Home Toasters
Slice toasters are available in different colors, and for easy cleanup, they come equipped with pull-out crumb trays that don't require the toaster to be picked up or turned upside down. Each toaster has browning controls and may include automatic programs for toasting bagels, defrosting, and reheating.
Slice toasters are powered by electricity, which allows them to be plugged into standard outlets in a home kitchen like other residential countertop appliances. These are usually made of stainless steel or plastic and are available in 2- and 4-slice models. A 2-slice toaster can brown two pieces of bread simultaneously and will have one set of controls for both slots, while a 4-slice toaster can brown four pieces of bread at a time with the two sets of slots operated separately in order to toast bread or bagels to different temperatures. Models with larger capacities require more space on the countertop, but even simple slice toasters can offer specific controls for doneness.
Buttons or lever controls make it possible to place bread slices into and out of toasters so the user can easily remove the finished toast without touching the hot internal components. Most toasters are equipped with temperature and readiness light indicators. Some toasters have long slots for longer pieces of bread, or extra wide slots which can accommodate thick slices of bread such as artisan bread or Texas toast. A setting for bagels can be found on both 2-slice toasters and 4-slice toasters; this feature reduces the heat on the outside elements of the toasting slots so the inside of the bagel is toasted while the outside is only warmed.