The Kambrook Perfect Fit 2 Slice is our first stop on this toaster adventure. As expected, it does have a setting to defrost frozen bread, which the Perfect Fit is pretty good at doing. As far as standard bread, you can imagine it is just as good at handling that.

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 makes this a sustainable, quality and durable buy - the full works. The KitchenAid is the only model that comes with an audible toast alert. You have one when your toaster comes with a mechanical lift. While that might seem needless, there is always a chance that your toaster may pop the toast into your open hand or a low hanging cabinet. Toasting Smaller ItemsIf there’s just one or two of you and you’re not a fan of fancy loaves then we’d say a simple two-slot model with just a couple of functions will probably suffice. Two slot models are also better if you’re a bit tight on space as it’s a product that usually has a permanent, easy-to-access home on your worktop. As well as a decent variable control to give you your chosen perfect shade of brown, you should also look for defrost and keep warm functions.

The Cuisinart Style Collection 4 Slot Toaster is the perfect choice for bagel lovers. It's a more common feature in American toasters to have a bagel setting, which will toast the inside of the bagel while leaving the outside nice and chewy, but because Cuisinart is an American classic brand, we got to experience the joys of a bagel setting for ourselves. 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. Each toaster has a tolerance level for the smaller items it can take. Some of them have specific settings for bagels or crumpets. We will list them out below. It also has a defrost button so there aren’t any ‘Oh no, I forgot to take the bread out of the freezer’ moments, while the one side toasting function is good for bagels and the reheat perfect for those of us that sometimes get distracted and leave the toast to cool. Hand-built in the UK since 1945, this is the toaster to buy if you don't want to fork out for another one for many years to come. It's a steep investment, yes, but the price reflects the fact that its makers believe it’s a toaster that will last a lifetime.

With our review out of the way, we can confidently say that the DeLonghi Distinta Flair CTI2003 has won this competition for the best toast NZ has available. It is the only reasonably priced toaster that combines all of the features we have discussed throughout this. It is only missing an audible beep and a mechanical lift. If you know your household will not eat four pieces of toast, bagels, or crumpets, adding another toaster to your toaster is pretty needless. Make that decision based on how much you are willing to spend. The KitchenAid toaster is the only four-slot model. Toast Defrost Setting 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.