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I'd get a 2nd hand Dualit and replace whatever needs replacing. They're about as complicated as a light switch. My mum still has the 4 lane one that was in the kitchen when I was a kid, so I imagine that's got 40 odd years on the clock. And she likes her toast. I've replaced the odd bit (elements, timer once) over the years for her but nothing major. We've got a modern one (2nd hand 15 years ago) and that's essentially the same (cosmetically more like the current ones). The only real world disadvantage I can think of (I couldn't care less about having a lever, or some barely perceptible toasting inconsistency) is the slice thickness is limited. A crumpet is its max and there's a trick to avoiding that sticking. But then I can't remember the last time that bothered me. Newer ones can have baskets you lift out and whatnot but I'm not sure I'd bother.
I do remember a cream 6 laner at school though. A part of me fancies one of those, although we've no need for it and nowhere to put it.
Now I fancy a crumpet. Damn you.
For me the noise of the timer is best part of the experience. Pavlovian dribble at the toasty marmity goodness about to happen starts with that noise.
Love it. Love the fact that it's never going to die and can be kept in top fettle with cheap and simple parts. Every consumer product should be made like this!
We've got a 6 slicer in the holiday cottage we run. I....err....acquired it, when a previous employer was going to bin it because it was broken. Just needed a new timer knob but otherwise mint. I might have forgotten my evangelical spiel about them never dying for a moment or two, agreed it was probably a waste of time and I was basically doing them a favour! £277 new the 6 bungers now!
We’ve got a 4 slice one that we’ve had at least since 2009. It gets hammered. You can select 1,2,3 or 4 slices and either 2 or 4 slices one sided for muffins or toasting one side of a bagel etc.
it’s great. Never noticed inconsistent toasting and I like the idea that it can be repaired, in fact I put a new timer switch in a few yrs ago which was cheap and easy and you don’t chuck it away when something minor breaks.
when I used to use the iow ferry a lot the guys in the cafe had a six slice one going pretty much permanently on the morning crossings. It looked yrs old.
I much prefer the way the timer works and the way you can flip the toast up and down for a second to check if it’s done without turning the element off. On a normal toaster unless you use exactly the same bread every day you’ll get different levels on toastiness for the same setting. The dualit method gives you more control. You soon get used to where you need to dial the timer to for the bread you are using.
I'd love a 6 lane! Family of 5 and toast most days, a 6 lane highway would keep the toast flowing with much less hold up. Damn you stw, you talked me down to the 4 while converting 6ers yourselves!
Just get a proper Dualit. My 4 slice classic performs well and looks good after 16 years of regular use.
Never had a Dualit.
My absolute top priority for a toaster is long thick-n-thin slots - and my Morphy Richards one must be 10+ years old now and still toasting up a charm.
Discontinued of course.
I’d love a 6 lane! Family of 5 and toast most days, a 6 lane highway would keep the toast flowing with much less hold up. Damn you stw, you talked me down to the 4 while converting 6ers yourselves!
This is almost a reason to have more children.
I’d love a 6 lane!
Me too but that boat has sailed now (and I have actually got a spare 3 slot Dualit I was given if I needed the extra capacity). I often looked at those continuous toasters in hotels but the running costs must be frightenening!
Anyway, given a couple of people have said they get inconsistent results, I've just done a couple of sheets of toast and they're pretty much perfect. People need to realise that not all bread is the same and even the same loaf will change every day.
A fresh loaf will be quite moist and as such will take longer to brown, while a loaf that's been around a while will be drier and will therefore toast quicker. That's before you take into account the differences in different types of grain, bagels, crumpets, etc.
This is the beauty of the mechanical timer - I think all Dualit owners know that toast should take about 2 minutes, but if the bread is dry you can simply reduce the time a bit or, if I'm doing crumpets (that I like to be crispy on top) give it the full 3 minutes.
And you can just lift the bread up to check it's not burning.
..
Dualit (not the cheapo ones) because of this Re-buildable so you’ll hopefully never need to chuck it out.
I often looked at those continuous toasters in hotels but the running costs must be frightenening!
But one loop is never enough and two is always too much.
But one loop is never enough and two is always too much.
Partly because
1. Hotels don’t often do test runs when the machine gets to temp. They just set some values and let it run.
2. Different bread types
3. Guests who have no mechanical aptitude see their underdone toast come out, whack up one of the heaters, see half-burned toast come out from a second run, then they scarper.
When set up properly these toast production lines are a thing of beauty. But, yeah, running costs! 2.8kW for this one https://www.nisbets.co.uk/dualit-conveyor-toaster-dct2i/db389?cm_sp=Peerius-_-productRecsTop-_-image
WE had a Dualit. It wasn't great and finally failed.
After much research we plumped for this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08HDMVL4H/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It's the most even-toasting toaster we've ever had and it's under £50 and looks good.
So, do Dualit toasters have to be added to the "STW basket of goods" along with log burners, VW Transporters and Santa Cruz bikes?
Dualit 4-slice Classic for us. Its well over 20 years old and all that's been done is replaced a couple of the elements. Bought it at Costco and the saving covered the cost of the membership.
Thanks again all. I’m pretty convinced but I’m not the only decision maker so we’ll have to see how far ‘a bunch of blokes on a bike forum say it’s good’ will get me.
Happy with our Sage 2 slice toaster, it's the best we've owned (but never had Dualit ):-<br /> https://www.johnlewis.com/sage-a-bit-more-2-slice-toaster-brushed-metal/p1719748? <br /><br />The 'a bit more' setting is well used in our house. Only thing I'd have liked for the slot to be a cm or two longer for some breads but it's fine for most regular slices.
surely we're all onto voice activated toasters nowadays?
Thread resurrection.
For those who have a Dualit.
Do you have to unplug it/switch it off after every use. Apparently all through the blurb it states that it's a fire hazard if you don't, but I don't see why they're any different to a cheap toaster which would be left plugged in and the socket left on. Are they prone to spontaneous combustion if left connected? Did one raze your abode to the ground?
Your views?
Ninja Foodie 3 in 1. Banger.
Your views?
Mine remains plugged in. My fil would unplug his own head if he were able, he is so fire/disaster obsessed. But this is a man who gathers all his important documents together and puts them in the loft when on holiday so you get the picture. I guess we are all built differently.
No. Have never (routinely) unplugged our 4 slice classic, and it’s been going 24 years now. I can’t see why it would be a fire hazard if it was off.
My Dualit only gets unplugged if the cleaners shift it from a regular socket to the hob socket. Otherwise plugged in and the wall switch is on all the time. You never want to set it going and find it has not cooked your toast.
I’ve never understood the unpluggers. Do they unplug the fridge or the freezer at night? Isolate the boiler.
what is so risky about kettles and toasters…
Can't believe this hasn't been posted yet!
Howdeedoodleedoo!