104 slices of toast, 26 crumpets and a smoke alarm: my toaster-testing marathon

<p>Carb-loading in the name of research; picking the perfect jeans; and autumn coats</p><p>• <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/info/2024/oct/10/sign-up-for-the-filter-newsletter-our-free-weekly-buying-advice"><strong>Don’t get the Filter delivered to your inbox? Sign up here</strong></a></p><p>I like toast. You probably do too. What’s not to like? <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/food/article/2024/sep/10/kitchen-aide-what-are-the-best-things-to-put-on-toast">It goes well with almost anything</a>. But would you like to make 104 slices of it over two days?</p><p>This is the reality of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2025/sep/25/best-toasters-uk">testing toasters</a> for the Filter. An inauspicious start should have been my first clue that things might be less than straightforward. Before I began, each toaster needed to have its element coating burned off. You may be familiar with the acrid smell: it dissipates fairly quickly from a single toaster.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2025/sep/27/best-supermarket-coffee-tasted-rated">‘Works beautifully in my moka pot’: the best (and worst) supermarket coffee, tasted and rated</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2025/sep/26/best-bike-storage-solutions">No room for your bike? Here are 13 clever, space-saving storage ideas for indoors and out</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2025/sep/21/dyson-airwrap-co-anda-2x-review">Dyson Airwrap Co-anda 2x review: does the new multi-styler justify its hefty price tag? I put it to the test</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2025/sep/24/how-to-mak