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My husband and I were in the market for a new toaster when our Krups brand, which we liked very much, suddenly died on us after only 5 years (the levers would no longer stay pressed down, and like most modern appliances, it was unfixable). Because we had purchased a Michael Graves coffee maker about a year ago and were very happy with this product, we decided to take a chance and purchase the matching Michael Graves toaster from Target.

As you can see from the photo, this toaster features an attractive, sleek design, a combination of easy-clean white plastic and sharp-looking stainless steel. It is the 4-slice model (a 2-slice version is also available), and like most toasters on the market today, it offers extra-wide slots to accommodate bagels and the like. The heat control dial is numbered 1-5, although you can set the dial anywhere in between the numbers as well (the cute little toast window above the dial even moves from light to dark!). But what I like best about this toaster is the button settings. There are four buttons underneath the heat control dial: bagel, defrost, reheat, and cancel. Once you press down the lever for your toast, you can choose any of the first three options (each button illuminates once selected). Therefore, you can toast and defrost a bagel at the same time, defrost and reheat, etc. And of course, the cancel button is there in case you want to check on your toast prior to the end of the cycle.

At this point, you may be asking--but does it make decent toast? Happily, the answer is yes! This toaster toasts items thoroughly and evenly. Overall, I've found it to toast relatively quickly, but as mentioned in the manual, toasting times vary--for example, while a simple piece of toast will be finished in no time at all, frozen waffles or other products coming from the freezer will take a bit longer. After about a month of use, my husband and I are very pleased with the performance of this product, and it looks great in our kitchen, too! We certainly would not hesitate to buy from the Michael Graves line again; highly recommended!

One final note: Apparently, prior to this model, Target had released a different Michael Graves design toaster which received many complaints from consumers. Kudos to Target for redesigning this product!

My girlfriend recently purchased this toaster--after reading that it was the top rated four slice toaster on Cooks Illustrated (of this price range). I, myself, own a $319 dualit chrome toaster. I have to admit, her $37.99 toaster is superior. The bread is artwork when it comes out--it is evenly and beautifully toasted. It gives new meaning to the word "toast"--as an adjective. It's what my dualit should be. After admiring her toast on bagels, bread, etc--perfectly done every time--for the past three months, I went ahead and bought one for myself. Sorry, dualit.

After trying three toasters, i found one that toasts both sides of a single slice of bread. With others I would have to put down twice or turn around, but not this one. I am very satisfied.

Bill

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3.0 out of 5 stars Made in China
Cooks Illustrated did a review of toasters and this was the top pick. They also took apart a toaster (didn't say which one) and revealed inconsistent wrapping of the toaster... Read more

Published 9 months ago by Shopper

1.0 out of 5 stars ---agree with 1 star "Mocking Otter"
I have had the same experience as "Mocking Otter". It does take forever to toast bread, and then I have to flip it over to get the lighter side. Read more

Published 13 months ago by dobremom

2.0 out of 5 stars toasts, sort of
Relying on America's test kitchen, which I will not do again, I went to some effort to find this toaster. Read more

Published 17 months ago by M. J. Stoneburg

1.0 out of 5 stars First time Cook's Illustrated let me down
I bought this toaster to replace a toaster oven. As always before making a kitchen gadget purchase, I checked with Cook's Illustrated. Read more

Published 18 months ago by Mocking Otter

4.0 out of 5 stars great price
great toaster, evenly toasts on both sides, nice bagel setting, easy cleaning tray all for a very affordable price!

Published 23 months ago by Ponsie

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Value
My husband has a problem with most toasters, I finally found this one and it seems to be just what he wanted, so far so good

Published on February 2, 2010 by K. Lockhart

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful toaster
I have been using this toaster for about 2 months.It seems to take longer to toast than any of my past toasters,but it toasts very evenly. Read more

Published on January 12, 2010 by buysalot

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but not for us
Why I bought it:
This toaster came highly recommended by Cooks Illustrated, whose opinion I hold in high regard. Read more

Published on November 28, 2009 by Richard Trafford-owen

2.0 out of 5 stars Did everything except toast bread.
This is a good looking machine and had recieved good reviews but even when I turned it all the way up to 5, it's highest setting, it barely gave white bread any color at all. Read more

Published on October 25, 2009 by Richard Wright

4.0 out of 5 stars Finally a great toaster!
Didn't know it was so hard to find a decent appliance just to toast. I had a GE toaster oven for years and really just used it for toast. Read more

Published on October 11, 2009 by Book Lover

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