Cuisinart 4 Slice Compact CPT-142  Toaster Review

Reviewed Dec 15, 2023 at 08:23am
Test bench update Apr 24, 2026 at 09:17am
Tested using Methodology v1.1 
Cuisinart 4 Slice Compact CPT-142

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  1. Recommended in:
  2. Best 4-Slice

The Cuisinart 4 Slice Compact Plastic Toaster is a budget-friendly toaster that's on the small side for a 4-slot toaster. It's equipped with bagel, frozen, and 'reheat' functions. Its slots aren't very deep when pushed down, so if your bread is much taller than white sandwich bread, it may stick out the top. On the plus side, they lift up high enough to grab even very small pieces without burning yourself.

Our Verdict

6.9
Everyday Use 

Pros
  • Toasts evenly.
  • Makes golden brown white sandwich bread with preset.
Cons
  • Toasts lightly.
  • 6.9
    Everyday Use
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Apr 24, 2026: We've updated this review to Test Bench 1.1, which includes several new tests, including Capacity, Features, Crumb Management, and Toasting Speed. You can read more in the Changelog.
    2.  Updated Dec 15, 2023: Review published.

    Check Price

    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    This toaster comes in 'White' or 'Black'. We tested the 'Black' variant and you can see the label for the unit we tested here

    If you encounter another variant, let us know in the forums and we'll update our review. 

    Popular Toaster Comparisons

    The Cuisinart 4 Slice Toaster is a budget-friendly option. True to its name, it's a bit smaller than the Cuisinart 4 Slice Custom Select Toaster. Its plastic body also makes it lighter than metal toasters. Its seven preset settings produce a good range of shades, but you might need to run an extra cycle for items that take longer to toast. If you like darker toast or usually toast things like multi-grain bread or bagels, you might prefer a model with a better toasting range, such as the Black+Decker 4-Slice Toaster TR4900SSD

    If you're still looking for a toaster, check out our recommendations for the best 2-slice toasters, the best 4-slice toasters, and the best toasters.

    Test Results

    perceptual testing image
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    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    Body
    Housing Material
    Plastic
    Long Slot
    No
    Height
    7.2" (18.3 cm)
    Width
    10.5" (26.7 cm)
    Depth
    10.7" (27.2 cm)
    Power Cord Length31.1" (79.0 cm)
    Weight4.2 lbs (1.9 kg)
    7.6
    Capacity
    Slice Capacity
    4-Slice
    Slot Length
    5.4" (13.6 cm)
    Slot Width
    1.2" (3.0 cm)
    Slot Depth When Toasting
    4.7" (12.0 cm)
    Slot Depth When Fully Raised
    1.9" (4.9 cm)
    6.0
    Features
    Bagel Mode
    Timer Increase Only
    Frozen Mode
    Yes
    Stop Cycle Button
    Yes
    Cycle Countdown Indicator
    No

    Aside from settings for bagels and frozen items ('Defrost'), the Cuisinart 4 Slice Toaster has a 'reheat' function meant to reheat bread without toasting it. This cycle lasts for about 25-30 seconds.

    5.0
    Crumb Management
    Removable Crumb Tray
    Yes
    Performance
    7.7
    Toasting Range
    Pale Toast
    Yes
    Light Brown Toast
    Yes
    Golden Brown Toast
    Yes
    Dark Brown Toast
    Yes
    Charred Toast
    No
    Golden Brown Toast Setting
    Setting 5

    The photo above shows the results for one slot, but you can see a full montage showing all the bread toasted here.

    7.9
    Toasting Evenness
    Evenly Browned Area
    90%
    Face-To-Face Difference
    52,440
    Slot-To-Slot Difference
    43,269
    8.1
    Toasting Speed
    Toasting Time To Golden Brown
    140 s
    Measured Wattage
    1,705 W
    6.7
    Repeated Toasting
    Run-To-Run Difference
    83,436

    The photo above shows the results for one slot, but you can see a full montage showing all the bread toasted here.