Dualit 2 Slice Toaster Stainless Steel 20245

The Dualit is a sturdy beast with a retro look. It weighs in at around 3.5 kg and has minimal controls, all with a reassuringly solid feel. The red backlit slot selector switch lights up to tell you when the toaster is in use and can be set for one or two slices. This is important, as the toaster uses a patented ProHeat element that is optimised to quickly produce evenly cooked toast. However, the element's lifespan may be shortened if a slot is regularly heated while empty. A black rotary time switch means that you need to determine how long you want to toast each and every time you use the Dualit, rather than relying on a default setting as seen with other toasters.

One of the advantages of the Dualit toaster is that the bread doesn't pop up when the timer is finished. Instead, you need to press down the central black ejector knob to remove your toast. This ensures that your toast stays warm for longer if you are not there to remove it straightaway. Another component of note is a useful slide-out crumb tray. Results are impressive, with beautifully even toasting in all slots and up to 65 slices per hour (two medium slices from cold takes around 2 minutes). However, the most compelling reason for putting a Dualit toaster in your kitchen is its perfect blend of durability and style. --Heather Wilson

The best parts are:

1. You get to turn a clockwork knob to select how long to cook toast for - this makes you feel like you are somehow involved in the creative process of toasting
2. You can give the toast a quick 'pop up and down' to see how it is doing, and again feel a bit of a culinary wizard at the same time
3. If you pop the toast up fast you can get it to shoot from the toaster and try to catch it on a plate - my kids love this
4. when you use other peoples toasters, you realise they are frail and ugly bits of apparatus that shouldn't really be on display
5. Ift has a1 or 2 slice selector -which lights up when the toaster is on!

it also makes toast


This is NOT your normal toaster   April 14, 2005
Macninja (London, England)
22 out of 22 found this review helpful

Dualit is the personification of all things English: it's slightly eccentric, it's a bit stiff to use, it takes a while to warm but in the end, it gets the job done.

Never mind the cost, these stainless steel beauties, with their wonderfully Luddite controls, are still hand-made by a company that treats its employees well. The simple fact is: Dualit toasters make exceptional toast. I'm not normally the type to gush about the quality of toasted bread but truth be told, this thoroughly charming machine produces crisp slices of delicious toast.

Throw out your Atkins diet books, buy a few loaves of fresh, un-sliced, bread and go wild.

I'd give it six stars if I could.


Even if it didn't do the job I'd want it in my kitchen   March 13, 2003
A. Butterfield (UK)
70 out of 73 found this review helpful

Even after four years as a Dualit owner (EDIT: now it's ten years and the Dualit is as good as ever), I still get a certain pleasure from using its sensible, rugged controls, raising and lowering the toast myself, hearing the friendly ticking of its timer...
It's only a toaster I know, but there's just something about it that gives you a sense of satisfaction. And it makes any kitchen look cool, just siting there. I also know it's expensive, but I've known people buy several new, lesser toasters in the time I've had my Dualit, so who's saving? If something does go wrong, I can get new bits so I won't have to throw it away, ever perhaps.
By the way, it makes good toast too. The best thing is that the toast doesn't pop up, and toast is much crisper if you leave it down (keeping warm) inside the toaster for a minute or two. You can't usually do this with regular toasters.


The Only Toaster You Will Ever Need   September 28, 2003
Andrew Moore (Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK)
45 out of 47 found this review helpful

I like my Dualit alot; an awful lot. It really does make incredibly nice toast. You will see thier toasters in all the swanky West End sandwich bars, posh hotel kitchens and adorning the work tops of, so called, celebrity chefs pads. Dualits are made in the UK and the build quailty is very high. I kind of think of their equipment as the Sony of kitchen appliances!

Simply pop a couple of slices in the top and raise the handle situated towards the base of the toaster and the bread is lowered into position. Next, turn the chunky knob to set the required amount of toasting time. The knob has been engineered with just the right amount of resistance so that turning it is satisfying. I am not sure whether the figures on the knob correspond to minutes or are merely a guide, but the knob has a mark on it and if you rotate the knob to that it makes perfect toast with thin/medium sliced bread. With thick bread its best if you dont turn the knob quite as far, otherwise a rather carbonised piece of bread might be the result. While the bread is toasting, the Dualit make a discrete whirring and when its finished, a slightly louder click. An amber light glows to tell you all sytems are go.

The beauty of Dualit gear is that it is catering quality and it is rugged. Not that their toasters arent works of art. Unpack it and I guarantee you will spend ages finding a place on your work top where your new toaster will look its absolute best and draw admiring glances from friends.

Cleaning is straightforward; underneath the toaster is a pullout crumb tray which can be removed with the toaster insitu. I wipe mine with a damp cloth followed by a quick buff with a tea towel and it still looks fine. I am told Baby Oil makes stainless steel shine great but I havent found that necessary and I have had mine for years.

Ok, so Dualit stuff is expensive but I would heartily recommend their toasters. They are a must for any stylish kitchen.


Built to last   June 24, 2005
14 out of 14 found this review helpful

We've had our 2-slice Dualit since 1993 and it's still going strong. Once you get the setting right to your taste, it makes perfect toast every time. There's no pop-up mechanism to go wrong and it looks great. I have to say we baulked at the cost (it was 120 in 1993 - a lot for a toaster) but it really has been worth every penny.