KitchenAid Retro Automatic Pop-Up Toaster, 2-Slice

Last updated: August 21, 2023

KitchenAid Retro Automatic Pop-Up Toaster, 2-Slice

Our Review Process

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We looked at the top Toasters and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Toaster you should buy.

Overall Take

In our analysis of 81 expert reviews, the KitchenAid Retro Automatic Pop-Up Toaster, 2-Slice placed 14th when we looked at the top 27 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

From The Manufacturer

The KitchenAid Pro Line Series two-slice automatic toaster is equipped with a host of smart features for effortless toasting. The automatic Keep Warm function keeps toast warm for up to three minutes after toasting. Automatic lift and lower automatically lowers bread into the self-centering racks upon sensing bread in a slot, then lifts bread as soon as it has reached the selected shade. Seven shade settings allow you to choose precisely how light or dark you want your toast. Bagel and frozen functions make it easy to toast bagels or defrost. Backed by a manufacturers five year limited warranty, this professional two-slice toaster is sure to guarantee satisfaction

Expert Reviews

User Summarized Score

9.0
161 user reviews

What experts liked

This toaster includes features that set it apart from the usual, including the ability to automatically keep your toast warm without further browning if you don’t retrieve it immediately.
- The Spruce Eats
Interestingly, the toaster has an automatic “keep warm” function which keeps the toast warm for up to three minutes after toasting. The racks are self-centering and has automatic lift and lowering.
- Minimal Daily
You can pick your choice from seven shades of browning, so you will never be disappointed; also, your other family members can choose their own favorites.
- Competition Dining

What experts didn't like

Users have noted that this is a little slower at making toast, but it toasts much more evenly, so they don’t mind the slight wait.
- The Spruce Eats
One important thing must be mentioned about this beautiful looking toaster, and that is that it is costly for a toaster.
- Competition Dining

Overview

Toasters are a kitchen counter standby that make every meal a little tastier. Browned English muffins add crunch to your breakfast, a toasted bagel warms your lunchtime tuna melt and browned buns add a “wow” factor to your burgers.

The small-but-mighty toaster is responsible for all of these creations. You might not give much thought to this little appliance, but there’s a lot going on after you hit the “toast” button.

MORE: The Best Toaster Oven

Toasters brown your bread by turning electricity into heat. Electricity flows from your wall’s outlet through your toaster’s power cord to the inside of the unit.

The electric current moves through a series of slender conducting filaments. If you’ve ever looked inside your toaster while it’s working and noticed glowing, red hot wires around your slice of bread, those are the filaments doing their job. The filaments beam heat toward your bread using infrared radiation. The steady supply of heat from the filaments rapidly cooks your bread.

When your bread has reached the desired toast level you selected, the toaster either turns off automatically with a timer or pops your bread up with a spring-loaded tray. Many models have removable crumb trays built into the toaster, so you can grab your piping hot bagel without getting crumbs all over your kitchen.

Toasters all use similar internal heating mechanisms, but different models have different features and options. A standard model has two slots to toast two slices of bread at once. Higher-end models have four slots, including an “Extra Long” slot for larger slices of bread.

You’ve got choices when it comes to controlling your toaster’s time and intensity levels, too. Some models have a timer that goes up to seven minutes, plus a lever so you can manually lift your toast out. Others also have bagel, defrost and reheat buttons. You’ll even come across toasters that have seven toast shade settings, and use advanced toasting technology for a consistent result every time.

Different kinds of bread may require different toasters. A toaster that has extra-wide slots is best for accommodating heartier bread, while other toasters may have a special setting for bagels and frozen bread.

Toasters aren’t purely utilitarian — they can also add a fun edge to your kitchen’s decor. Some models have a modern, rounded design with an elegant black finish. Others go the classic route with a stainless steel body.

Whether you go high-tech with a modern toaster or low-key with a classic design, you’ll want to think about a few things before you choose your new appliance.

Buying Advice

  • How often will you use your toaster? If you’re a big fan of toasted sandwiches and bagels, you might want to drop some extra cash for a feature-rich mode. On a budget? Go with a toaster that works just as well without the bells and whistles.
  • How much free countertop room do you have? Look for a model that takes up only as much space as a standard piece of computer paper, and one that has under base cord storage to keep things tidy when it’s not in use. Other models are several inches larger and weigh twice as much, but they are loaded with extra features.
  • What kinds of bread will you be toasting? Some models have an extra-long slot for artisanal bread, while others have a one-touch option for warming up bagels.

MORE: The Best Bread Slicer

  • How particular are you about your toast’s done-ness? Some toasters have six shade settings from a little crunchy to extra crispy. Others have seven browning settings, as well as bagel, defrost and reheat buttons.