I’m starting to see some limitations to this new haircut. I mean, it’s cute, and I’m not ready to blow my brains out or anything like that, but this isn’t quite what I want for the long-term. Of course, one only learns such things after buying a plethora of hair products and tools one probably won’t use.
Actually, I may use them until my hair grows back a little. With a little work, I can sort of fix it the way it looked when I left the salon, but I don’t like putting forth the effort. What I do like is the shorter length, but now I can envision it just slightly longer minus the layers. It will be easy to grow out. It’s not like I had anything else to do.
It would seem one can only evaluate a haircut through magic of the rearview mirror.
toast shouldn’t be this hard
If you have a toaster you like, keep it as long as you can. Ours was on the fritz, and I spent the better part of last week researching options and reading reviews. Nobody, and I mean nobody, is totally happy with anything currently for sale.
Oh, sure, there’s my friend, Carole, who has a fancy dancy Dualit handmade in England, but even they get terrible reviews these days. And Dale said he would not pay that kind of money for a toaster that doesn’t pop up. The heat cycle turns off, but the toast rests quietly in place until you pop it up yourself.
Carole said she doesn’t need a toaster to think for her. Well, yippee for you, Carole. We of fewer brain cells absolutely need a toaster to think for us. While I believe other Dualit styles have a pop-up feature, some are made in China, and they get even worse reviews.
If it were simply a matter of planned obsolescence, I’d be fine. Just get a cheap one and replace as needed. If it were just a matter of money, I’d drop a wad if that’s all it takes to get good toast. But regardless of price, my in-depth research indicates toasters just don’t toast like they used to. One side only, burned edges, bread actually flying out of the toaster (the opposite of Dualit).
We sent one back that scorched one side and left the other side virtually untouched.
Even the venerable Cook’s Illustrated is “reviewing” their recommendation for the Breville long-slot toaster after so many readers wrote to complain that it’s awful.
We ended up with the Elite Gourmet long-slot toaster for $29.99. We had to turn it up to “dark” to get golden brown, and the edges are a wee bit toastier than we’d like, but overall, it’s fine. Wonder of wonders, you can toast a whole piece of oversized bread.
In our old toaster, I would toast it vertically by putting half down, toasting it, flipping it and then toasting the other half. Toward the end, depending on the bread, the toast shrinks enough to put it in horizontally for a photo finish.
This is more than I ever wanted to know about toasters. And it’s probably more than you want to know about toasters. Just keep whatever you have if it works. By the way, the classic Sunbeam toasters go for big bucks on eBay.
Apparently, back in the day, they knew how to make appliances that evenly brown and crisp bread. It is not advanced technology. Sadly, it would appear that time is gone. I could be convinced the Dualit Classic for a mere $240 might be good, despite the ridiculous price and negative reviews. Did I mention it’s handmade in England?
But there’s that pesky pop-up issue. For $29.99, our friendly little kitchen helper thinks for us. It’s a lifestyle choice.
Eeeek! I had no idea toasters could be so expensive. I use my toaster oven, for toasting bread. I know, I know…what a revelation! 🙂 One less appliance to deal with and keep out on the counter. My toaster oven is worth every penny…I use it multiple times per day.
Deb
True confessions — we don’t have a toaster oven. I wouldn’t know what to do with it, but I’m more interested now that you’ve shared your experience.
Because it’s often just me for meals, I use the toaster oven to cook with more so than with the main oven. My toaster oven is big enough to cook a 12″ pizza. I also love it for reheating meals that would otherwise get soggy in the microwave, like leftover pizza or roasted vegetables. Again, I don’t have to heat up my big oven for this job. And of course, it makes toast too!
Well You made me laugh. I’m still chuckling. I will take your advice and hang on to my toaster to the very end. I’m thinking I need to call my attorney and add it to my Living Trust.
It is so true of everything. I have my old tools I have had for decades and I ain’t giving them up . Craftsman, Classic American brands; Porter Cable, Dewalt, all made overseas.
