Electric toasters have come a long way since their invention in the 1890s. For instance, back then, these devices could only toast one side of a bread at a time and needed to be monitored closely so they did not get burnt. Check the article I worked on a while back for a complete history of toasters.
Anyway, since then, these masterpieces have evolved so much that today, you’ll find units with automatic self-adjusting systems, automatic pop-up settings, timers, extra lifts, wide slots, and most importantly, they can all toast from both sides of the bread at the same time.
With that in mind, today’s guide has been dedicated to one of the best retro yet state-of-the-art toasters in the market.
Black+Decker TR3500SD Bread Toaster Review
Originally established in 1910 in Towson, Maryland, North of Baltimore, Black+Decker Inc. is an American manufacturer of power tools, accessories, hardware, fastening systems, home improvement products, and of course, home appliances.
Over the centuries that this company has been in existence, it has become synonymous with durability and reliability, and that’s exactly what this Black+Decker TR3500SD Bread Toaster we’ll review in today’s guide delivers. But what more can it offer?
I first came across this unit while researching for a guide on the 5 best high-end toasters. While the unit didn’t make it into the short guide due to tight competition, its performance did surprise me to the point I promised myself that I’d create a guide dedicated just to it. This is that article.
During my test sessions back then, this unit was able to deliver more than a hundred toasties back-to-back and without rest. Most importantly, at no point did it slow down or change its delivery quality. The last slices to come out were just as tasty as the first ones to go in.
Another feature that immediately stood out was the speed at which the unit could deliver batches of toasties. A pair of toasted slices were getting whipped out in less than two minutes, making the unit as fast as some of the fastest regular toasters available out there today.
As shown in the product’s image above, this unit also retails with three different settings, namely cancel, bagel and frozen. The frozen settings will defrost your meals in less than 30 seconds. As for the bagel setting, it activates only one side of the heating elements, so it can only toast the cut sides of your bagels.
To ensure that all slices you put in the unit come out perfectly and evenly toasted, Black+Decker has also fit this masterpiece with automatic self-centering guides that will adjust to any slice thickness. The self-centering guide ensures that slices inside the unit have been positioned perfectly adjacent to the heating elements.
Check out this video about the toaster
Price
Pros
- From a reputable brand
- Boasts an extra lift
- Extremely versatile
- Extra-wide slots
- The unit is consistent with its results
- The exterior remains cool to the touch during operations
Cons
- The unit is quite small for a big family
- Doesn’t retail with a reheat setting
Conclusion
If you checked out my guide on “how to pick the best toasters,” you remember that one of the tips I shared is that you should only pick products from reputable brands. Why? Because reputable brands (unlike their lesser-known counterparts) have a reputation to maintain and will go above and beyond to ensure their products deliver as advertised. Black+Decker is one of such brands, and this Black+Decker TR3500SD Bread Toaster is a true testament to that statement.