Cuisinart CPT-180 4 slice toaster

Toasters are not considered exciting kitchen appliances although a few songs have been written about toast. Our $5 two-slice toaster served us well for many years, but energetic kids finally broke the handle off making it useless. So I went on a hunt at a couple of local stores to look for a sturdy 4-slice model. I was surprised to find that on nearly all models, the handles where attached by thin plastic levers and snapped off with only a little extra effort. Sorry, Kohls and WalMart, about all those broken display models.

The Cuisinart CPT-180, however, resisted aggressive toasting and the handles stayed attached. The lever mechanism was smoother on other brands, but this is not a big deal.

The stainless housing is easy to clean although it is very thin and already has a couple of dents.

The slots fit normal-size bagels without a problem. Toasting is a bit inconsistent from side to side, but this is known to be a common problem with this model. You can see which coils don't get as hot, and use it to your advantage for bagels.

The adjustment knobs turn way too easily, but just check your settings. Never have gone above level 3. Level 6 would probably make slices of charcoal.

We have a small 12" wide countertop space next to the stove and it fits perfectly. Since th housing is stainless you don't have to worry about a hot pot on the stove melting the toaster.

Haven't had any problems with items getting stuck. This toaster lets you push the handles up about an inch past their normal position to help push out any extra thick items that might stick.

Has a provision underneath to wind up excess power cord, a nice feature. Two crumb trays slide out the back for cleaning.