Breakfast time is crazy in most family households. Don't make your morning routine any more time-consuming or difficult than it already is by investing in a decent-sized toaster that has room for four slices of bread, like our overall best pick, Breville's Impressions model that uses 2,000 watts of power to brown your bread in a jiffy.
Best Overall: Breville Impressions 4-Slice Toaster
Breville's Impressions range comes in black, white, red or cream with matching kettles available. The four-slice toaster has you covered for variable-sized bread products with self-adjusting slots, nine different toast settings to suit your preference, a high lift function, so you don't burn your fingers when removing your toasted goodies, and a removable crumb tray.
If you want to use two of the four slots, you can stick your bread in the right-hand side to heat up only those elements.
Pros: 9 toast settings High lift function Defrost, reheat & cancel options Variable bread slots Removable crumb tray Independent 2 slice operation 2,000 watts Cons: No cord storage Not compact Best Overall Breville Impressions 4-Slice Toaster
From £27 from Amazon
Impression-ive
If you've got the counter space, this four-slicer is a family-friendly favourite.
Best Warmer: Severin 2509 4-Slice Long Slot Toaster
While this toaster can handle four slices of your preferred ordinary sliced bread, its long slot design means it's also suitable for lengthier bread-based products like pittas, paninis, hoagies and baguettes. There are six browning settings, the usual defrost, reheat and cancel mid-cycle options, and a high lift function.
This stands out from the competition with an integrated bun warmer that sits over the heating elements when in use and folds flat when not.
Pros: 6 toast settings High lift function Defrost, reheat & cancel options Variable bread slots Removable crumb tray Cord storage Integrated bun warmer Slimline Cons: Only 1,400 watts No independent two-slice operation Best Warmer Severin 2509 4-Slice Long Slot Toaster
£40 from Amazon
Multifunctional
If your family likes to toast and warm other products other than sliced bread, consider this strong contender.
Best Looking: De'Longhi Vintage Icona CTOV4003AZ 4-Slice Toaster
You can always trust De'Longhi to bring some retro chic to your kitchen countertop, and the Icona toaster is no exception. Behind the good looks, there are four extra-wide slots which adjust to the size of your bread, a bagel setting which toasts on one side and gently warms on the other, a removable crumb tray and high lift functionality to rescue smaller items.
What is impressive is that you can operate just one side at a time, and each side has an independent browning control, perfect for families who's taste in toast varies.
Pros: 6 toast settings High lift function Defrost, reheat & cancel options Variable, wide bread slots Removable crumb tray Independent 2 slice operation Independent browning controls 1,800 watts Bagel setting Cons: High cost No cord storage Not compact Best Looking De'Longhi Vintage Icona CTOV4003AZ 4-Slice Toaster
£49 from Amazon
Retrotastic
This works well as both a two- and four-slice toaster and looks good doing it.
Best Value: Swan ST10091BLKN 4-Slice Long Slot Toaster
This affordable option doesn't have the bells and whistles of rival products but is a robust extended slot model, capable of toasting four slices of smaller sliced bread or longer alternative products such as paninis or pittas. It offers self-centring functionality, so will hold your bread carefully in place while the seven-level browning options cooks it to your satisfaction.
Elsewhere there are high lift abilities, a removable crumb tray and non-slip feet to keep it steady on your kitchen counter.
Pros: 7 toast settings High lift function Defrost, reheat & cancel options Self-centering guides Removable crumb tray Non-slip feet Cons: Only 1,400 watts No cord storage No independent two-slice operation Best Value Swan ST10091BLKN 4-Slice Long Slot Toaster
£24 from Amazon
Long shot
A budget option that nonetheless offers variable browning and self-centring bread guides.
Best for Busy Families: Breville VTT851 Lustra Shimmer 4-Slice Toaster
Available in various colours, and with matching kettles, Breville's Lustra Shimmer range has a glam look with an attractive "glistening pearlescent" finish.
It's not all about the looks though as it offers nine settings, separate browning and operation between the two sides, 1,950-watt power, variable slots and a "Lift & Look" function that lets you check on the progress of your toast without having to cancel and re-start the cooking process.
Pros: 9 toast settings High lift function Defrost, reheat & cancel options Variable, wide bread slots Removable crumb tray Independent 2 slice operation Independent browning controls Lift & Look functionality Cord storage 1,950 watts Cons: Not compact Best for Busy Families Breville VTT851 Lustra Shimmer 4-Slice Toaster
From £32 from Amazon
Shiny shiny
Independent controls and the ability to check on toast while it cooks makes this a reliable choice for busy breakfasters.
Best for Style: Russell Hobbs 24380 Inspire 4-Slice Toaster
This high gloss, textured toaster with stainless steel accents and cool blue LED illuminated buttons would look great in modern kitchens. If you want to complete the look, a matching kettle is available.
It has all the functionality you'd expect from a fab four-slicer -- variable browning, high lift that also works as a Lift & Look option, defrost, reheat and cancel buttons -- as well as two removable crumb trays.
Pros: 6 toast settings High lift function Defrost, reheat & cancel options Variable bread slots Removable crumb trays Lift & Look functionality Independent 2 slice operation 1,800 watts Cons: No independent browning controls No cord storage Best for Style Russell Hobbs 24380 Inspire 4-Slice Toaster
From £35 from Amazon
Be inspired
A great all-rounder this has sleek modern looks perfect for contemporary kitchens.
Toast of the town
If you want to cut the congestion around your breakfast bar in the mornings, splashing out on a toaster that can handle four slices of bread at a time is an excellent way to go.
Over overall pick, the Breville's Impressions model will sort you out for four slices of toast, done to your liking and ready to remove with no risk of singed fingers.
Alternatively, if you regularly toast lengthier bread products such as pittas and paninis, consider a more flexible long slot option that allows you to heat such items without doing the half-way flip.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Amy-Mae Turner As someone who suffers from some serious "hanger" issues first thing in the morning, looking at toasters with multiple slots for All Of The Breads was a job for Amy-Mae.
