A Retro Toaster That's a Total Head-Turner - My Honest Review

Hello, everyone!

I'm absolutely obsessed with beautiful shades of blue with green undertones - Tiffany, mint, aquamarine, sea wave. My kitchen is decorated in a soft blue and grey Provençal style. So, when my husband and I got tired of toasting bread on the skillet and decided to buy a toaster, there was no other option. Of course, a chunky retro toaster in aquamarine (although designers would probably correct me - maybe it's actually aquamarine), that's what the manufacturers called it. In short, I saw it and fell in love at first sight. And toasters aren't exactly high-tech devices, you can just pick one that looks nice to you.

Name: DEXP TSR-2000 aquamarine toaster

It's also available in grey and red

Country: China

Where to buy? I bought it from DNS (basically, it's the cheapest option), but you can also find it in other electronics stores, available on marketplaces like Wildberries

Price: 1550-2750 rubles

Manufacturer's description:

The DEXP TSR-2000 toaster has a sleek silver-blue metal body that's not only stylish but also heat-resistant, so you don't have to worry about burning yourself. It's got two slots for toasting and a powerful 850W heating element that can work in six different modes, letting you get the perfect level of browning, from a light golden brown to a rich dark brown. The defrost function is a game-changer, allowing you to make toast warm and fresh for dinner, even if you toasted it for breakfast. The crumb tray is a great feature that keeps your countertop clean, and the 0.9m power cord is long enough to reach any outlet, with a convenient storage compartment to keep it tidy.Technical Specifications:

Main Features

Power: 850W

Number of toasts: 2

Number of slots: 2

Body material: metal, plastic

Heat-resistant body: yes

Functionality and Control

Automatic toast centering: yes

Automatic toast ejection: yes

Extra lift for small bread slices: no

Defrost function: yes

Keep-warm function: yes

Adjustable browning level: yes

Number of browning levels: 6

Single-sided toasting: no

Cancel button: yes

Countdown timer: no

Control type: mechanical

Display: no

Mode indicators: yes

Alarm: no

Automatic shut-off: yes

Accessories

The crumb tray is removable.

There's no browning tray for bagels.

No removable design for custom designs.

The crumb tray is included.

Quantity in the package: 1 piece

Additional information

The feet are rubberized.

The length of the power cord is 0.9 meters.

There's a cord storage compartment.

Power

Power supply voltage: 220-240V/50-60Hz.

Idle power consumption: 0.1 watts.

Power consumption in standby mode: 0 watts.

Packaging. The standard cardboard packaging features an image of the toaster. Inside, there was an additional foam insert and a detailed user manual.

My expectations:

Ease of use;The bread shouldn't burn (the mode should match);No unwanted smells;Design. The toaster is really handsome, and that's its main selling point, setting it apart from others. It's small, but it can fit 4 standard slices of bread or 2 larger slices of varying thickness simultaneously. However, it takes up very little space. I've had bigger toasters before. Plus, it's extremely lightweight.

The color is really beautiful, but the surface is super glossy. In theory, you'd see every speck and smudge on it. In practice, it's a non-issue because you don't need to touch the toaster, and it won't get dirty. Plus, it's far enough away from my stovetop that I don't have to worry about it.

It's got just three buttons, one dial, and a lever for lowering the bread, with a cute 'Retro' label on the front.

Using it. We've got three modes here, but I have to admit, I only use the defrost and toast functions. Of course, defrosted bread is considered healthier, even just a regular white loaf. Apparently, the structure of the carbs changes, making them more nutritious, and the protein easier to digest. And there's actual science to back it up:

As it turns out, freezing bread increases its protein digestibility, as the low temperatures cause the proteins to denature and become more susceptible to pepsin (one of the main digestive enzymes produced in the stomach). So, that means the protein is easier to absorb. On the other hand, the starch becomes less susceptible to digestive enzymes when bread is frozen, so the glycemic index of frozen bread is actually lower than fresh bread.

In short, I recommend it, but I don't actually use it that way.

I've been toasting bread on the standard mode, which is setting number three out of six. This works great for white, whole wheat, and even black bread. However, for a denser rye bread, I can crank up the temperature even higher. To be honest, I usually just stick with setting three, and the handle rarely gets turned.

Using this toaster is a breeze. Just pop in your bread, lower the mechanism into the toasting chamber, and you're good to go. The bread insertion is manual, not automatic, and I'm glad they didn't skimp on this feature. I've had one toaster in my life that came with a bread-ejecting mechanism (it was a pricey Tefal model), but this one gets the job done just fine.

After the toasting time is up, the spring automatically releases, and your perfectly toasted bread pops out.

I really appreciate the crumb tray that comes with this model. When the crumb tray gets full, you can just pull it out and voila! All the crumbs are contained, and you don't have to worry about them getting stuck inside the toaster.

There's no weird plastic smell, even after the first use.

The cord is nice and long, almost a meter, which is perfect for me since my outlet is a bit far and I have to use a power filter.

What to put on toast? The simplest (and tastiest) option is to slather on some regular butter straight from the fridge, so it melts instantly. It's not great for your health, but it's a treat.

I'd rather go for healthier toppings like cream cheese and sun-dried tomatoes. If you can't find those, try these Tomato Chips from Red and White.

To be honest, I love experimenting with snacks. I can whip up a salad like a tuna salad (Chinese cabbage or regular cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, and canned tuna). But, I don't just eat it as a salad - I put it on toast as a bruschetta.

It's almost like a chicken sandwich. I grill the chicken, top it with cheese (I prefer cheddar), let it melt on the meat, add some veggies if you like, and arrange it nicely on the toast.

Or, I just go for a simple combo with spicy sausage or ham (I prefer the canned kind; I'm not a fan of regular ham).

I've gotta say, one of my favorite ways to enjoy my toasting device is with a simple combo of cottage cheese and smoked salmon. I usually top it off with a fried egg, or just a drizzle of syrup from the skillet, or if I'm feeling fancy, I'll whip up a poached egg.

And of course, another super easy and relatively low-calorie option is cottage cheese paired with seafood in brine. Unfortunately, I only have a photo of this breakfast on toast, but the idea's the same.

You can also get all fancy with caviar-topped toasts, or go for a more rustic vibe with pâtés (homemade or store-bought), hummus, brisket, or any number of other fillings.

Pros and cons.

+

I'm obsessed with the retro style of this toaster - it's a total head-turner!The unique color is a nice touch, too.Of course, the price is a major factor in my decision.This toaster has all the features I need, and then some.I love the crumb tray - it makes cleaning up a breeze.-

None, really.Verdict. I don't know how I ever managed without a toaster. Toasting bread on the stovetop is such a hassle - it takes way too long and uses up too much energy. Now I've got a beautiful and functional friend on my countertop that can get the job done in minutes.