      7 Best Things to Buy in July for Huge Summer Savings

      Grilled Peaches with Balsamic and Blue Cheese

      Summer Grilled Peaches with Balsamic and Blue Cheese

      best inexpensive beach towel with sunglasses on edge of swimming poo

      Best Inexpensive Beach Towels Worth Buying This Summer

      a rustic wooden christmas tree in the sand on the beach

      Christmas in June? Try This Amazon Prime Day Gift Guide

      why does my ice taste weird soda tea lemonade juice

      Why Does My Ice Taste Weird? Here’s the Answer

      a single car garaged with beautiful flowers along landscape beds things ruined by heat in the garage

      25 Things Summer Heat Can Ruin in Your Garage

      amazon prime day 2026 is coming everyday cheapskate mary hunt guide for cheapskates

      The Cheapskate’s Guide to Winning Prime Day 2026



      Please keep your comments positive, encouraging, helpful, brief,
      and on-topic in keeping with EC Commenting Guidelines



      Last update on 2026-07-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

      Caught yourself reading all the way 'til the end? Why not share with a friend.

      22 replies
      1. Doris Schrier says:

        I decided I wanted the Cuisinart toaster Mary recommended. So my son bought it for me for my birthday. I have not been able to figure out how to toast with it yet! I’ve got it set right now below 3. The first 2 pieces seem to come out ok. I would like it a little darker but every time I turn it up past 3, it burns. That said, if anyone wants toast right after I toast mine, the results are barely toasted on one side and other side might be ok. Usually it takes me awhile to figure out what works but I’m still having trouble with this. I didn’t get rid of my Black & Decker yet. Might have to go back to it. My husband says it’s the slowest toaster in the world! lol

        Reply
      2. Jerrie says:

        I’d love to see a best, inexpensive part of your site for many things, i.e. small appliances, larger appliances, toilet paper, paper towels, etc., so that when I need to purchase something somewhat costly, I can go to your site and find the best options for those items. Is there such a site you know of for comparing prices of brands?

        Reply
      3. Sheri says:

        I have been looking for a basic toaster that both sides of the toast. I bought a Oster 2 slice toaster last year and it does not toast 1 slice of bread evenly on both sides. I Cannot find one! I don’t need all the wide slots for bagles , etc . Just 1 slice of toast.
        If anyone has one that toasts 1 slice of bread on both side , please let me know what brand and model number ?

        Reply
      4. Imogene says:

        My toaster is a Food Network. I’ve had it long enough that the words and pictures on the button are unreadable. My first toaster was a birthday gift from my husband in 1977. I was surprised and said, “ I don’t eat toast!” To which he replied, “ But I do.”
        Two year later I took him to the store on his birthday and pointed to a thermos pump and said, “I am buying this for you- for me.” Many years later for Father’s Day I bought him the lawn mower that I needed to mow the lawn.
        Memories and just because of a toaster.

        Reply
      6. Juanita says:

        Bought the 2 slice from Amazon. We are missionaries outside of the USA. That toaster is NOT good!!! Only toasts one slot, I have contacted Cuisinart and no reply ever! It is frustrating

        Reply
      7. howard says:

        i heard a lady ask a clerk at my local market where to find bread crumbs. i volunteered, “try your toaster crumb tray”. great pick up line, but you may be asked to leave the store for stalking

        Reply
      8. Donna says:

        We discovered that our inexpensive drawer-type air fryer toasts bread great, both sides, but the topside is usually toastier than the bottom, so you can flip once if you like. One more appliance we don’t need! I think mine are down to my electric pressure multicooker (use as rice cooker, steamer, slow cooker…), and now this air fryer! I also like my waffle maker with changeable plates too: toasted sandwiches, waffles, donuts, and taiyaki (fish shaped waffles!) anyone?? I read somewhere falafel can be waffled, gotta try that too.

        Reply
      9. Pat A Weiser says:

        When I eat toast, it’s only one slice. I wish there was a toaster that would toast both sides of one slice. We have the Cuisinart one Mary shows. I curse it every time I make toast, but just because of that.
        Hey Mary, does anyone make a one slice toaster?

        Reply
      10. Julie says:

        I’m still using the first toaster I bought way back in 1967, and it’s chrome. Works like a charm, even better when I clean out the crumbs from the crumb tray.

        Reply
      11. Sandy says:

        I bought the Cuisinart two slice toaster on a previous recommendation. The heating element lasted 6 weeks. This is the second toaster! So, we now put the bread in, when it pops up, with one side toasted, we turn the bread around and toast the other side–every morning we go thru this nonsense. So discouraging.

        Reply
      13. Ed Smith says:

        I don’t know why but I set my Cuisinart at 2.5 then rotate the toast in a pinwheel direction and toast again. It makes beautiful toast and bagels. Thanks for explaining the bagel button.

        Reply
      14. Lori Leuthardt says:

        We go thru alot of toast / toasters it seems. I would just be happy with one that cleaned itself and didn’t leave the countertop such a mess!!!

        Reply
        • Mary Hunt says:

          And it is considered vintage. It’s 47 years old! I’m going to guess its heating element is made with the good stuff 🙂

          Reply
          • Marianne says:

            My 1966 wedding gift toaster works very well. I keep the crumb tray clean, had to replace the cord 20 years ago. It has out lasted 3 kids’ treatment, who now have their own kids and tell me I need to upgrade. Their fancy toasters will burn out before mine. I’m about to turn 80. Haha.!

      Leave a Reply

      Want to join the discussion?
      Feel free to contribute!

      Leave a Reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      The Best Inexpensive Can Openerscollage of canopersBefore and after the leather seat cleaning serviceHow to Clean, Restore Dirty Stained Leather