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2 days ago
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If your toaster makes you fold, flip, or fight a slice of sourdough, the problem is the toaster, not the bread. The Hamilton Beach Gourmet 2 Slice Slot Toaster with Sure-Toast Technology is built around long, extra-wide slots, and it's currently $38.99 on Amazon (sold by Amazon). It's a practical upgrade, not a blowout deal, and it comes with a few caveats we'll lay out plainly.
Check the current price on Amazon
The deal: $38.99 on Amazon, about $6 off the listed price
The sale price is $38.99, against a listed regular price of $44.95. That works out to about $5.96, or roughly 13%, off. It's a solid price for a mid-range toaster and a few bucks off, not a dramatic markdown. Prices change, so check the Amazon listing for the current price before you buy.
Quick specs and listed features
- 2-slice slot toaster, sold by Amazon
- Slots listed as 6.5 inches long and extra-wide
- Seven-level shade selector
- Sure-Toast technology, described by Hamilton Beach as giving more balanced browning on single slices
- Self-centering guides
- Toast Boost, for retrieving smaller slices
- Cancel button and removable crumb tray
- 900 watts, per Walmart's listing
- About 9 x 7.5 x 13.6 inches
- About 30-inch cord
- One-year warranty shown in retailer listings
Feature details come from Hamilton Beach and retailer listings. We haven't tested this toaster.
Why the slots are the point: sourdough, bakery slices, and bagels
Most of us don't eat the thin, square sandwich bread that standard toasters were designed around. We eat a bakery loaf with a crumb that ignores the rules, or a homemade boule, or a bagel that has to be coaxed into position.
The listed 6.5-inch, extra-wide slots are meant for exactly that: artisan, homemade, bakery, and sourdough slices, plus thicker breads and bagels. Macy's reviewers specifically mention fitting sourdough and artisan bread, and Amazon reviewers like the wide slots and the bagel performance.
One honest note: very large slices may still need repositioning depending on their shape. Wide slots help, but they don't make every slice behave.
What the features do (according to Hamilton Beach and retailer listings)
These descriptions come from the brand and retailer listings, not from our own testing, so treat them as what the manufacturer says the toaster does.
- Seven-level shade selector: Lets you dial browning from lighter to darker.
- Sure-Toast technology: Described as giving more balanced browning when you toast a single slice.
- Self-centering guides: Meant to keep bread positioned in the slot.
- Toast Boost: A lift feature for retrieving smaller slices.
- Cancel button: Stops a cycle when the toast looks done early.
- Removable crumb tray: Makes cleanup easier.
At 900 watts (per Walmart's listing), it's a conventional two-slice toaster with a few thoughtful extras.
What buyers say: strong ratings, with some durability and consistency complaints
Retailer ratings are strong. Macy's shows 4.7/5 from 99 reviews, and Walmart lists 4.6 stars from 124 ratings. Wayfair commentary is also positive.
What people like
- Wide slots that handle sourdough, artisan bread, and bagels
- The matte look and attractive styling
- Crumb tray, cancel button, and Toast Boost
- Simple controls
What gives people pause
- Durability: Multiple Amazon reviewers report failures within roughly three months of use. That's a real concern, and it's worth weighing against the price.
- Browning consistency: Feedback is mixed. Some users report even results, while others describe uneven or inconsistent doneness.
- The one-slice feature: Some Macy's reviewers raised concerns about it.
High ratings and early-failure reports can both be true. Most buyers seem happy, but not all of them.
Before you buy: size, cord length, and warranty
Size. At about 9 x 7.5 x 13.6 inches, this is a fairly large toaster. Some Amazon reviewers call it compact, but only compared with older toasters. Measure your counter space and check clearance under your cabinets.
Cord. The cord is about 30 inches. Depending on where your outlet sits, that may be short.
Warranty. Retailer listings show a one-year warranty. Keep your proof of purchase and read the warranty terms before you count on coverage, especially given the durability reports above.
Step-up options: Hamilton Beach 22794 and 22796
If you want more settings, Hamilton Beach makes two other models worth a look:
- Hamilton Beach 22794: Extra-wide slots, a bagel setting, defrost, and Toast Boost.
- Hamilton Beach 22796: Digital controls, a bagel setting, defrost, and extra-wide slots.
The toaster in this deal doesn't list a dedicated bagel or defrost setting, so those two are worth checking if you want them.
Who should buy it, and who should compare other long-slot toasters first
It's a good fit if you:
- Regularly toast sourdough, bakery slices, homemade bread, or bagels
- Have the counter and cabinet room for a fairly large toaster
- Like simple controls, a crumb tray, and a cancel button
- Think $38.99 is a fair price for the slot size
Look elsewhere or compare first if you:
- Put long-term reliability above everything else, since some buyers report failures within about three months
- Need a small footprint or have tight counter space
- Have an outlet far from where the toaster will sit
- Want dedicated defrost or bagel settings or digital controls, in which case look at the 22794 or 22796, or compare other long-slot toasters on slot length, warranty, and independently verified durability
Bottom line
This is a sensible pick for people whose bread has outgrown their toaster. The 6.5-inch extra-wide slots are the main draw, retailer ratings are strong, and $38.99 is a modest discount from the listed $44.95. The trade-offs are the durability reports, mixed browning feedback, large footprint, and short cord.
Check the Amazon listing for the current price, measure your counter, and keep your proof of purchase for the one-year warranty. If you want bagel and defrost settings or digital controls, glance at the 22794 or 22796 first.