So happy toasting!
I’m always happy to make you laugh! Yes, add the Dualit to the trust. From everything I read, you have an older model, and they’re fabulous. As you said, the new stuff is not so good.
Interesting that you have been on the hunt for a toaster. We’ve been without our dishwasher for more than a week. The trusty Kitchen Aid model is leaking. Since it’s 16 years old, we are not calling a repair person. Research tells me it’s either $2500 or more for a high-end dishwasher or a cheapie model with a plastic interior. What complicates everything is that many appliance stores have wait times of 4 to 6 weeks for products as there has been such a building boom in our town. We decided to go to an appliance store to find a dishwasher. To my surprise, they had a stock of mid-range models and had installation times. Fingers crossed, we’re scheduled for delivery and installation next week. Too bad shopping for appliances has become an ordeal. Good luck with your toaster. So far, our old GE toaster
is working!
For years, I was convinced dishwashers just didn’t do what they were supposed to do. I half-way convinced my husband all they did was sanitize dishes you pre-washed. But then we got a great dishwasher that cleans even the dirtiest pots and pans to perfection. I don’t think our marriage would have lasted without it. I hope you like yours!
I gave up on toasters many years ago when my last toaster quit working. Since I couldn’t toast bagels in my old toaster, I bought a toaster oven and I use that in toasting my bread, bagels, buns, etc. I love it.
Sounds like the toaster oven is the way to go!
Flashing back to recently going down the toaster research rabbit hole. Like another poster, I ended up with a smallish toaster oven – a Breville mini which I highly recommend. It has settings for toast, bagel, etc., but my favorite feature is the “a bit more” button (yes, it’s labeled as that!). No more finicky toasters for me 🙂
I will definitely scope out the Breville mini — but it will take some doing to convince Dale we need a toaster oven. That said, I just toasted a piece of bread in the new one, and one side was dark, while the other side was barely toasted. I guess it evens out?
Add me to the Breville toaster oven chorus. I don’t have the “mini” – mine is probably going on 10 years old, so perhaps the mini wasn’t available then. Anyway, I’m told one could roast a chicken in mine, tho I haven’t tried it. Great for toast, bagels, reheating, etc. And I love not having to heat the oven for everything.
I’m also in the same boat as Jeannette, whose dishwasher isn’t working. I’ve been on the fence about repair vs replace, but I think Jeannette is right. Mine was a bargain find but is probably not worth repairing due to its age.
We have a Bosch, and it’s worth every penny.
Wow your research was interesting and makes me feel more normal. We bought a cuisinart toaster about 18 months ago when ours quit. We also own a toaster oven which I love for cooking and baking but not for toast. I was pretty happy with the new toaster until recently when it started toasting unevenly and I noticed the elements (or whatever they’re called) that turn orange have apparently started randomly burning out. I’ve been complaining to my husband nearly every morning about how nobody makes anything to last anymore and I guess we bought a piece of junk with a fancy name. I’m so glad to hear I’m not alone. I am sorry to hear there isn’t a good toaster on the market because I swear by toasted carbs for breakfast.
You had me at toasted carbs for breakfast! It’s a beautiful thing. Sadly, we mostly buy junk with a fancy name.
We tried a few toasters but they just didn’t work right. So we too went with the Breville toaster oven. BEST thing ever. I use it for tons of things and it has a bagel setting and toast. We are big carbs for breakfast people so… If I were you I’d ditch the toaster and get the toaster oven.
Thanks for the recommendation. I will have to start lobbying Dale. He is resistant to the idea of a toaster oven.
That’s the brand of toaster oven I have too! Love it.
Deb
Call me excessive, but I have the Dualit and the Breville Oven. I use the toaster for toast but the oven is great for a million things, especially pizza.
I’ve never gotten a bad slice of toast yet so I don’t know what planet the bad reviewers are on, or maybe the new ones don’t meet the old century long reputation.
Excessive? I think not. More like a role model.