This Adorable Retro Amazon Toaster is Just $30, And I Like it Better Than My Pricey Smeg Version

I should have known not to bother splurging on the pricey retro-inspired Smeg toaster when I asked one of my fancy-leaning friends if he liked his. His response? “It’s just a toaster, it’s neither good nor bad.” Not exactly the life-changing review I was hoping for.

At the time, I had a pile of credit card debt. I used a second-hand coffee maker and an air fryer I got for free through work, and, honestly, I barely even ate toast! I had no business buying a $200+ toaster but I just had to have the glossy statement appliance in my kitchen.

The toaster, admittedly, did look great in my house. I opted for a creamy beige colorway that complimented my countertops and cabinetry and I felt a beam of pride every time I walked into my kitchen—but the price tag didn’t exactly live up to my expectations.

I noticed almost immediately that my toaster would burn things like bagels and thick sourdough bread, even on the lowest setting. When I broke up with my live-in boyfriend and had to move out a few months later, very few tears were shed when I lost custody of my fancy designer toaster.

Ultrean 2 Slice with Extra-Wide Slot Toaster

That’s where the Ultrean 2 Slice with Extra-Wide Slot Toaster comes in. Living on my own for the first time since college, I became much more budget-conscious when shopping so I had no desire to replace my Smeg. But I started eating a lot more carbs while going through said break up—so a new toaster was necessary.

I found the Ultrean 2 Slice with Extra-Wide Slot Toaster after a short search on Amazon and was intrigued by its price tag (just $30!) and very good reviews. The toaster has 1,549 global ratings and sits at 4.5 stars. With my friend’s voice in the back of my head, “It’s just a toaster, it’s neither good nor bad,” I hit the purchase button and waited for my Smeg look-alike to arrive.

Why I Love the Ultrean 2 Slice with Extra-Wide Slot Toaster

My first impression of the Ultrean Toaster was that it looked and felt pretty much exactly the same as my former fancy designer toaster, save for the brand name. The creamy beige color was slightly glossy with slick retro-inspired silver accents on the buttons and dials. It looked excellent on my countertop and actually didn’t take up as much space as my last toaster, which was great as I downsized my kitchen counter space when I moved.

I loved that the body of the toaster is crafted from BPA-free stainless steel with a heat insulation design that wraps around the exterior. This means I don’t have to worry about burning my hands or leaving the toaster too close to other items on my countertop. It also has a built-in crumb tray that slides in and out very easily for a quick cleanup.

The other thing I really liked about the Ultrean Toaster is that it’s intuitive and very easy to use. There are no mystery settings or little icons to decipher. I could put bread in the toaster right away without having to read the manual.

The Ultrean Toaster has a total of six different cook settings with the lowest one being a very light toast and the highest being, honestly, pretty burnt looking to me, but still great for those who like a very browned cook. I tend to turn my toaster dial somewhere between 2 and 3 out of 6 and it provides a perfectly golden toast in about a minute.

It also features a “bagel” setting that only toasts one side, but even when I toast a bagel I just use the regular toast setting. There’s a “defrost” setting as well but I’ve also never tested it out as I tend to thaw out my frozen bread in advance of breakfast.

The Takeaway

I swear by my Ultrean 2 Slice with Extra-Wide Slot Toaster and if friends ask for a review, I would admit that, yes, it’s just a toaster, and it’s neither good nor bad, but for $30 it looks and functions at a much higher level than the price tag suggests. I love how it looks in my kitchen and it toasts my bread and bagels to the perfect golden brown level every time.

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