Have a fancy expensive breville and couldn’t hate it more. Only toasts one side so toast needs turning. Worst is the controls are very dif to read - ie we have to bend close with glasses on to see the dials. But wow they must have lots of bots and some fans as it has glowing reviews. Make me suspect all reviews??
Is an old fashioned toaster a better choice? Not interested in multi functions of steam and microwave and air fryer combos. Thanks for any recs.
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I’m a toaster fan, but my husband is into toaster ovens, so… A couple of years ago, we bought a Ninja Foodi toaster oven that he saw on tv. 
It’s fine. We only use it for toast and broiling cheese toast, but it can do all kinds of other things too if necessary. It doesn’t take up a lot of counter space and is easy to use. The toast is excellent! Here’s a newer version of the one we bought:
https://www.crateandbarrel.com/ninja-foodi-8-in-1-digital-air-fry-oven/s636015?storeid=&a=1552&pla_sku=636015&pcat=HSW&ag=adult&targetid=pla-299102392520&campaignid=20958325197&adgroupid=178734823803&adpos=&creative=750501105571&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20958325197&gbraid=0AAAAAD-RWKhdJzuIXPhgHaBqsBFDyUTc8&gclid=Cj0KCQjw-NfDBhDyARIsAD-ILeD1ByMzq7TsMPrBjfssGAOgmf11xq1Or3ohi80cQY5wA7gm5AbTMHUaAphVEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#universal_link
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I have this small Panasonic toaster oven - it takes up little counter space and works well for toast and the occasional broiling or baking, e.g. bacon.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008C9UFDI
I also got this cutting board that fits on top, I don’t use it for cutting though, I put my air fryer on top of it.
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I’m not thrilled with our toaster oven, either. It neither makes good toast, nor functions well as a small oven, but it’s a compromise appliance that does both things well enough to occupy space on our counter. If we ate toast daily, we’d probably get a real toaster.
IIRC, Consumer Reports tested toasters not to long ago, and while most of the content is behind a paywall, you can see some of their article here: https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/toasters-toaster-ovens/best-toasters-under-50-a1116779227/
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What will you be using it for? If you’re just toasting bread or bagels, I would stick with a pop up toaster and save some money and some time.
I happen to have a fancy Breville - their Smart Oven version - and I love it, but I do use it primarily as a small, second oven more than toasting breads. It works for what I need to toast (I’m not fond of overly toasted things), so no complaints from me.
Our work kitchen has this 4 slice model that works well. If this is too spendy, maybe look for the two slice models?
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I love my Breville Smart Oven - in fact, I use my range oven for pan storage. That said, the Beville sucks at toast unless you seriously preheat it and flip your slices midway through.
I have a Dualit toaster that predates the Breville. It, too, requires preheating for optimum results.
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Great for many things, but toast always needs flipping. Surprised to hear the Dualit needs preheating too. Seems like even simple toast takes extra steps with most of these.
IIRC the directions for the Dualit call for preheating. I suspect it contemplates results like from a toaster that is in continuous kitchen use and hence “preheated.”
I have a large Hamilton Beach TO and lover the hail out of it. I make pizzas, baked beans, enchiladas and has served me for a good 17 years without fail. Goes up to 450, broiler, fan (not convection strength, though) and I love the thing. Got one for my mom. Loves it. She lives in a hot place and never wants to turn an oven on in summer, so she put my little gift and her laundry room where there’s no AC. Perfect!
Mine was $50 back then. I see they want $130 for it now. I’d go with the analog, if available, the digital stuff seems to have less life expectancy.
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The basic Cuisinart toaster ovens do a good job toasting bread and easy to use….but most or all have been discounted. I think just most toaster ovens (especially high end) have gone multi-function and become more complicated because of air fryers, wi-fi control, etc. You can still find basic Cuisinart TO for sale on the web, like Amazon.
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Thanks everyone. Lots to consider from all the comments. Prob leaning more towards a toaster. The great reviews and love for the breville mystify me as I’ve grown to dislike ours a lot. And it’s not our first breville - slow I know.
I’ve had good luck with Oster Toaster Ovens!!
I think Target sells them??
We have had the same one for at least 7 years. It took me a short while to get used to, but once I learned its quirks (it heats up really quickly), I now love it. Plus, it’s so compact. It lives in an awkward corner on our counter.
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Newer Brevilles have a single element function that only toasts one side – for bagels. But it usually has a bagel pic for that function.
If the regular toast function only browns one side, call Breville – it may just be faulty, and they will replace it.
My family has Breville, I have used B&D, Toshiba, and Cuisinart. An inexpensive B&D made the best toast, but the others are all better compact countertop ovens (I did a lot of research to maximize inside space vs outside footprint – most countertop ovens waste a ton of space, including Breville.)
That’s the one we have too. We use it mainly for toast, but have also used it for air frying; can’t remember what else. Does the job.
We have a Breville Smart Oven (one of the less expensive ones) that has an air fryer function we never use because the inside is almost impossible to clean after using that function. It toasts well, but does take longer than a dedicated toaster would. Besides toasting, we use it for broiling and baking things like hot dogs, baked potatoes, salmon fillets. I’d buy it again.
