I bought this toaster when I refitted my kitchen a few years back, and it has served me well. If you are considering buying it, though, there are a few things you should know...


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The Kenwood 2-Slice Toaster with Warming Rack TT350 (White) is Just Like Your Average Toaster..
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Put in bread, push down handle, toast pops out. Simple.


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...But a Little Bit Nifty...
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The Kenwood 2-Slice Toaster with Warming Rack TT350 (White) has a few notable features that you might not find on a standard toaster:

*Brownness dial - you rotate it to adjust the darkness of your slice (or in my case, what shade of burnt you want).

*Reheat - gently warms toast without burning.

*Defrost - take bagels straight from the freezer and stick them in it. Magic.

*High rise - very useful. Instead of fishing around with a knife when you can't get out a hot cross bun, you just push the handle up that little bit extra and lift your bun out with ease.

*Overheating protection - once you have made a batch of toast, the handle cannot be pressed down again until the heating elements have cooled sufficiently. (No "anti-burnt-toast mechanism, mind. Alas.)



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...The Kenwood 2-Slice Toaster with Warming Rack TT350 (White) Isn't That Nifty, Though...
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Let me bring to light a few problems with the Kenwood 2-Slice Toaster with Warming Rack TT350 (White):

*A bit on the bulky side - at least I think so. It has a lot of extra plastic that I find unnecessary (see Specifications for size details).

*Not great for big bread - I have a Panasonic bread machine and the slots aren't wide or deep enough to accommodate the bread I make with this (you have to turn the slice the other way up halfway through and end up with bread at both ends and a burnt bit in the middle). Most square loaves should work fine, however (for slot size, see Specifications).

*Poor crumb tray - the crumbs fall out all over the work-top, appear on the floor, in the microwave, even in my hair on rare occasions (perhaps not related to a faulty toaster, who can tell?), but rarely do they ever make an appearance in the crumb tray. I put this down to bad design and an inadequate shampoo.

*Metal parts difficult to clean - despite the outside being made of easy-clean plastic, you'll have an awful lot of trouble trying to clean out the inside of the metal casing (the bit in which the toast sits) on the Kenwood 2-Slice Toaster with Warming Rack TT350 (White).

*The "Warming Rack of Questionable Use" - not how Kenwood might describe it, but accurate none the less. The Kenwood 2-Slice Toaster with Warming Rack TT350 (White) has some horizontal metal bars running along its length that sit snugly down inside some grooves during normal operation. They can also be raised and you can put toast or rolls on the top to keep them warm. But why? If I want to warm up some rolls, I stick them in the microwave. And if I want them crispy, I oven-warm them. Why does my toaster need this capability as well? And it only holds one or two rolls. What are you having - a DINNER PARTY?


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The Verdict on the Kenwood 2-Slice Toaster with Warming Rack TT350 (White)
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The Kenwood 2-Slice Toaster with Warming Rack TT350 (White) is a great toaster and serves its purpose with style. Mine has lasted and lasted and I'd recommend this toaster to you.


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Specifications of the Kenwood 2-Slice Toaster with Warming Rack TT350 (White)
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*Overall Size - 12 x 7 inches. 7 inches high(not including height of Warming Rack of Questionable Use - you'll never use it anyway).

*Slot size - both slots 5.5 x 1.5 inches. 5.5 inches deep when in use. I find the slots fit most breads and bagels.

*Cable length - about 27 inches.

*Color and shape - nicely curved edges, but only comes in white.

*Warranty - I got a six month guarantee with my Kenwood 2-Slice Toaster with Warming Rack TT350 (White) here in the UK, but check with your retailer. I've had no explosions as yet and only one burnt cat's tail (and even that was only partially singed).


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Other Toasters to Look At
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For a cheaper two slice toaster without the frills, try the Toastmaster Platinum Cool Steel TM1026S (reviewed on epinions). Or break the bank with the Dualit 2 Slice Toaster($215, and no warming rack).








Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 50