Kitchen Aid 4 slice toaster comes in several models each with its stylish design. Don’t be dazzled by its sleek designs and bright colors alone and purchase it on impulse though. This is a big mistake. Consider these four simple questions first to find out whether a Kitchen Aid 4 slice toaster is right for you.
- Do you take heavy breakfast?
Are you a heavy eater? Or, maybe you have a large household. If you answered yes to either one, a 4 slice toaster can satisfy your appetite by popping out 4 pieces of bread at a time.
- How dark do you want your bread?
You have your own browning preference and I have mine. Can the toaster suit the taste of each family members? A range of shade settings from pale to very dark of a KitchenAid toaster will come in handy in this case. Some models even provide separate controls to brown the breads differently at one go.
- Do you like your bread large and thick?
If bagels and European-style long slices are your favorites, beware of the length and width of the toaster slots else the breads turn up charcoal or get stuck. You’ll find Kitchen Aid 4 slice toaster models catering to this need. Certain models also have spring-loaded slots automatically adjusting to the different bread sizes.
- Does it fit into your kitchen decor?
With the emphasis on lifestyle living nowadays, design and color coordination are an important product choice factor. With a variety of designs and colors, you are bound to find a Kitchen Aid toaster model that looks good sitting on the kitchen counter.
While Kitchen Aid market many models of 4 slice toasters, they are actually only of two different types: One has 4 slots and the other has 2. Yet both are able to toast 4 slices of bread all at once.
Kitchen Aid 4 Slice Toaster KTT570 – 2 Slot
The KTT570 is designed with two long slots. Each slot can either fit two slices of standard cut bread or a piece of long European bread slice. Bagels can fit into the extra wide slots easily too. The slots are pretty deep and allow large bread to fit completely inside for an even toast.
A large dial on the front of the four slice toaster lets you control up to 10 browning settings. With a single control, all heating elements will turn on even if you’re just toasting a slice of bread. Not a big deal but a bit of a waste of energy.
There are also 3 special purpose buttons on the front: Warm, Bagel and Frozen. Pressing these buttons is an easy way to reheat bread, toast bagel, and defrost then toast frozen bread.
Most importantly, the sides stay cool to the touch so you don’t get burned. It is a big plus for families with kids who just want to touch everything.
KitchenAid KTT570 toaster comes with a full width removable crumb tray. It slides out the side and is easy to get at for a quick cleanup in the dishwasher. The electrical cord won’t drape on top of the counter as you can easily store its extra length under the base with the cord wrap.
At a measure of 17.3″ x 9.7″ x 8.8″ and a weight of 6 lbs, KTT570 is large and sturdy. So make sure your counter space is big enough to fit it in. The toaster comes in a variety of colors such as cobalt blue, empire red, white and onyx black.
Kitchen Aid 4 Slice Toaster KMTT400 – 4 Slot
The KMTT400 is a 4 slot 4 slice toaster. The extra wide 1-1/2″ slots with self-centering racks allow for toasting of English muffins and bagels. In fact, it has a special bagel toasting feature that toasts the cut side more than the uncut side. Another of its one-touch button feature will reheat your toasts without further browning. The slots are for standard length bread though. So don’t expect to fit in long slices from a round of sourdough for instance.
This 4 slice toaster has dual independent controls for each pair of the slots. This means you can toast two bagels on one side and two pieces of breads on the other with two totally different settings all at the same time. It also means heating one slot for nothing when toasting 1 or 3 slices. Not a big problem. Just something to be aware. The oversized digital setting knobs are convenient so you don’t have to guess the correct setting.
The body of the toaster is cool to the touch while toasting thanks to the heat shields inside. This is a great safety feature especially when you have kids around. The other standard feature is a full-width removable crumb tray that is dishwasher-safe. You can also easily store the thick commercial electric cord under the base to keep the counter neat.
Looking a bit squarish at 11″ x 13″ x 8″, the KMTT400 is pretty large and solid at 10 lbs. You have a choice of colors from stainless steel, empire red to onyx black.