10 best toasters for under £55

Score: 91/100

With a sleek matte-black design, this Salter model produced evenly browned slices of toast every time. There’s even a handy anti-jamming function so your slice never gets stuck.

Our testers liked the adjustable slot sizes, which make it a stand-out option for fans of bagels or a chunky farmhouse loaf.

Score: 89/100

Just like the Salter above, this is another trusty four-slice model. It has seven browning settings for precise colouring, and achieved an even finish in testing thanks to its powerful 1850-watt design.

It could be slightly quicker – it toasted bread in just under three and a half minutes – but given the results, we’re happy to wait the extra seconds.

Score: 89/100

Opting for a budget toaster doesn’t mean you can’t nail a Goldilocks level of toastiness. This two-slice model has nine browning levels as well as a “lift and look” function that lets you check in on your toast’s colour without cancelling the cycle.

In our tests, it delivered a toasted slice in under three minutes, making it a great pick for busy mornings. Deep, wide slots mean you won’t have to forgo your morning bagel either.

Score: 88/100

With four slots and the option to select two different browning settings at once, this is the toaster you need for busy family breakfasts. It took just over two minutes to achieve even, golden toast and there were no issues with thicker slices either. It also delivered consistently browned results every time.

There isn’t a dedicated bagel setting; however, our testers found this wasn't an issue thanks to the extra-wide slots, which meant minimal squashing. The finished bagels were slightly crispy, but we don't think that's a deal-breaker. The toaster’s plastic exterior also remained fairly cool to the touch during use, making it a safer countertop pick.

Score: 86/100

You don’t have to compromise on style when shopping on a budget, and this toaster proves it. It comes in a range of five elegant colourways from this soft earl grey to a sleek black which will suit any kitchen.

In testing, its performance was equally impressive, achieving golden bagels and toasting thick farmhouse bread nicely. The toaster slots weren’t deep enough for everything though, meaning the tops of some slices were left slightly soft and pale. But a quick flip to pop them back down did the trick in the test kitchen – just consider a lower setting if you don’t want to overdo the already-toasted areas.

Score: 86/100

Despite its small stature, this toaster proved itself mighty on test, serving up appetising slices in two minutes. Our testers also liked the handy 25-second reheat setting that warmed each slice just enough to melt butter.

Bagels and thick bread proved no issue either and both were easy to remove thanks to the high lift function. Our experts’ only niggle was that the browning often only covered two-thirds of the slice. This aside, it's a great compact addition for small kitchens and households.

Score: 83/100

Many toasters have narrow slots that favour medium-sliced bread, but this wider, deeper two-slice takes thickly cut farmhouse loaves in its stride. It toasted chunky slices to a crunchy, golden finish that delighted our tester, especially as it delivered them in just over 90 seconds.

It was similarly adept at batch toasting, producing slice after slice of equally browned toast, and its included tongs make it a top choice for the safety conscious. Its illuminated LED controls make it simple to use and easy to read, too.

Score: 81/100

What this bargain two-slice lacks in bells and whistles, it makes up for in its unrivalled simplicity. It comes with seven browning levels, but our tester found no need for settings six or seven.

It evenly browned both sides of bread when batch toasting, achieving full coverage bar narrow, untoasted strips at the tops of bigger slices.

It struggled with single slices, with one side emerging darker than the other, but it toasted bagels with ease despite no specific bagel mode. Its glossy grey honeycomb casing will suit any modern kitchen, too.

Score: 80/100

Even after 11 minutes of back-to-back toasting, this determined little appliance kept producing slices with the exact same level of browning.

Its electronic temperature sensor helps ensure this impressive consistency, meaning you can trust it to deliver the goods while ploughing through your other kitchen chores. During testing, its casing never got too hot, even if it was a touch slower than some other toasters at just shy of three minutes.

Score: 80/100

With its chic retro design, this affordable toaster will add character to any countertop. Besides its looks, our testers liked how well-rounded this model was. It toasted frozen bread and farmhouse slices evenly and – despite not having a specific setting – tackled our bagels well, producing lightly golden results.

It’s not the best at batch toasting and the walls weren’t very cool afterwards, but if that's not a concern, it’s a decent choice, especially if looks are top of your wish list.