I bought my Dualit 4 slice toaster more than 12 years ago to service my growing family. Admittedly the price was a bit steep, but a combination of favourable reviews and the stylish design won me over. My family has used it almost daily during that time and it has never once let me down, unlike the cheaper models that I purchased previously.

It works in much the same way that other toasters do - you put the bread in the slot, then pull a lever down to lower it into the machine and activate the elements. The timer knob on the front dictates the colour of the toast and, rather than popping it out when its finished, the toast remains in the machine thereby keeping it warmer for longer.

Other plus points include the slot selector switch which enables you to choose the number of slices you wish to toast at any one time and the removable crumb tray that pulls out to allow easy disposal of stray crumbs - no need to stand over the bin shaking the toaster upside down. The slots are generous in size so thick slices of bread, bagels, crumpets and tea cakes can be accommodated and everything ends up with an even toast. It is also possible to purchase a cage like structure that fits into the slots to produce toasted sandwiches. I havent got one personally but they do look tempting and only cost around £13. I have used toaster bags in my Dualit and they worked well.

I personally wouldnt want to be without my Dualit toaster and should it ever die, I will be replacing it as soon as possible with another.