Toaster advice needed.
 

So, I have a 10 dollar toaster. It's probably the exact same toaster everyone gets when they move out on their own, comes in either white or black, has a "darkness" knob and a lever. The filaments glow evenly on it, and it browns ok, but not spectacularly so. (I could get better results from an oven by far if I wanted to take the time).

I'm dissatisfied. But I wonder if I really have any options? It seems like toasters come in "crap" "crap with four slots" and "you paid HOW MUCH?! FOR A TOASTER?!". If I shell out 25-30 bucks to get a new toaster at walmart, will it fulfill me? Or will it just be the same dissapointing low quality toasting I get now in a prettier package? I'm married without kids, so I don't need one of the 'high-end' four slot toasters, and I won't ever be able to bring myself to pay 50+dollars for a toaster. The dream isn't THAT important.

So, anyone have any advice on this? Is it worth it to 'upgrade', or should I resign myself to sacrificing quality for convience as yet another fact of modern day life?

pssst. Got a secret for you. ALL toasters are crap. The $100 ones just have $90 worth crap put on by some dorky designer that no one's ever heard of like Michael Graves ;)

basic needs for a toaster are:
1. Does it brown the shit?
2. Will a bagel fit in it?

That's about it, mine has a bagel button, a pastry button and a frozen button, they seem to work ok, but probably not worth the extra $$ the ole lady paid for it.

Toaster Oven beats a toaster - it costs a little more but you can make toasty cheese sammiches in it -- and I uses mine in place of my oven -- especially in the summer.

I have a 10 dollar kenmore toaster I bought years ago - -and it still works fine.. but can't hold a bagel or long portugese breads

Yeah, that's the ticket screw the toaster all-together and get a toaster oven. Little frozen pizzas that suck ass in the microwave are awesome in the toaster oven. Not to mention, sandwiches, french fries, tots, cookies,........mmmmmm

Toaster ovens kick ass, you can pretty much do anything with them.

Ok, on toaster ovens:How hot do they get on the outside? That is, can I keep it on top of my microwave and against a wall? Will a toaster oven brown both sides simultainously if I want it? Do you have to preheat them?

I remember something about a new type of microwave oven (I don't think it's actualy a microwave...) and I thought it said it microwaves, grills, bakes, etc. Anyone know what that is, and does it provide supior toasting?

/picky eater for life, never gonna change.

Mine is against the wall - with the coffee maker right next to it - and a bunch of stuff on top -- You'd have to find one that is a cool- touch exterior - but that's pretty common. I have two different modes on mine - Top Brown -which does what it says - -good for toasting the top of somethig only - and regular - which toasts both sides. No preheating needed, because of the size

Sounds like you are describing a convection type oven - my parents have one - -and it's honestly got too many bells and whistles for me - But it does do all that it cooks really fast, and it browns - I dont know how toasty stuff gets - but mom will do a turkey in theirs and it does get brown.

my toaster oven doesn't make good toast but it's a great little oven.

I'd recommend a toaster oven too. Mine is 12 years old and still works like new.
I have a toaster that I never use...you can have it if you want it;)

i dont really have any comments about toasters but this thread really made me want a toasted turkey sandwich made in a toaster oven. just thought i would share =P

Since I got my Toaster oven the normal toaster has been mightly lonely. I love that thing.