How should you decide which Breville toaster oven to buy? Naturally, price is a significant factor, with models ranging from as low as $70 all the way up to $250 for the higher end of the line. Still, different sets of features and sizes matter, which is why this article outlines and tests seven different Breville toaster models, allowing you to compare the different features and decide for yourself which one works best for your kitchen.
As an initial differentiator, two of Breville’s toasters are “oven” models, with the conventional door arrangement and horizontal bun placement. The other five toasters hold the toast (or muffin or bagel) upright, with the standard pop-up when done. The “Smart Oven” and the “Compact Smart Oven” differ essentially in their size. Of course, the compact version is designed to fit into smaller kitchen spaces. However, the size difference isn’t dramatic and it seems like only very small kitchens such as a compact studio, bedroom or even a sailboat would be the only places the compact version is really needed. The larger of the two ovens has height, width, and depth measurements of 11.25 inches, 18.5 inches, and 16.25 inches. The compact version of the smart oven reduces this size by approximately two inches in each dimension. It’s not a trivial difference, but it’s still only a modest percentage reduction in size.
In terms of capacity, the Smart Oven can accommodate six slices of toast and a 13-inch diameter pizza. Not bad for a countertop toaster oven! The compact smart oven holds four toasties and a 12-inch-diameter pizza. Both have baking trays and broil racks to accommodate the space available. Each oven has multiple preset toasting “programs” on the menu, including: toast, bagel, pizza, cookies, bake, reheat, broil, and broil, while the full-size one also has a warm setting. Another great feature of the larger version, and an innovation in oven technology in a field that doesn’t see much advancement, is the ability to automatically eject the cooking grate after a set program time. This gets the food out of the oven without putting your fingers at risk of getting burned on the inside. While the spaces and features are generally similar, the main difference is the lower price of $70 for the compact version. Size matters, but the capacity for four pieces of toast at a time should be enough for most families.
There are fewer differences for Breville’s other five vertical roasters. Of course, these are just for basic toasting of slices of bread or bagels. There are no pizzas in these toasters! There are actually two crucial differentiators for these models: price and cutting capacity.
Three of the toasters hold two slices: the ikon 2-Slice Toaster, the Lift and Look Touch, and the Die-Cast 2-Slice Smart Toaster. The Icon and Die-Cast have the auto-center feature, which positions the toast so it toasts evenly on both sides of the bread. With a toaster, there really aren’t too many crucial attributes and even toasting is pretty essential. Unfortunately, Lift and Look does not have this feature, but it distinguishes itself by accommodating longer loaf lengths. This feature is really only useful if you’re toasting specialty breads, beyond what you’d normally get in a supermarket aisle.
On the four-slice models, the Die-Cast has a great feature for fussy types: two different control panels (each for a couple of toasts) so you can set different toast times while simultaneously cooking. If your partner likes it differently than you, this is a great feature. Keep your own settings and never go wrong! The main difference from the ikon models, both two-slice and four-slice, is a digital control panel that can give you more precision in timing, or at least the appearance of more precision.
In all cases, you can’t go wrong with a Breville.