Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Toasted

Do you have a toaster that you like? That actually toasts the toast without burning it? Would you please tell me what brand?

When we left the US to go to South Africa, most of our things were going to be left in storage. So I got rid of our simple appliances like the toaster because you never really ever get all the crumbs out of them and I didn’t want to attract any bugs to our stuff. The toaster wasn’t very special…It only toasted 2 slices at a time, but the slots were wide for bagels and had a place on the end for holding the bagel while you sliced it. When you toasted a bagel on the bagel setting, it only toasted the the cut side (assuming you put the bagel in with the cut sides toward the center). I only paid $14 for it. It was white. I really miss it.

When we finally moved into our house, I purchased a new toaster. A GE toaster, about $25. Nothing really special… it had wide slots, only held 2 pieces of toast at a time, a toast setting dial -light to dark, and several settings… like warm, bagel, toast and defrost. It didn’t do any of those things well. In addition, for some reason the toaster companies have decided to toast both sides of the bagel on the bagel setting. And toasting… it didn’t do that either. Bread was either under toasted or burned. I just couldn’t find the happy medium. So I took it back.

Next I purchased a Oster Toaster. I paid a bit more for it, $49, thinking I would get toast. All the same features, except this one will do 4 slices of bread or bagels at a time. Although I don’t know why I would need to toast that many slices. There is only 2 of us most of the time. But it isn’t any better than the GE. It either under toasts or burns a part of the bread. Why it has so many choices for light or dark toast is beyond me. Because it only does two of the 8 choices- very light resembling stale bread or burned. As for the bagel setting, yep, both sides. The only part of a bagel I want toasted is the cut side! I also use this for when I want a bun toasted for a hot sandwich or burger… I would take it back, but I didn’t keep or lost the receipt… but that is a lesson learned. I will keep the receipt… and take crappy products back!

Do these companies test their products? Where do they get their focus groups for product features and benefits.  Of all the new features -I- really only want 2, a piece of toasted dark enough for a bit of crunch -not burned (anywhere) and a bagel toasted on the cut side. Is that too much to ask?

Do you have a toaster that toasts toast? Only does the cut side of the bagel?Would you share the brand and model? And hopefully it does not cost an arm and a leg or take up a huge amount of counter space. Something else I am in short supply of.

And because we need a picture… not of a toaster!

hills

A landscape from South Africa. They are just now coming into spring…. which is very short…. before going to a nice long summer.

5 comments:

  1. Can't help with the toaster. We have an old one that burns the same no matter what we set it on. We just watch and keep checking until it's just right. Love the picture.

    Diana in NY

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  2. Krups. Bagel setting! We've had it some time, so who knows if it is still available.i am fussy about having a good toaster.

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  3. I do have a bit old Krup in a very ugly shade of green (like greyish avocado) that does it's simple job - toast slices of bread. Haven't tried bagels since they are not a common product in the bread shelves in our stores. No bagel setting, but it toasts the hamburger buns on both sides though.

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  4. My toaster oven only toasts on top lately -- makes me crazy. But I rarely use it for toast anyway.

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  5. I have a KitchenAid toaster that I love. It only does two slices at a time. I earned it when I started selling Pampered Chef ten years ago and it's still going strong. It was supposed to be $125 retail... not sure if they are really that spendy, though.

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