I own this one in red: https://www.amazon.com/Oster-2-Slice-Toaster-Stainless-TSSTJC5BBK/dp/B00451B7RU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1546788722&sr=8-3&keywords=oster+toaster+2+slice

Love it. Bought it in 2010, and it is still working GREAT.

Moni

I also have an Oster in red, similar to what Moni posted. It is several years old with no problems.

I have a 2 slice Krups toaster. I really like it! I often put frozen bagels in it. It's a senso toast, it adjusts the time according to the temperature of the item you put in it. I don't think they make them any more....?

Things to look for are wide slots and a clean out tray. Wide slots beyond bagels can be used to toast sturdier hamburger buns and "Texas" toast. Clean out trays are not on all toasters but may be in those that you look at. Saves cleaning up the floor when you remove from the counter to put away if the place you are putting it means more than sliding into the cupboard.

This may sound like a dumb question, but does the Oster beep? We have a KitchenAid and it beeps when the bread goes down AND when it comes up. That annoying feature is not mentioned in the product description or in the manual, can't turn it off or adjust the volume. We plan to replace it just for that reason.

My Oster doesn't beep.

My Oster doesn't beep either!

Definitely recommend a Breville. Breville site

We have a 4-slice KitchenAid and it doesn't beep. I wouldn't buy another one but for other reasons such as uneven toasting.

I have a Kitchenaid two slice. It beeps, but just once when toast is done. It's about 6 years old, red, and does what a toaster is supposed to do. No complaints other than its slow. I'm sure I've had toasters that toasted bread more quickly than this one does.

I have found (for me) that the cheep Ravil wide slot one I got at Walmart works well daily for me. Got it 8 or 10 years ago for around $10.00. I only bought a new one cause I started eating bagels and needed the wide slots. the other was also a cheep one that was going strong when I gave it away. I get more years out of the cheep (simple) ones then when I have spent big money on one.

greenshoekitty.... that was my thought.... we are using an old "toastmaster" brand which i probably paid $12 for at Target. bought in the interim while i shopped for a new toaster oven. we have been using for about 5 years and now its going wonky...

from what i read, none gets really high marks and they all have faults...

will update when one is bought! thanks to everyone who responded so far!!

Bodum

I love my Dualit, made in England. It's a pricey brand and not necessarily the top rated, but it's an adorable toaster. Since it sits out on my counter, that's important to me.

Have a Black and Decker, works well and has a lift feature..still not high enough for Thomas's toaster corn cakes though.

A Sunbeam T-20B. New toasters don't get as hot to be safer. I got mine at an antique mall and it worked perfectly. They can be repaired if need be. I have had it for 10 years.

I know you said you don't need a toaster oven, but please do consider the smallest Breville toaster oven. It's the first toaster oven I've ever had that actually makes great toast! It also is great for baking etc.

Breville makes this in many sizes. I prefer the smallest <https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/breville-mini-smart-toaster-oven/?pkey=celectrics-breville&isx=0.0.1064>;

It's pricey but worth every penny. It took me years to get such - finally, when I redid my kitchen, I asked my children for it for Mother's Day! Yes, I AM that cheap but if I needed one again, I would buy one - it's that good!

Dualit allows you to raise the toast anytime you want to check it. It also doesn't pop the toast up when the timer ends. It helps to keep the toast hot to melt butter. But recently I butter the bread and put it in the toaster oven instead.

Kathie, I did not know that those corn cakes were still made! I remember them as a child, a zillion years ago.

I want to cast a vote for Oster, as well. We've only had ours for a year and a half but I'm expecting a long life of great performance from this inexpensive little appliance. There is absolutely no need to spend a lot of money on a toaster.

I put ours away after being used also. We only use it two or three times a week and I've never liked to see my kitchen appliances all over the counter. Fortunately, I have plenty of "parking space" in a pantry a few steps away.

Who knew there were so many toaster fans? FWIW, here's a CR recommendation (Dec 2018)

Toasters are pretty basic. One difference I've found is that some bread racks are more prone to getting bread stuck than others. See the poor rendering of a view from above looking down, below. The top one, as in the Breville we have, works pretty well. The bottom type is more likely to have bread get stuck between the tines and the side of the slot, especially thinner bread.

Fifteen year old KitchenAid works well for us. Has crumb tray, wide slots, bagel mode, warm mode, and cord keeper.

I have the $25.00 red Oster from Target/Walmart also. When I was researching a basic toaster it had higher satisfaction reviews than much pricier ones. It does what a toaster does. I am happy with it.