If you'd like to live a low-carbon lifestyle, switching your current top-notch toaster to an energy-efficient toaster is a step in the right direction. It can help you to reduce your electricity intake and lower your energy bills.
Before you decide which energy-efficient toaster oven you want, there are a few things to bear in mind. Generally speaking, a two-slice toaster will require less electricity to run than a 4-slice toaster, as there’s likely to be a smaller surface area to heat. Not to mention, you'll likely fill each slot with bread so no energy gets wasted (which may be the case if you're not hungry for four slices).
Best energy-efficient toasters at a glance:
•Best eco-friendly toaster: Philips Eco Conscious Edition 5000 Series Toaster - view offer on Amazon
•Best energy-efficient 2-slice toaster: Breville Edge Deep Chassis 2-Slice Toaster - view offer on Amazon
• Best energy efficient 4-slice toaster: Smeg TSF03 4-Slice Toaster - view offer on John Lewis
It's also recommended to keep an eye on the wattage, with those under 1200W being the most energy-efficient - more on that in our FAQs below. So, without further ado, we've put together a list of the best energy-efficient toasters from popular brands such as Dualit, Philips, and Smeg.
The best energy-efficient toasters
Best for an eco-friendly toaster
AmazonMade from used cooking oil (bio-based plastics), the Philips Eco Conscious Edition is a fantastic option for those who like to minimise waste as well as energy consumption (due to the recycled element). It has an integrated bun rack and a lid for a sustainable yet minimalistic design.
Customer review: "The toaster is really nice aesthetically Pleasing to the eye and also touch, the casing has a really nice feel and texture to it and the finish is excellent. The toaster works well and has a variety of settings by number for your browning preference. It has a cancel button and a pop up rack for croissants etc., I’ve not used this feature yet."
Pros
- Auto-shut off
- Clear 'stop' button
Cons
- Rather small
Best energy-efficient 2-slice toaster
AmazonThe 'lift and look' element is one of many standout features on the Breville Edge Deep Chassis 2-Slice Toaster, as you can check on your bread to see if it's to your liking. The bread slots also have an adjustable width, which allows you to effectively toast slices of different thicknesses.
Customer review: "It is so good I bought a second one for my mum the day after receiving my first. It perfectly toasts tall Warburton's Toastie bread top to bottom, which normally needs to be flipped round on its end. It is made of good quality, brushed stainless steel; is solid and robust; has nice controls, and produces perfect toast. Finally, a great price - having not bought a toaster for some time, I was horrified to see the price of some of the brands. So, all-in-all, a brilliant toaster and really great value for money. Well done, Breville!"
Pros
- Spacious
- Easy to use
Cons
- Quite large for a two-slot toaster
Best energy-efficient 4-slice toaster
Amazonredirect.viglink.com
It doesn't get more stylish than Smeg. Available in multiple colours, this four-slot toaster is perfect for families or homes that get through a lot of toast. For easy cleaning, it comes with a removable stainless-steel crumb tray. It even comes with a bagel function!
Customer review: "I bought this Smeg Toaster along with the Smeg kettle and I was so pleased. It looks smart, works well and is super easy to operate. I would not hesitate to buy more Smeg kitchen goods."
Pros
- Clear symbols on buttons
- Can change the settings on both sides
Cons
- Some say the toasting isn't always even
Best for a compact size
AmazonThe Dualit Lite is a small energy-efficient toaster oven that's sleek and stylish. The wide slots are perfect for crumpets, teacakes, muffins and toasties and there are so many browning levels, allowing you to make your food exactly to your liking.
Customer review: "The design has a touch of elegance which means the toaster makes a statement, as far as a toaster can, with a retro-1950's look. It is an attractive, rounded design with fairly simple controls. There is a button for bagels, which, with cut sides to the centre, will toast the cut side and warm the crust, a feature also useful for muffins, especially thick northern affairs, and there is also a defrost button, As well as slices of bread you can also defrost bagels and muffins by pressing both buttons simultaneously."
Pros
- Aesthetically pleasing (other colours available)
- Compact, but the slots are wide
Cons
- Toasting may not always be even
Best easy-to-use toaster
Amazonwww.zwilling.com
Zwilling's ENFINIGY toaster boasts 7 toasting levels, as well as 3 pre-programmed settings. It also has a soft-lift feature, (so that your toast doesn't fly away when it pops up) along with an extra-lift feature to reach smaller pieces with ease.
Customer review: "I'm really pleased with this toaster. It's great for toasting different sized slices of bread such as wider or taller pieces and thicker slices. The toasting is even and the toast nice and crunchy. I would definitely recommend!"
Pros
- Cord storage
- Toasting time automatically adjusts (when settings are changed)
Cons
- Only 2 slots
Best for digital display
AmazonAvailable as both four-slot and two-slot toasters, this offering from Elite Gourmet is excellent for heating all sorts of bread. We love that it has an LED screen that counts down the time for you and showcases which setting the machine is on.
Customer review: "I wanted a toaster with lateral facing controls and levers on the sides and this one fits the requirements. The knob when set at 4 (~2 minutes 40 seconds) toasted sliced bread just right. Like all toasters I've used, the centre-facing side is a bit darker than the outside. The crumb tray can be slid off completely to clean; I will find use for the rack later. I did a few dry runs to get rid of the "factory" smell before use. Overall, I am quite satisfied with the purchase."
Pros
- Extra-wide slots
- Built-in warming rack to keep it toasty
Cons
- Some reviewers say that the toasting levels aren't accurate
Do toasters use a lot of electricity?
According to Energy Use Calculator, whilst most toasters are marketed as running between 800 to 1500 watts of energy, the average toaster runs on around 1200 watts per use. So, no matter what type of toasting device you have (whether you have a smart toaster, toasting oven or toastie maker), ideally, you should look for one below the 1200W toaster energy rating - if you want an energy-efficient toaster, that is.
Things to consider when buying an energy-efficient toaster
Slot - The first thing you should do is decide what size toaster you would like. A four-slot toaster is great for families (or those who like to consume a lot of toast - no judgement here), whilst a two-slot toaster is more suited to smaller households. Remember that the more slots a toaster has, the more likely it is to have a higher energy rating than those that don't.
Size - A lot of energy-efficient toasters are compact and small, which is ideal if you don't have enough room on your worktop or kitchen cupboard. Some of them may not be big, but they may have wide slots so you can prepare a broad range of delicious treats and perhaps fit in a toastie in a toaster bag.
Energy rating - Of course, you should check out the wattage, as this will give you the toaster's energy efficiency. Remember, most run between 800 to 1500 watts of energy.
Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who enjoys cooking and spending time with her many pets.