Best Toasters to buy in 2014 - Delonghi, Dualit and Philips

Everyone loves toast, many of us eat it every day, while some of us practically live off the stuff. If you're a regular consumer of grilled bread then why not buy a really good toaster? With prices from as little as £35 you can get a great 4-slot toaster which makes even, consistent toast every time; while top-end toasters could last you a lifetime and make a seriously stylish impact on your kitchen. We've tested a lot of toasters, but we're only listing the best ones here, so you can be sure you're getting a great toaster for your money.

Our tests include looking at the consistency of toasting, both across the slice, across both sides, and across multiple rounds of toast. We also look at controls, special features and power consumption. Finally we time our toasting, so you're not left waiting any longer than necessary for your breakfast or much-needed snack.

DUALIT NewGen 4 Slot Toaster - British is still best

Our Expert Opinion Dualit toasters are still a slice above the rest for us. A lot of people fixate on the exterior design, and yes they are iconic, particularly when clad in traditional stainless steel. For us though it's their superior engineering and easy to repair nature that really makes them special in a world where too many things are disposable.

The NewGen, unlike some of the lesser Dualit models, uses toasting elements that have more filaments than normal and a protective layer across the top, so that they can't be easily damaged when you inevitably dig out a bit of crust with a knife. Those filaments work quick too, turning out perfect toast in under two minutes - though it sucks up 0.041kWh doing so.

The separate timer and pop up control looks fiddly, but gives you accurate toasting every time and lets you check on progress without disturbing the timer. The simply interior design means that practically everything can be easily replaced or repaired, so your toaster should last a very long time. It's not just a design classic, it's a toaster for life, well worth the money if you can justify it.

Price when reviewed: £180. For the latest prices, see our full Dualit NewGen 4 Slot Toaster review

PHILIPS Toaster HD2647 - Great toast, great price

Our Expert Opinion If you're looking for a no-nonsense toaster then the Philips Toaster HD2647 is the best we've seen to date. Its design may not turn heads, but it's sturdily constructed and has some sensible features, such a front-facing crumb tray, far easier to pop out and empty than the more typical rear-facing ones, which tend to get forgotten until they're clogged solid. The controls are good, with clicky knobs and plenty of lift from the levers to get out smaller items. No bagel mode is the only downside.

If you're concerned about running costs, then the Philips has you covered there too, using just 0.030kWh of power to turn out crisp toast that's even on both sides, in fact its better toast than that you get from most models, even those coasting twice the price. In short, it's an excellent toaster and one that you'll be very happy with - we just wish it had a catchier name.

Price when reviewed: £40. For the latest prices, see our full Philips Toaster HD2647 review

DE'LONGHI Icona Vintage Toaster - Stylish and feature packed

Our Expert Opinion There's a lot of decent toasters out there, but De'Longhi make some of the nicer looking ones we think. The Icona first attracted us thanks to its muted colour schemes, but it's also practical in a very small kitchen as it's both fairly compact and cool to the touch after use. Various models are available in this design, starting from £45, but this is the vintage variant which costs a little more.

It's got a wide range of controls, including a bagel mode for getting that crisp on one side, doughy on the other finish. The slots are long, so you can easily lie your bread down in them, though there isn't as much lift as we'd like, so smaller items are hard to retrieve. It toasts pretty consistently, though not as good as the best we've seen. If you like the look, then the toast won't dissapoint.

Price when reviewed: £65. For the latest prices, see our full De'Longhi Icona Vintage Toaster review