If you love your toast but find wholemeal bread a little bite-sized and in need of some serious beefing up, then long slice toasters are the perfect appliance for you. Long slices can either be served as they are or cubed and used in other recipes. Such as stuffing or croutons, for example. To understand this market segmentation, imagine thick slices of bread cut from a much larger block of wholemeal bread. If you’re an avid fan of these monstrous slices but don’t have the room in your kitchen for a conventional two-slice toaster and don’t have time to make them every morning, a long slicer might just be what you need. But which model will suit better your needs?
Types of Long Slice Toasters
There are two main types of long slice toasters that you can buy. These are the horizontal long slice toaster and the vertical long slice toaster. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages that you should be aware of before you buy.
Horizontal Long slice toasters are often a very similar design to your standard toaster but with longer bread slots. These are cheaper to produce, though, and can still achieve very similar results.
Vertical Long slice toasters are a bit bulkier than the horizontal variety, but they also have a larger capacity and can be used for thicker slices of bread.
Things to be Aware of Before You Buy
There are a few different factors to be aware of when shopping for a long-slice toaster. All of these will vary from model to model and can significantly alter the experience of using your toaster. Here are a few things to be aware of before you buy.
- Batch Size – Most long slice toasters will be able to take advantage of the width of a standard slice of bread and cut it into two long slices. But some will be able to do this with thicker or larger slices of bread, cutting them into three or even four long slices.
- Cord Length – Since long slice toasters are a bit bulkier than your standard toaster, it is important to check the length of the power cord. You don’t want to have to unplug and replug it every time you use it.
- Crumb Tray – With huge slices of bread being toasted, there will inevitably be a few crumbs that fall off the side and land on the bottom of the toaster. A crumb tray will catch these crumbs and make your cleanup process much easier.
- Defrost Function – If you’re toasting bread that has been frozen, a defrost function will thaw it out before toasting it.
Shade Adjustment – Depending on the type of bread that you’re toasting, you may want it to be toasted lighter or darker than usual. A shade adjustment knob will allow you to achieve this easily when using your toaster.
Best Long Slice Toaster Brand
1. Breville BTA630XL The Slice Long Slot 2-Slice Toaster: With 8 shade settings, this toaster from Breville allows you to perfectly toast your bread just how you like it. It has a unique and patented Acutation technology that uses intelligent heat sensing and patented LED indicators to allow you to perfectly toast your bread, while keeping it safe.
2. KRUPS KH250D51 2 Slice Long Slot Toaster: Equipped with 7 different Browning Settings, this toaster from Krups allows you to perfectly toast your bread just how you like it. It also features Cool Touch housing for added safety, as well as an Auto-Shutoff function for peace of mind.
3. YLD Home ST034 Long Slice Toaster: With 6 different browning settings, this toaster from YLD Home allows you to toast your bread perfectly just how you like it. It also features wide slots to fit even the thickest bread slices, as well as cool touch housing for added safety.
4. Oster® TSSTTR6330NP Automatic 4-Slice Long-Slot Toaster: Every time, you can get consistent results using this toaster’s advanced toasting technology and settings. You can enjoy perfect toast texture and colour by toasting breads, bagels, waffles, or English muffins. Two extra-long slots can accommodate four standard bread slices or two larger, artisan-style breads or other foods.
5. Sage by Heston Blumenthal BTA825UK 2 Slice Smart Toaster: With 840-1000 W of power, this silver toaster allows you to monitor the toasting process without interrupting the cycle. The ‘A Bit More’ button allows you to extend the toasting time when your toast needs it. The motorised carriage lowers your bread and raises your toast with ease. A countdown timer informs you how long you have to go. The self-centering toasting slots position your bread in the centre of the elements for even toasting.
