Customer Reviews

Dualit 2-Slice Toaster, Lavender Blue

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I wanted to love this toaster. My partner and I are fans of timeless, hands on appliances (Rancilio for example), and I thought this appliance would be perfect. I read the reviews on Amazon.co.uk, which warned of fire hazzard, poor build quality and cheap timers, unlike the Dualits of yesteryear. All true, I realized, as soon as this toaster arrived. The timer IS cheap and annoying, and after a few uses it began stopping in the middle of the cycle, leaving the elements still heating. We had to make sure to unplug this potential tragedy after every use. In addition, the toast was nothing a $20 model couldn't master. Aside from the hefty weight and the beauty, it just seemed like I'd succumbed to overpriced hype. But wait! Williams Sonoma sells a "New Gen" model with electronic timer, wider slots, and a bagel setting. I was skeptical, thinking it was just a modern redo with a trashy retro result. But I was so wrong. The WS model took an evolutionay approach, modernizing the controls, speeding warmup, increasing safety, and is superbly built. It works like a charm and feels like it will last forever. Worth every penny of its considerable purchase price. In addition, I was told at the store it would be guaranteed for life. Buy the Williams Sonoma model: it makes great toast (and bagels), is safe and of higher quality, and it's evolutionary design makes the regular model an obsolete, overpriced novelty.

THE FULL STORY

I first encountered a Dualit toaster while staying at the Ritz Carlton in Hong Kong. The hotel provided an enormous buffet, part of which included a big basket of breads that could be toasted. The hotel's 4-slice Dualit was in constant use. I was impressed both by its uncomplicated design and its ability to make toast in about a minute (much to the dismay of several hotel guests, who left a slice inside too long and came back to find it was black!)

First, the looks. The Dualit is sleek. Although they come in colors, the traditional model is shiny stainless steel. The controls are simple - a toggle switch (which controls whether the heating elements turn on for 2 slots or all 4 slots) and a timer. It is somewhat retro looking and very solid. Although I am not a big fan of keeping appliances on the counter, I make an exception for the Dualit. Note: If you have limited counterspace, the Dualit may not be for you. It definitely takes up more space than your average toaster.

Now, the function. The Dualit is extremely simple compared to your average plastic, bank-freebie model. There is no spring loaded "pop-up" feature like on most modern toasters. Instead, you put the toast in the slots and move a small lever on the front of the machine, which lowers the toast into the toaster. When the toast is done (or if you want to sneak a peak), you push the lever back in the other direction and raise the toast back up.

The only knob is a timer, which is based on minutes (rather than the light/medium/dark settings that most toasters have). After you lower the toast, you set the timer and wait for the bell. If you want the toast to stay warm, you can leave it in.

My only criticism is that it takes a little experience to find how much time it takes to get the doneness you like. I find that it takes a little while for the toaster to hit peak heat - it usually takes longer to toast the first batch than the second batch. Once it heats up it toasts very fast.

One last warning - this baby is expensive. If you have ever read my reviews, you know that it is my philosophy that is is better to invest up front in a quality item that will last 20 years than it is to buy a low end product that has to be replaced (and stuck in the landfill) every couple of years. Target.

CONCLUSION

Highly recommended, for the person willing to make the investment. Great performance and style. What more can you ask for!

Timer based toasting is the only way to go for consistent toasting. I like the fact that the toasted product is not dried out, is crispy without being burned. The result is even accross the entire surface. The only side effect I've noticed is very thin toast tends to rest closer to one side of the slot than the other and the closer side toasts quicker than the other. I just adjust things half way through if it matters. I'm very pleased with this toaster.

We actually received this toaster as a housewarming gift nearly 10 years ago, so take the "would buy it again" with a grain of salt! Let's just say we'd be happy to buy one as a replacement if we ever had to. Honestly, though, I think this toaster is going to have a very long life indeed.

We love this toaster.

It is the easiest to use, most convenient toaster you can imagine, and that's simply because it IS simple. You have three controls: a timer for the heating elements, a selector switch that turns on the elements for both slots or only one, and the lift handle.

Separating the timer from the lift simplifies the toaster, eliminating maintenance and also just makes the toaster more civilized somehow. I would never put the typical pop-up toaster on the table with breakfast, for example, but the manual lift Dualit just seems to belong there. Pop in your bread and turn it on, give it a peek here and there with the lift handle, and take it out precisely as you like it, exactly when you'd like to have it. Lovely.

So why 4 stars? First, the toasting itself could be a little more even. Second, most of the bread we buy won't fit the toaster unless the slices are put in vertically ... meaning that unless you flip the slice part-way through, the portion of the slice sticking up doesn't get toasted. I.e., the slots need to be longer.

So ... perhaps we'd buy one of the Dualit long-slot versions as a replacement. The size of this 2 slot model is just so convenient that perhaps we'd just buy another. Either way, there's no question that it would be a Dualit.

