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Test Bench 1.1  
Changelog

 0
By Theresa KetterlingUpdated Apr 24, 2026 at 12:42 pm

Our Toaster Test Bench 1.1 expands our performance tests with 'Crumb Management' and 'Toasting Speed' scores. We've also added scores for Features and Capacity, so you can easily compare toasters based on features like a bagel setting and design aspects like slot size. Finally, a new usage, Everyday Use, makes it easier to evaluate how a toaster performs for your daily toasting needs.

What's Changed

New Usage

  • Everyday use

New Tests

  • Crumb Management
  • Toasting Speed

Changed Tests

  • 'Controls and Functions' has been renamed 'Features' and is now scored
  • 'Slots' has been renamed 'Capacity' and is now scored

New Usages and Tests

Everyday Use

The 'Everyday Use' usage replaces the previous 'Toasting' usage. The score is based on performance results, including Toasting Evenness and Toasting Speed. Since a toaster's Capacity, Features, and Crumb Management also affect each model's Everyday Use, we've included these as well to get an idea of how convenient each model is for daily use.

The Everyday Use score components, as seen on Toasters 1.1.
The score components for the Everyday Use usage for Test Bench 1.1.

Capacity

This test replaces the previous 'Slots' test. Each toaster's Slice Capacity, Slot Length, Slot Width, and Slot Depth When Toasting are now scored, with toasters that can fit more slices at once and more easily accommodate bigger, taller slices and bagels scoring higher.

The Capacity test for Toaster Test Bench 1.1.
The Slots test has been replaced with Capacity in Toaster Test Bench 1.1.

Features

Previously called Controls and Functions, this test has been updated to score each toaster based on whether it has Bagel, Frozen, and Stop Cycle buttons. We also check if each model has cycle countdown indicators, but that feature doesn't affect the score. Toasters with a Bagel setting that switches off the outer elements to only toast the cut side of the bagel score higher, while a Bagel button that simply extends the toasting time scores lower.

The Features test for Toaster Test Bench 1.1.
The original Controls and Functions test has been renamed Features for Toaster Test Bench 1.1.

Crumb Management

For this test, we add crumbs to each toaster and then move it to see how well the crumb tray prevents crumbs from messing up your counter. The score is assigned based on the photo of the crumbs left behind, with toasters that leave fewer crumbs scoring higher.

The Crumb Management test for Toaster Test Bench 1.1.
The new Crumb Management test for Toaster Test Bench 1.1.

Toasting Speed

While our previous 'Toasting Range' test included the cycle times for the highest and lowest shade settings, Toasting Speed has been separated into its own test. The score is based on how long it takes to make golden-brown toast from sandwich bread.

The Toasting Speed test for Toaster Test Bench 1.1.
The Toasting Speed test for Toaster Test Bench 1.1.

Let Us Know What You Think!

Your feedback is important to us and helps us improve our methodology! We encourage you to email feedback@rtings.com or leave a comment with any questions or suggestions.

23 Toasters Updated

We have retested popular models. The test results for the following models have been converted to the new testing methodology. However, the text might be inconsistent with the new results.

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