I'm a damn mad toaster & I'm NOT gonna take it anymore!

Hi All,

I've HAD IT with electric toasters :~:~ The cheap one fall to bits. The mid priced ones fry themselves. The expensive ones... well they are all looks & no substance.

I got fed up with all the electronics in the newer ones - you know, the machines that go PING and the flashy lights and the electrinic timers - all that stuff seems to last until the warrant expiers. Day after & it goes west. :banghead:

The last machine I got, I looked for something that has actual screws so you can take it apart, repaceable elements, a lever to lft the toast (none of your whimpy springs & stupid motors that both seem to break & then you can't get the toast out), a real bell rather than an electronic siren, and a clockwork timer rather than some electronic thing that fries when you look at it. Ended up with a Kenwood model that was built like a brick dunny.


HOWEVER the idiots used some very cheap clockwork timing switch where the electrical contacts arc & then stop working when they become carbonised
:blowup:
I've taken the fiddly thing (timing switch) apart three times now to fix it.

So, what I want to know is, what is the BEST toaster available. I like quality hand tools - Lie Nielsen, Colen Clenton, HNT Gordon, Chris Vesper, Blue Spruce etc. I like quality power tools - Festool etc. I would like to have the space for quality stationary tools like SawStop, Felder and to on. I WANT a quality toaster!!!:mad3:

The money in throwing the junk away would have paid for a rolled gold machine, I'm certain of that.

I'm guessing there is such a beast available & it will be some sort of industrial mahine that is used in the catering industry, cafes, hotels, restaraunts etc. Maybe Dualit, maybe Roband, don't know if Hobart make one. Anyway, come on guys - help me out - what is the bees knees in toaster please??

Give up now. It's the only sane option. Mankind seems to have lost the skills to build a device to toast bread evenly and repeatedly. Better off with a long fork and an open fire.

Our current toaster works OK for the first two slices (but it isnt' even on both sides...), but when you put the second lot of bread in, it gets darker. After three lots of bread, it's way too dark.

Don't get me started on crumpets or muffins. Useless at toasting either of those, so I use the grill.

In sympathy,

ajw

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Originally Posted by ajw

Give up now. It's the only sane option. Mankind seems to have lost the skills to build a device to toast bread evenly and repeatedly. Better off with a long fork and an open fire.

Our current toaster works OK for the first two slices (but it isnt' even on both sides...), but when you put the second lot of bread in, it gets darker. After three lots of bread, it's way too dark.

Don't get me started on crumpets or muffins. Useless at toasting either of those, so I use the grill.

In sympathy,

ajw

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No, No, NO :nonono:I refuse to give in to this!! There has to be something. There MUST be something!!

But thanks for the vote of sympathy.

I just not all that long ago replace my 10 to 15 yr Russell Hobbs toaster with the same model again, new one works just as good as the old one did, when it gave up the ghost.

Thanks DJ -

The one before the Kenwood was a Russel Hobbs - the stupid electronic timer fried when we had a thunder storm.:((

Oh, I should mention that it can be done. My MOTHER (approaching 90) still has the Sunbeam fully automatic toaster she bought in 1952. This is the one where you drop in the toast & it automatically switches on & goes down by itself, then when done switches off & the taost slowly rises (like a ghoul from the grave :U) It is used eavery day & still all shiny chrome & works properly.

A toasting fork and an open fire.......the combination never fails.

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Originally Posted by chrisb691

A toasting fork and an open fire.......the combination never fails.

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Sounds like the afterlife:D
The good thing about a toasting fork is that you don't have to force two pieces in together when you like only one side toasted.
cheers,
Jim

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Originally Posted by chrisb691

A toasting fork and an open fire.......the combination never fails.

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OK - call me impatient - but when I want a piece of toast I want it today, preferably this morning, and better yet within 5 minutes. By the time I knock out the wall, build the fireplace, chop down the tree, collect the kindling, light the fire, wait for the coals & THEN use the fork - well - lets just say I'm going to be bl00dy hungry!

What I should have said was, I'm looking for advice about the best quality, most durable ELECTRIC toaster (and please, I don't want to know about any electricly powered toasting forks - its bad enough that Aldi are selling electricly powered extending tape measures this week :gaah:

But thanks for the suggestion.

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Originally Posted by RossM

OK - call me impatient - but when I want a piece of toast I want it today, preferably this morning, and better yet within 5 minutes. By the time I knock out the wall, build the fireplace, chop down the tree, collect the kindling, light the fire, wait for the coals & THEN use the fork - well - lets just say I'm going to be bl00dy hungry!