I ordered this Dualit for a really great, discounted price. The first toaster I received had a defective 1/2 slice switch so Amazon.com sent me a replacement, it was a very fast, and easy return. The replacement toaster has a pretty sub-standard paint job, but at least it works well. For a toaster that can sell for $240, it's kind of disappointing. A friend of mine ordered a discounted 4 slice model and the lift lever was completely broken off, as well as the base being warped. Her replacement is scratched, but it does work. Amazon.Com is a great company, and I spend more money there than any other website, but I wish they would have a word with Dualit about what they're selling at a discount. They are not listed as refurbished or seconds, but maybe they should be. J

I received a refurbished canary yellow Dualit as a house-warming gift.

Pros:
1. Fast heating - haven't had a problem with it taking ages to heat up. For first time toasting in the mornings, I just set the timer to go a minute extra and the toast comes out just fine.
2. Myriad of really pretty colors - these toasters really ARE pretty.
3. There's a little arrow on the the timer knob that I've found keeps toasts to a perfect level (between 2 - 3 minutes).
4. The little lever that helps the toast go up and down is pretty nifty and really works when you have things that are too big for the slots (see (5) and Cons (3) below).
5. Since there is no pop-up mechanism, the toast stays warm in the toaster until you use the nifty little lever to bring it up. As an avid fan of crisp Marmite soldiers, this is an awesome feature.

Cons:
1. Large countertop footprint. You can kill a buffalo with this.
2. Sometimes uneven toasting - I can't figure out if the top gets darker first or the other way around. It's a little aggravating but it doesn't happen all the time.
3. The much touted "wide-slots" isn't really that wide. A bagel can barely fit in there without any external help.

In conclusion, I would never actively pay $200 for a toaster like this, even if it's heavy and looks really, really good, and is a British institution. It toasts well (most times), is easy to use and seems durable. But I guess the same can be said of those $10 toasters you get at Walgreens.

AT LAST I found the Perfect Dream Toaster that does everything it claims to do. After yet another Chinese made-American Name Brand-Bagel Emphasized Toaster failed and wasted money in our kitchen, I started my search on Amazon.com with toaster reviews to see if there was actually any product that worked to produce a slice of bread toasted evenly on both sides, instead of the empty marketing promises made about manufacturers and their toasters. The reviews kept pointing me to the British-made Dualit toaster. The price was unexpected but I continued my Amazon search and found the one I perferred in Chrome Blue/2 slicer, new for $97. I thought for that price, I'll try the Dualit. It arrived and IT IS EVERYTHING THAT I DREAMED AND EXPECT FROM A TOASTER. The bread is toasted evenly every time on both sides with simple and perfect manual knobs that the toast-maker controls themselves. It is a beautiful, trustworthy toaster and now desired by friends as they also expereince the "rare" toaster that actually makes the perfectly toasted slice of bread. No Wonder---the British truely understand what toasted bread means and produced a simple engineered but perfect toaster. The price whichever one the Dualit toaster is found for is worth every dollar. I highly recommend this toaster to all who enjoy toasted bread on "both" sides! Bravo, Dualit and Amazon for the perfect product. Thank you for your excellence and also the buyers who reviewed this great toaster.

I cannot fathom what some of these people are thinking when they say they do not care for this toaster. I moved across 2000 miles away and have yet to bring all of my things and this is the one appliance that I miss along with my kitchenaid mixer. If you love to cook and like versatality this is the toaster for you. It has accessories to toast sandwiches instead of getting out a frying pan and it is like nothing I have ever seen on the market as far as toasters go. I bought mine in black, but am eyeing the red one that I wanted, but was not available in the USA at the time mine was purchased.(I had even called England and begged way back when!) This one is a must for my kitchen and busy life. Some things just cannot get any better.

After years as a Dualit owner, I still get a certain pleasure from using its sensible, rugged controls, raising and lowering the toast myself, hearing the friendly ticking of its timer...
It's only a toaster I know, but there's just something about it that gives you a sense of satisfaction. And it makes any kitchen look cool, just siting there. I also know it's expensive, but I've known people buy several new, lesser toasters in the time I've had my Dualit, so who's saving? If something does go wrong, I can get new bits so I won't have to throw it away, ever perhaps.

By the way, it makes good toast too. The best thing is that the toast doesn't pop up, and toast is much crisper if you leave it down (keeping warm) inside the toaster for a minute or two. You can't usually do this with regular toasters.

If you are resistant of the price, think again, it's well worth the investment!

I bought this high end toaster about 5/6 years ago. It is simple and I thought it would last forever,but a few weeks ago the heating element in one slot failed and it is now worthless. This toaster has no amenities (like auto lift), it is not particularly fast and is quite inconsistent in the darkness of the toast. Kitchen Aid makes far superior (and less expensive) toasters.

Not recommended at all.