Customer Reviews

Viking Professional 4 Slot Toaster, Black

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've owned my Viking four-slot toaster for a year now and, while I agree with other reviews that it looks mighty pretty, I do have some criticisms. First of all, the heating elements don't seem to toast bread as brown as some other, much cheaper, toasters. With some bread, just to get a normal browning, I have to turn the toaster selection knob to its highest toasting heat (6) and, even then, push it down again to achieve the brownness I like. (This can take upwards of 3-4 minutes!)

And, likewise with another reviewer, it's difficult to get an even browning, due to the large slot size. I realize that the slots are large to accommodate thicker bread and bagels, but, unlike with other toasters, there's no built-in mechanism to ensure that the bread sits evenly in the slots.

All in all, I've been disappointed with this toaster, and wouldn't purchase another one.

I've owned this toaster for over a year now and I LOVE this toaster! Kind of surprised at some of the "less-than-stellar" reviews here. Yes, this thing is built like a tank. This is a good thing, the unit is very stable, stays put on the counter. It's easy to clean and has a substantial crumb tray, very easy to remove, well thought out design. Very well built, clean lines, no sharp edges with high quality control knobs and materials used in construction. My toaster gets daily use and regular cleaning and it still looks great. Expensive? You bet! For those who say; "A toaster is a toaster and they can get comparable quality toast from a far less expensive unit, I say; a Kia Sorrento will get you to work in the same amount of time as a Bentley Continental but long term, you'll probably enjoy the Bentley experience a lot more." That's probably not the best comparison but what I'm trying to say is, I think it's ok, even a good idea generally, to pay more for quality of build, fit and finish and control. On that topic; I am able to dial in the level of toasting with much greater accuracy with this unit than the less expensive units I've owned. Also, I believe I get a more even heat coverage with this unit. Toast is consistently toasted from edge-to-edge more so than on my less expensive toasters. One minor complaint: My toaster will eject a lighter weight bread slice right out of the toaster onto the counter. This happens only with the light weight bread slices like a mass produced, packaged, machine sliced bread type, not with a heavier slice of bakery or homemade bread or bagel. It's actually hilarious and we've come to enjoy the show. Yeah, silly, I know but it's cheap entertainment! Fortunately we have room on the surrounding counter space to handle the incoming projectiles. Don't know if I can manually adjust the spring tension, haven't investigated this option, not really motivated to change it. For those items that don't rise above the top of the toaster when toasting is completed, you can actually manually raise the handles "UP" to bring the item above the top surface of the toaster to allow it to be safely lifted from the toaster (no knives or tools required in the toaster). It took me a while to discover this capability, I don't think the owners' manual mentions it and even if it does mention it...Owners' manual? We don't need no stinkin' owners' manual!
Overall, this is a nice looking, solidly built, excellent performing unit. This toaster gets noticed. Visitors to my kitchen almost always ask about it, how I like it, how it works. I recommend it to friends.

I bought this Viking toaster after being fed up off buying toaster's that toast uneven. This toaster is very expensive and I am a little disappointed really as I don't feel it toasts any better or more evenly than any other brand. It is a thing of beauty and built like a tank as the previous reviewer has pointed out but is it worth the money? Probably not. I love my Viking range and ventilation hood which both work better than any other brand so it's a shame the the toaster isn't what you'd expect from Viking.

The toaster is great! I bought it as a Christmas present for my parents and they were very pleased with it. Unfortunately, they sent me the wrong color (black instead of red) but due to the Christmas craziness, my parents never bothered to return the toaster in exchange for the correct color. I guess we were lucky because black also matched with our kitchen. This toaster is the best toaster we've ever had - superficially, it has a clean, sleek, trendy look and functionally, it makes evenly toasted slices. Overall, we've been very pleased with the purchase besides receiving the wrong color!

4 slice models are 1800 watts 2 slice modes are 1000 watts. The specs listed about the 4 slice unit are thus incorrect.

NOTE: The 4 slice models are 1800 watts, and the 2 slice modes are 1000 watts. Go to the Viking website to verify this. Nonetheless this is more wattage than the inexpensive toasters typically sold in everyday stores which tend to be about 750-800 watts for 2 slice models. For a toaster, more watts is usually better and speedier. Not sure if this model will take large size buns or bread, etc.

I have both the four slice and two slice model. Are these toasters really worth the money? Well that depends on what you are interested in. I bought these to match my Viking range and from a looks point of view a toaster does not get much better. Does it make toast better than a cheap $15 toaster? No, it really does not. For making plain old toast the slots are too wide so they sit crooked in the toaster making it pretty difficult to get an even toast. Also I have to use a knife to get bagels out of it because the spring mechanism does come up high enough.

Although Viking products appear to be made of high quality components I can honestly say I would never voluntarily buy another one of their products. Buy Wolf/Subzero instead. I have a Viking dishwasher and it is the worst I have ever used. I have to completely hand wash the dishes before they go into the dishwasher...then the glasses all come up with residue from the detergent...I have tried powder and liquid detergent and I cannot cure this problem.

Great item, not muct else to add, it does what a toaster does and does it well, very even browning. It is very attractive and is solidly built.

This is a thing of beauty. It weighs a ton is built like a Sherman tank and makes great toast too! I highly recommend it.

The Viking toaster is just perfect: pretty, sturdy, toasts everything to perfection, from a bagel to the thinnest toast. Expensive but worth it.

Arrived on time.
Substantive packaging.
Work like it should.
Very heavy duty.
Looks good.