What I should have said was, I'm looking for advice about the best quality, most durable ELECTRIC toaster (and please, I don't want to know about any electricly powered toasting forks - its bad enough that Aldi are selling electricly powered extending tape measures this week :gaah:

But thanks for the suggestion.

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:roflmao:

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Originally Posted by RossM

Oh, I should mention that it can be done. My MOTHER (approaching 90) still has the Sunbeam fully automatic toaster she bought in 1952. This is the one where you drop in the toast & it automatically switches on & goes down by itself, then when done switches off & the taost slowly rises (like a ghoul from the grave :U) It is used eavery day & still all shiny chrome & works properly.

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The answer is obvious. Buy your mum a new toaster as a gift. She'll feel obliged to use it, so you can take her old toaster. Problem solved.

ajw

Tried that - no luck - "I've had this for over 50 years & it's going to see me out. Besides I like the shape. You can't get a shape like that anymore" And she is right.

I bought a Dualit when I lived in England in the late 1990s - it is reliable and predictable (it has idiosyncracies, but they are the same all the time). And it can toast crumpets. And it is still going strong, 12 years later.

I reckon they are long term value for money. But it's best to pick one up in the UK and import it (and change the plug) - retail in Australia is a rip-off.

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Originally Posted by RossM

& it's going to see me out...

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Perhaps a bit drastic, but the answer is still obvious.:oo:

ajw

OK - one vote for the Dualit

Thanks.

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Originally Posted by RossM

I'm guessing there is such a beast available & it will be some sort of industrial mahine that is used in the catering industry, cafes, hotels, restaraunts etc. Maybe Dualit, maybe Roband, don't know if Hobart make one.

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Duolit, Roband, Kempsafe and all the other industrial toasters are great (and actually have replacement parts), however they are designed to cook A LOT of toast. If you are only toasting for yourself and the Minister For War and Finance, these items are a bit overkill. Also, a lot of these toasters are either conveyor belt types or you physically have to lower and raise the toast; no automatic ejection and a good way of regularly testing your smoke alarms.

A European brand I like to use is DeLonghi. I can't vouch for their toasters but their fryers and coffee machines are good. They seem to be at the upper end of the quality spectrum with all their gear and they have a proper parts and service dept. My current toaster is a Sunbeam brushed steel model with many bells and whistles, it's actually very good at crumpets and muffins although typically the inner elements are hotter than the outer. In my caravan I have a white POS $10 from those good-good-good-good-splendid chaps, I don't think it has ever let me down, cooks perfectly but I'm informed it's too ugly for the kitchen :~

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Originally Posted by Chief Tiff

Duolit, Roband, Kempsafe and all the other industrial toasters are great (and actually have replacement parts), however they are designed to cook A LOT of toast. If you are only toasting for yourself and the Minister For War and Finance, these items are a bit overkill. Also, a lot of these toasters are either conveyor belt types or you physically have to lower and raise the toast; no automatic ejection and a good way of regularly testing your smoke alarms.

A European brand I like to use is DeLonghi. I can't vouch for their toasters but their fryers and coffee machines are good. They seem to be at the upper end of the quality spectrum with all their gear and they have a proper parts and service dept. My current toaster is a Sunbeam brushed steel model with many bells and whistles, it's actually very good at crumpets and muffins although typically the inner elements are hotter than the outer. In my caravan I have a white POS $10 from those good-good-good-good-splendid chaps, I don't think it has ever let me down, cooks perfectly but I'm informed it's too ugly for the kitchen :~

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:brava:Oooohh .. I like the Kempsafe idea - a MARINE GRADE toaster for SAILORS - well - it has to be durable - and a vertical version as well as conveyors:thumbup1:

i make my toast in the frypan or bbq plate. preferably after cooking bacon or sausages.

The words greatest toaster :2tsup: :D

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Originally Posted by RossM

Hi All,

I've HAD IT with electric toasters :~:~ The cheap one fall to bits. The mid priced ones fry themselves. The expensive ones... well they are all looks & no substance.

