Gleaming, Sturdy and as Tough as Old Boots (Dualit 2 + 1 Combi Toaster)

Member Name: zebra

Product:	Dualit 2 + 1 Combi Toaster
Date:	22/10/00 (216 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Totally reliable, perfect toast every time

Disadvantages: Expensive and cumbersome

This is actually Dualit’s own description of their toasters and is the reason why I bought one.

The toaster we were given as a wedding present lasted 10 years and as it was in daily use I considered it to be an excellent toaster. But when it came to replacing it the same model was no longer available and since then we have had to buy a new toaster almost annually. The cheaper toasters I have bought stop popping up, they start making sparks and sizzly noises, they toast unevenly and erratically and they get tatty very quickly. Totally fed up with this I decided to buy a Dualit toaster.

Dualit toasters are fashionable at the moment. These classic cumbersome stainless steel toasters grace the kitchens of the great and famous and appear frequently in film set kitchens but I bought one because they have always been the choice of commercial kitchens. I used a Dualit sandwich toaster while working in a hospital kitchen and have noticed the toasters in many busy cafes.

The toasted sandwiches made in a Dualit are superb. They are not at all like the plasticy, sealed at the edges, so-called toasted sandwiches made by other sandwich makers. You make an ordinary sandwich and place it in a cage which fits into the toaster slot, set the timer and out comes a perfect toasted sandwich – it is actually far better than using the grill because the bread tends to curl up under the grill. However, I do not eat many toasted sandwiches and decided not to get the Combi. But having used one I would certainly recommend one if you like toasted sandwiches. I have the bog standard 2-slot toaster.

I have had the toaster for three years now and it still works perfectly and looks as good as new. I have the greatest faith that it will continue to do so and the knowledge that spares are available and that the element can be replaced is also reassuring. But on the basis that the toaster is built with the ability to toast hundreds of pieces of toast pe
r hour I am not really expecting to have to replace the element.

The toaster actually toasts better than any previous toaster I have owned – the toast is always evenly toasted, crisp and golden on the outside only. And not only that this toaster is fun.

The Dualit is not an automatic pop up toaster. The toast remains in the toaster to keep warm. There is an ejector knob to raise the toast or, if you want some fun, to shoot it across the room.

On the downside this toaster is very expensive, I think I paid just under £100 for mine three years ago. It is also quite large and bulky compared to modern toasters and it may take up too much room in a small kitchen. The other problem it has is that it does actually get quite hot on the outside. But none of these were a problem for me and I am very happy with my Dualit.

Summary: