De'Longhi Distinta Flair 4 slot toaster, reheat, defrost, one-side bagel & 6 browning settings, matte metallic design, CTI4003.S, Silver

Product Information

There’s no automatic pop-up, although it does have lovely wide slots, you just lower your toast in manually using the lever at the front then turn the browning control to the desired setting and it starts to count down. Unless you prefer to constantly check your bread under the grill to see if it’s ready, a toaster really is the easiest and most efficient way to make perfect toasted bread, bagels, and crumpets. Offering six shades of brown via the progressive browning controls, everyone’s toast can be done just how they like it – and because the controls can be adjusted independently of each other, you can toast two different shades at once. You can blame my parents for that one, but as I made the discovery that I could toast smaller items with the right toaster, it was a game-changer.

Discover more about how each of these testers performed below, orfor more kitchen must-haves, take a look at the best microwaves. We did enjoy the dial which sets the duration of toasting time with the De'Longhi Ballerina Toaster. During testing we were sold by the touch screen panel that you use for controls, and we loved the long, wide slots on offer too. One thing to note is that you should place the bagel with the outside facing in if you want the inside to be toasted on the bagel setting. We tested the four-slice, but there is also a two-slice with the same sleek finish if you've got less space.

The cancel setting will push your bread up with quite a loud mechanical noise, and we were underwhelmed by the lift of the levers, which didn't go very high. While it’s the unique patented ProHeat elements are virtually indestructible, if anything should go wrong, parts are super easy to replace or repair.

That's why our top pick is the De'Longhi Ballerina Toaster, which boasts wide slots, levers with added lift, and the most beautiful and high-quality design which looks a treat when sat next to the matching kettle on your counters.Most others took more than two minutes and while 30 seconds might not seem much, if you’re rushing to get the kids to school, that could make all the difference. You can control the dial on both sides of the toaster, so if a lack of variable settings is off-putting, this one will suit your family's various toast preferences. We found that it toasted very evenly between the two slices, and because it's so compact, it slots into just about any kitchen corner. We like that it's not too loud, and the line along the back makes it easy to judge whether you need a refill. Whether you’ve accidentally left your toast in a bit too long, need to defrost a slice or two straight from the freezer, or want to reheat some toast that’s gone cold, the integrated controls will make it easy.