I got fed up with all the electronics in the newer ones - you know, the machines that go PING and the flashy lights and the electrinic timers - all that stuff seems to last until the warrant expiers. Day after & it goes west. :banghead:

The last machine I got, I looked for something that has actual screws so you can take it apart, repaceable elements, a lever to lft the toast (none of your whimpy springs & stupid motors that both seem to break & then you can't get the toast out), a real bell rather than an electronic siren, and a clockwork timer rather than some electronic thing that fries when you look at it. Ended up with a Kenwood model that was built like a brick 5h!thouse.


HOWEVER the idiots used some very cheap clockwork timing switch where the electrical contacts arc & then stop working when they become carbonised
:blowup:
I've taken the fiddly thing (timing switch) apart three times now to fix it.

So, what I want to know is, what is the BEST toaster available. I like quality hand tools - Lie Nielsen, Colen Clenton, HNT Gordon, Chris Vesper, Blue Spruce etc. I like quality power tools - Festool etc. I would like to have the space for quality stationary tools like SawStop, Felder and to on. I WANT a quality toaster!!!:mad3:

The money in throwing the junk away would have paid for a rolled gold machine, I'm certain of that.

I'm guessing there is such a beast available & it will be some sort of industrial mahine that is used in the catering industry, cafes, hotels, restaraunts etc. Maybe Dualit, maybe Roband, don't know if Hobart make one. Anyway, come on guys - help me out - what is the bees knees in toaster please??

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Whatever you chose,
Be sure to TAKE IT OUT OF THE POWER POINT AFTER USE!
This was about 6 houses away from us last March. The poor lady went out early. She returned to this!
We have been told it was caused by a toaster, turned off, but left plugged in.
Regards,
Peter

Go buy youself a kitchenaid approx. $300.00 but you will never need another one

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Originally Posted by RossM

Hi All,

I've HAD IT with electric toasters :~:~ The cheap one fall to bits. The mid priced ones fry themselves. The expensive ones... well they are all looks & no substance.

So, what I want to know is, what is the BEST toaster available. I like quality hand tools - Lie Nielsen, Colen Clenton, HNT Gordon, Chris Vesper, Blue Spruce etc. I like quality power tools - Festool etc. I would like to have the space for quality stationary tools like SawStop, Felder and to on. I WANT a quality toaster!!!:mad3:

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Sorry Ross but as far as I know none of theses fine people make electric toasters!:D:D:p

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Originally Posted by Lignum

The words greatest toaster :2tsup: :D

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Oh, Lignum, if ONLY it were true (but I like the way you think!!)


@Artme - well, I asked about their culinary product range, but was bitterly disappointed to find none of these fine manufactutrers seem understand the value proposition of demand creation with diverisification into the emotional economy created via the inherent lifelong value of their current market offerings. :cl: Surely an HNT Grodon hand crafted electric toaster, fashioned with the finest brass, cryogenically treated steel and trimmed with exotic desert hardwoods is not too much to ask??

@China - One vote for KitchenAid. I think I prefer the Dualit to the Kitchenaid, but thanks.

Peter - That is certainly pause for thought. I hate to think how many appliances are left plugged in and in various states of power up, power down and paower standby

what's wrong with the old propane torch?
or the oxy acetylene (if you're in a hurry)...
lightly toasted = 1.2 seconds...burnt = 1.4 seconds :q

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Originally Posted by lightwood

Whatever you chose,
We have been told it was caused by a toaster, turned off, but left plugged in.

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Originally Posted by RossM

That is certainly pause for thought. I hate to think how many appliances are left plugged in and in various states of power up, power down and power standby

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Turned off (I assume at the wall socket?) and plugged in is a worry. My BIL had a clock radio go up in smoke, something one would expect to be plugged in and turned on 24x7.

Another option would be to cruise the Charity stores and Cash Converters looking for an old Sunbeam Radiant Shade Control or similar suitable for rehab. Ready for the fettling an old toaster thread.

Ross!!! You have learnt Kevin speak exceptionally well!:D:D:D

I don't think Julia Speak translates so eloquently in the written form!:q:q

I just use my blow torch. Gas powered ones taste a lot better than my old primus (although a light drizzle of kero works wonders with hangovers).

We've got a ridiculous brushed stainless steel Breville toaster which varies the temperature with consecutive toastings. With the first pair of slices, the bright neon blue digital readout is set at '3' and when that lot pops up, I turn the toast upside down and plunge it down again, but on setting '2' to toast the top of the bread.

