The bella basics 2-Slice is an inexpensive toaster with a compact plastic body that makes it easy to store. It has a simple design with no extra features beyond a shade selector with seven options to choose from and a cancel setting. This model is available exclusively at Family Dollar, though price and availability may vary depending on your local store.
Our Verdict
The bella basics 2-Slice delivers adequate performance for everyday use. It's a simple toaster with limited capacity and no extra features to speak of beyond a shade selector and an option to cancel the toasting cycle. There's no button for bagels or frozen foods, so you can't toast on just one side, and you have to manually increase the timer for defrosting. This design makes it best suited to toasting smaller slices, like the standard white or brown bread you find at the grocery store. Even then, it leaves your toast unevenly browned and darker on one side. It works quickly, though, which keeps your toast from drying out.
Toasts quickly, which helps retain moisture.
Doesn't require you to clean the counters frequently.
Toasts somewhat unevenly, leaving food patchy.
Leaves one side darker.
Lacks extra features, including one-sided toasting.
Shallow slots offer limited capacity.
The bella basics 2-Slice is a decent choice for toast. It doesn't toast very evenly, so your bread is patchy and darker on one side by the time it pops back up. However, this toaster works quickly, so your toast stays soft and fluffy in the center instead of drying out.
Toasts quickly, which helps retain moisture.
Toasts somewhat unevenly, leaving food patchy.
Leaves one side darker.
The bella basics 2-Slice is a mediocre option for bagels. It toasts quickly, so your bagel stays soft in the middle instead of drying out. However, this toaster doesn't include a bagel mode for one-sided toasting, and it toasts pretty unevenly. Consequently, your bagel comes out patchy on both sides.
Toasts quickly, which helps retain moisture.
Toasts somewhat unevenly, leaving food patchy.
Lacks extra features, including one-sided toasting.
The bella basics 2-Slice is good at managing crumbs. It has a hinged crumb tray, so you have to empty it directly over the trash, but it catches most of the mess, leaving your counters with just a few crumbs, seeds, and loose grains each time you toast.
Doesn't require you to clean the counters frequently.
The bella basics 2-Slice is very compact. It's a good option for small spaces, and it's easy to store in a cramped cupboard.
Compact design fits easily in small kitchens.
Performance Usages
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
This toaster only comes in 'Black.' See the label for our unit.
If you discover another variant, tell us about it in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Toaster Comparisons
The bella basics 2-Slice is a simple, compact toaster available exclusively at Family Dollar. The bella basics line represents the brand's entry-level offerings; its products are very light on features and typically available in just one color: black. This offers a contrast to products from bella's other lineups, like the bella 2-Slice Slim and bella 4-Slice Slim, which are part of the brand's 'Fits-anywhere' range. The 'Slim' toasters are narrow, long-slot models that come in a few different pastel colors, geared towards users with limited space who regularly toast longer artisanal slices that don't fit in a standard toaster slot.
The bella basics 2-Slice, on the other hand, is best-suited to users with simple toasting needs. It has smaller, shallow slots that offer enough space for sandwich bread, without much room to spare. You won't find buttons for bagels or frozen items, and unlike most toasters, it even lacks a dedicated 'Cancel' button; instead, you just turn the shade selector dial all the way to the left to stop the cycle. This model toasts quickly, which keeps your bread from drying out before it pops back up, but it browns your slices unevenly. If you want a simple option that offers better performance for toast, you might like the Black+Decker 2-Slice T2569B, which toasts almost as quickly, but much more evenly.
If you're wondering what we recommend, see our picks for the best compact toasters, the best 2-slice toasters, and the best cheap and budget toasters.
If you're looking for a simple, inexpensive toaster, go for the Black+Decker 2-Slice T2569B over the bella basics 2-Slice. While both options toast quickly, ensuring your bread doesn't dry out, the Black+Decker toasts much more evenly on both sides. It also includes a bagel button, and while it only increases the timer instead of toasting on just one side, it still adds a bit more convenience compared to the bella, which doesn't include any special features. The Black+Decker's slots are also roomier, giving you more space for taller, thicker slices from bakery loaves.
The Hamilton Beach 2 Slice Toaster with Extra-Wide Slots 22217 is a better toaster than the bella basics 2-Slice. The Hamilton Beach toasts a lot more evenly on both sides, and while it takes longer than the bella basics to pop your bread back up, it's not a big enough difference to sway most people. The Hamilton Beach also offers a bit more capacity, so it's less likely that your toast will stick out the top of the toaster, and it leaves fewer crumbs on your counter.
The bella basics 2-Slice and the bella 2-Slice Slim are both alright toasters, but they're made with different needs in mind. Choose the bella basics if you prefer a traditional 2-slot toaster, if you want an option that leaves your toast soft and fluffy in the middle, or if you're bothered by finding crumbs on your counter after toasting. Choose bella's long-slot model if you often toast longer slices of homemade or bakery bread that won't fit in a standard toaster slot, or if you want toast that's evenly browned on both sides.
The bella basics 2-Slice and bella 4-Slice Slim are pretty evenly matched, and you may prefer either depending on what you're looking for. Go for the 4-Slice if you like to toast artisanal slices that don't fit in a standard toaster slot, like long slices of sourdough or focaccia. It also includes a couple of extra features for toasting bagels and frozen pastries, though the bagel setting only increases the timer instead of toasting just the cut side. Choose the 2-Slice if you're short on space, or if toast quality is your priority, as it toasts a little more evenly and faster, which helps keep your toast from drying out. It also leaves fewer crumbs on your counter.
Test Results
This toaster is among the smallest we've tested, making it ideal for cozy kitchens, studio apartments, and dorm rooms.
The toaster's capacity isn't bad overall, but it has very shallow slots, so taller slices will likely stick out the top while toasting. That said, they're decently long and wide enough for the average slice of toast.
This model is light on features. It has a shade selector with seven options, and you can turn the dial all the way to the left to cancel the cycle. There are no additional modes for bagels or frozen foods, and no way to check on toasting progress without canceling the cycle.
The crumb tray on this toaster has a hinged design, which requires you to empty it directly over the trash. It works well, catching most of the crumbs and seeds that dislodge from your toast, leaving just a few on your counter each time you toast.
This toaster has a very light, plastic body, making it easy to move back and forth between the counter and a cupboard if you prefer to store it away when not in use.
Your toast comes out passably even, but you'll notice lighter and darker patches across the surface. One side comes out much darker than the other, and each slot delivers different results.
This toaster doesn't offer one-sided toasting for bagels, buns, and English muffins. As a result, bagels come out roughly the same shade on both sides.
