pilarzmom's Full Review: Cuisinart CPT-180 Metal Classic 4-Slice Toaster
The one small kitchen appliance that withstood the test of time in my house was my Cuisinart Toaster I received as a wedding present 12 years ago. However, when the remodeling was done on my kitchen last spring I decided it must go as it simply didn't go with all the stainless steel I now had in my kitchen. Fortunately, Cuisinart had exactly what I was looking for as a replacement: their CPT 180 Classic 4-Slice Toaster in Brushed Metal. Not only did it look good but it has turned out to be as reliable as the first Cuisinart toaster I had.
About the product
While I found my old 2-slice Cuisinart Toaster to be extremely reliable, I didn't particularly like the oblong shape of it as it didn't fit well on the counter. My new 4-slice toaster, however, while a bigger toaster overall, is actually better suited to counter-top storage as it fits neatly into a corner. The toaster also has a cool, retro look and reminds me of the toaster my parents used to use when I was growing up.
-Dual Control Panels to separately control the two sets of slots
-Extra Lift Carriage Control Lever aids in easy removal of small items from toaster
-Wide Toaster Slots measure 1 1/2 inches wide to easily handle a variety of items, including bagels
-Browning Control with rotary dial to select browning level (1-6)
-Bagel Button with LED to add extra time to toasting cycle
-Defrost Button with LED for defrosting and toasting frozen bread
-Reheat Button with LED to reheat without browning and toasting
-Cancel Button to stop toasting process
-Slide-out Crumb Tray to catch crumbs that collect in bottom of toaster
-Cord Storage on bottom of toaster allows you to wrap around excess cord.
My experiences
The first thing I found out is that this 4-slice toaster from Coaster really TOASTS! I mean dark! In fact, I don't think I've ever used a browning level above 3 on the toaster, even with a bagel.
Typically I toast bread on level 1.5 to 2. One of my boys likes his toast a little darker so his side gets set to 2 and his brother's to 1.5. If we're doing Pop Tarts for breakfast (rare!) I will turn it down to 1 as little toasting is needed. For frozen Waffles such as Eggos I turn it up to 2.5
Once I mastered the browning levels, I was quite pleased with the consistent quality and nice overall browning. I also love how the toaster doesn't feel hot to the touch, unlike a cheap Sunbeam toaster that I had once where not only did it burn my fingers but the coils inside smelled like they were about to explode.
I don't use the Defrost button very often but it does come in handy with certain items such as frozen Toaster Scramblers with egg and cheese inside. I select setting 3, depress the carriage and then select the Defrost button. By using this button the filling will be warm (but not burning hot) and the outside nicely toasted (without being burned). It's a great feature and it works well.
The other 2 buttons I don't really have a need for. I find that my bagels gets sufficiently toasted on level 3 without having to use the bagel button. Likewise, I never have had any occasion to reheat bread.
Probably one of the coolest features of this toaster is the Extra Lift Carriage Control Lever. My boys love raisin bread, which happens to be on the smaller side. Without this feature I would have to stick my fingers into the toaster a bit to grab the toast. Instead I just push the carriage up a bit to lift the toast up higher so that I can easily remove it.
One feature that was not readily apparent was the cord storage. In fact it wasn't until I was cleaning the toaster and had it turned upside down that I noticed there were cord storage cleats.
Cleaning
Cleaning is pretty typical of all toasters with the crumb tray that slides out of the back side. One thing I discovered is that not all crumbs drop down into the crumb tray. To thoroughly get rid of the crumbs I must unplug the toaster and shake it out over the sink.
For cleaning the outside I use Windex with Vinegar after I have unplugged it. Like all brushed stainless steel products it can get its share of fingerprints but I find that this cleaning product works very well on it.
Final Thoughts
My family is very happy with the overall quality and performance of the Cuisinart CPT-180 4-Slice Toaster. No longer do my kids have to take turns and wait to use the toaster. I like the fact that it looks good on my counter and I no longer have to store my toaster undercounter when not in use. Despite my little complaint about the cord storage (which in part was due to me not reading the owners manual!) I feel very comfortable in giving this a 5 star rating!
Warranty
The Cuisinart CPT 180 4-Slice Toaster comes with a limited 3 year warranty covering materials and workmanship.
Purchasing Information
I purchased this toaster at its regular price of $69.95 at Best Buy.
Cuisinart
150 Milford Road
East Windsor, NJ 05820
www.cuisinart.com
1-800-726-0190
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