Customer Reviews

Dualit Classic 2-Slice Toaster, Cobalt Blue

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

My husband is very very picky about his toast. I can honestly say that we went through more than 10 toasters of various prices - high and low - half of them made unacceptable toast - and half of them broke while making unacceptable toast - and then we found the Dualit. This was about 5 years ago - in a true panic, I thought I would just go out and buy the most expensive toaster there was - and found this one at williams-sonoma. Sticker shock, but I've recommended it since, to everyone who toasts. And it has made perfect toast since the day we bought it.

It's great - it is really easy to clean. There is no relying on electronics to decide how toasted the bread is - you figure it out and you know forever - about 2 minutes for a piece of toast for wheat bread from the fridge into cold toaster - if second round of toast and toaster is hot, cut it by 25%. The little ticking sound while it's fixing your perfect toast is nice to keep you remembering that you have toast - and when the ticking stops (no cha-ching), you know you are ready.

I have zero regrets and hundreds of absolutely perfect toasting experiences. And we paid full price - this was before amazon got into this market. Dualit is the best toaster in the world -and me? - I am the toaster queen.

I love my Dualit!

Our old toaster died one Sunday morning so Monday I started searching for a new one. We had a Cuisanart - and I had planned on buying the same brand of toaster maybe just a 4 slot version until I read the reviews. The one that was on sale at the local department store (for $100)got miserable reviews on Amazon, so I searched and searched and searched and the only toaster that got consistantly good reviews is the Dualit.

I ended up purchasing a refurbished Dualit on another website for about half the price. I'm not one to skimp on kitchen appliances or gadgets, but spending over $200 on a toaster seemed a bit extreme. Now that I've received it I've decided it's worth every penny. If it breaks tomorrow, I'd definitely run right out and spend pay full price to replace it.

I love the fact that operates completely different than any other toaster out there. It's best to preheat it - but once you do you can put in pieces of bread one right after another with consistant results. None of the problems you have w/American toasters when they get heated where the first piece is perfect, the next is too light, and the next comes out more like a piece of bread and so on.

The other thing I love is the fact that you raise and lower the bread when the timer goes off, versus the American toasters where you push the toast down to activate the toaster. That stupid push button/latch mechanism has been the death of every toaster I've ever owned. I was playing with a couple of the Cuisanarts at the department store and on both units it was broken - just from store use, let alone actual use!

Now back to the price again. My sister who doesn't appreciate good kitchenware swears by cheap toasters because she "can replace them every couple of years when something breaks". I started to think back on my old Cuisanart that I loved. I received it as a shower gift when we were married 8 years ago and at the time it was about $60. It was a great toaster and if you averaged it out it cost about $8 a year to own. So - given that, if I replaced a cheap toaster every other year, I doubt I could find a $16 toaster even at a discount store that would last more than a year. Hopefully I haven't cursed my Dualit but if so, like I said earlier, I'd replace it with a full priced non-refurbished any day. Buy one, you'll be happy you did.

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!

This is a beautifully constructed and carefully assembled toaster, radiating quality. The design has many desireable features but, in my opinion, one serious shortcoming. When one pays over $200 for a toaster of bread, even one disappointment is one too many.

Simply, the toasting pocket, including the movement [depth] of the lowering device, is slightly too small. The first piece of bread I tried, a slice of Jewish rye, didn't quite fit. A half inch longer, wider and deeper would make this toaster perfect.

In particular, the width is too narrow to really warm most sandwiches, barely accomodating the two slices of bread, nevermind anything in between more than a couple slices of cheese, etc. I bought the sandwich rack but, now, I expect not to get much use from it.

But, to be fully honest, if the bread fits within [4-1/2 in x 4-1/2 in], the toast is marvelous.

Bill Wood

BEWARE-DO NOT PURCHASE DUALIT FROM ETRONICS AS THEY ARE NOT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DUALIT PRODUCTS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT DUALIT USA DOES NOT HONOR THEIR WARRANTY-BUY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

I am embarrased I was taken in by the good looks and marketing hype. Ordered direct from Amazon, the first unit I received was clearly a refurb tho it was sold as new. Amazon replaced it promptly.

Soon after purchase one element began working intermittently and now it has failed completely. The number to call for warranty service provided with the product was disconnected. The Dualit website has no listing for how to get service. Sleuthing turned up the alleged authorized repair center who, of course, wants you to pay for shipping to ship the Dualit-junk-toaster to them. From the quality of the phone service and the feeling I have received so far, I might as well be shipping this useless toaster into a black hole.

This is NOT the quality nor quality of service that goes with a $200 toaster. If you're shopping, do yourself a huge favor and cross Dualit off your list.

Next time I will listen to the reviews and ignore the hype!

I cannot stand this toaster!

First of all, you MUST preheat it for a couple of minutes or it will not toast.

THEN, you must watch your toast or waffle like a hawk because a couple of seconds is the difference between acceptable toasting and incineration.

AND, if you really want things toasted uniformly then you really should rotate your toast 180 degrees half way through since the side facing inward gets toasted much faster than those facing outward.

WHAT a ROYAL pain! Who cares if it IS indestructable! I keep hoping mine will die (it was a gift from my husband) so I can get a different toaster....maybe I will *accidentally* drop it off the roof...

The Dualit is a design icon and looks great on the countertop. Although the design has now been copied by quite a few other companies, the original still stands out. The design not only looks good but is almost indestructable. However, one warning for bagel lovers, bagels do not fit very well into the slots (a consequence this being an english design it was never built for anything but sliced bread) and most bagels will need to be squished and will sometimes get stuck (requiring some deft knife/fork tricks to extricate). That coupled with the outrageous cost (I know it looks good but $200???) makes this toaster one for the design freak who only toasts sliced bread. I've owned mine for a year but I'm tired of squishing my bagels, it's time to trade it in for something with an extra wide slot.

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.