Subsequent slices are toasted at '2' and '1'. When the toast is 'done', it leaps out of the machine amidst a clattering of springs and cheap tin-work and when the ruckus has died down, there's a barely perceivable 'BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!' like some distant truck reversing. Why the designers at Breville deemed this gnat's cough was necessary when the ejection mechanism can be heard in the shed is beyond me.

Aside from the luxury of an open fire and a toasting fork, soaking the bread in meths and flicking a lit match at it is still the best method I've found for toasting bread.

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Originally Posted by RossM

Oh, Lignum, if ONLY it were true (but I like the way you think!!)

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Ross, it is true. Unfortunately it was a European promo only. Germany eBay had heaps at one stage, but sad they have all been snapped up. I love how it leaves the Rotex imprint. But is looks sooooo sexy for a toaster:wink:

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Originally Posted by Lignum

Ross, it is true. Unfortunately it was a European promo only. Germany eBay had heaps at one stage, but sad they have all been snapped up. I love how it leaves the Rotex imprint. But is looks sooooo sexy for a toaster:wink:

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:thewave:
OKAY !! RIGHT THEN !!! WOW !!!!

I'm off to trawl the DeutcheBay site to see what I can find !!!

Thank Zeus for the European Union & stanardised volatge & frequency - 230VAC+- 10% 50Hz - all that Euro stuff works here with no zap. :zap:

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Originally Posted by Woodwould

Aside from the luxury of an open fire and a toasting fork, soaking the bread in meths and flicking a lit match at it is still the best method I've found for toasting bread.

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And if you miss with the match you can still eat it.
Don't know if anyone remembers the old Valor kerosene heaters but you could just lay the bread on top of those to get perfect toast with a very attractive pattern.
cheers,
Jim

J loathe our Breville toaster for all the reasons anyone one can care to list from the above posts.

BUT - we have a George Foreman Lean Mean Fat Grilling Machine. Best bloody toatser on the market! Takes large slices, thick slices - the lot. Perfection every time.

I've given away toasting in favour of frying my bread - althought your Foreman grill is making me feel slightly guilty.

WW, toasting with meths can be problematic. That's how I may have started a slight house fire when I was younger (although it is best to drill small holes just below the head of the match to ensure better draw...!).

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Originally Posted by Blue-deviled

WW, toasting with meths can be problematic. That's how I may have started a slight house fire when I was younger (although it is best to drill small holes just below the head of the match to ensure better draw...!).

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I didn't claim other things in the vicinity wouldn't catch light, I merely maintain that meths makes the best toast. Mind you, the tin roof of a burning abode would likely produce near perfect toast too.

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Originally Posted by artme

J loathe our Breville toaster for all the reasons anyone one can care to list from the above posts.

BUT - we have a George Foreman Lean Mean Fat Grilling Machine. Best bloody toatser on the market! Takes large slices, thick slices - the lot. Perfection every time.

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Slightly off topic but....... A friend of mine had an elevated cholesterol count so his missus bought him GF griller. It did the trick all right drained all the fat away, then the missus would make gravy with it :doh:.

Back on topic now.
I had a DeLonge toaster, best toaster ever, till it gave up the ghost 2 weeks after the warranty expired. I kicked up a stink but they wouldn't budge. Was gonna cost $150 to fix, told them where they could stick their toaster.

:doh: Toasters I'd like one which doesn't set off fire alarms after you have finished and sitting out side enjoying the toast.

Whats wrong with electric grill in the stove or gas grill or a gas electric ring toaster frame you can do 4 slices at once.......yes they still sell them mostly in camping stores

We bought a cheapie from Aldi a couple of years ago - 4 slice toaster that looks a little like the Tefal 4 slice jobby. And it is great. Gets a realy workout in our house, with 7 people living there, and it is still going strong. The only thing that gets me about it is that my MIL changes the settings every now and then and I don't notice. But I don't think there is a toaster our there that can stop that... :wink:

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Originally Posted by Woodwould

I didn't claim other things in the vicinity wouldn't catch light, I merely maintain that meths makes the best toast. Mind you, the tin roof of a burning abode would likely produce near perfect toast too.

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True, true - some people will go to any lengths for a decent toasted crumpet. Although toasting bread or marshmallows over the embers of one's house (or anybody elses for that matter) can look suspicious.

We've been using a cheapie Mistral since 1997, going strong too. We chose it over the Breville as Mistral had a good history of toasting things.

Try a sunbeam cafe series, we have had one for several years had no probs yet(note I state yet...)it cooks the toast even and looks good, cost bout 150ish