More than a toaster (DeLonghi CT04E Toaster)

Name: Coxy1974

Hello doyoo user, You have to be logged in to use these functions... Login or register Close window

Send message to member

Product:	DeLonghi CT04E Toaster
Date:	25/01/07 (553 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Independant slots, different browning settings, look, ease of cleaning

Disadvantages: No matching items

I have had this toaster for a while now buying it specifically to match my kitchen. I liked the look of it and thought the idea of being able to operate just 2 slots at one time and have different heat settings a rather cool idea.

Specifications

- Finished in Matt Silver
- Non slip rubber feet
- Removable crumb trays
- Both slots operate independently from each other and each slot has it's own set of controls and browning settings
- Stop and Cancel buttons
- Defrost and reheat buttons
- The slots self centre the bread for even toasting along with the slots being variable widths
- High Rise facility (additional 20mm lift)

So what did I think of it?

Well I have certainly put this toaster through it's paces. I have toasted Naan Bread, English Muffins, Pitta Bread, Bread and Tea Cakes in it. All are of varying width and length. You can just get a normal sized pitta bread in lengthways but if you're trying to toast larger than Mini Naan Bread then it just won't fit.

When I got my new toaster home I set it up on the worktop and removed the cardboard from inside the slots. I plugged it in and there I was, ready to go. Eager to see what it could do the first thing I got out was some frozen bread. 2 minutes on the defrost setting is all that is required for this and it defrosts lovely and then you can go on to toast your bread.

The controls are nicely spaced out so that you know which control is for which set of slots. For the browning setting there is a dial (bit like a radio dial) with settings 0 - 6. If you are just toasting the bread then you do not need to bother with any other buttons. Just choose the depth of colour you would like with the radio button and push down the lever for the slots and bob's your uncle so to speak.

If you want to defrost or reheat then press the button after setting the radio dial to the length of time required. Then depress the lever and it'll do exactly as you've asked. Once the function is complete then the toast will 'pop up' to indicate done.

I find the high rise facility excellent as sometimes you can't get stuff out of the toaster without risking life and limb so the levers also 'push up' so effectively you can push your toast out of the toaster to be able to remove it easier.

The result is fresh, evenly toasted, crisp toast or bread. It really is excellent.

Cleaning

The finish of the product is matt grey and when it said that fingerprints would not show up, I thought 'Yeah yeah, righto!' but how right they were. It's easy to wipe clean and if crumbs get on the top of the toaster I usually wipe them into the toaster because of the crumb trays at the bottom. Before removing the trays I will tap gently on either side of the toaster to remove any crumbs that have caught on the slot lip enroute to the crumb tray.

These are an ingenious idea. The idea is that the tray fix in either side of the toaster. They have lips that you grab hold of and slide the trays out from underneath the toaster. I usually bin the crumbs and then wash the trays in warm soapy water and then just slide back in until I feel them click back into place. And that's it, your toaster completely clean!

Stockists and Prices

I got mine from Argos at £49.95 but it's now a few pence cheaper. www.argos.co.uk.

Other stockists include

Debenhams
John Lewis
Additions
Great Universal

Prices range from £44.95 - £55

Summary: Not cheap but does what it says it will do and does it well IMHO

Processing/Quality:
Reliability:
Ease of use:
Noise: