The growing trend of home automation has introduced advanced technology into nearly every aspect of modern living, including the kitchen. Among these innovations are smart toasters—devices that go beyond simply browning bread.
As a business buyer, understanding whether smart toasters justify their higher price point is key. This article examines their features, benefits, and market potential to help you determine if they are a valuable addition to your product lineup.
Table of Contents
What is a smart toaster?
The market for smart toasters
Features of smart toasters
Benefits of a smart toaster
Is a smart toaster worth the investment?
Final thoughts
What is a smart toaster?
You might wonder, what makes a toaster “smart”? At its core, a smart toaster is an upgraded version of the traditional model, equipped with automated features and advanced toasting algorithms. These enhancements offer a more customizable and efficient toasting process, appealing to consumers seeking convenience and precision.
The market for smart toasters
The global toaster market was valued at USD 3.9 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to over USD 6 billion by 2032. While the specific market size for smart toasters is not yet clear, the growth in this market segment is. This growth is fueled by the increasing demand for smart home devices.
As more consumers integrate connected technology into their homes, the interest in smart kitchen appliances is on the rise. Smart toasters are part of a broader trend toward making everyday tasks easier, more efficient, and more personalized.
Features of smart toasters
Smart toasters offer a range of features that can be appealing to people in the kitchen. Here are some of the top features to look for:
1. Wi-Fi and app connectivity
Many smart toasters can be controlled by a smartphone app. This provides the ability to start or stop toasting, adjust settings, or receive notifications when the toast is ready. Think about how appealing it is to put bread in the toaster and go back to bed rather than hovering at the kitchen counter.
2. Precision toasting
One of the major draws of smart toasters is their ability to precisely control how much the bread is toasted. While the toaster most people have in their kitchen can theoretically control the toastiness level, a smart toaster can do this more precisely as it knows the optimal toast time. With multiple toasting levels and presets for different bread types, it can ensure that the toast turns out perfectly every time—whether lightly golden or extra crispy.
3. Toast customization
Smart toasters have special modes for different kinds of bread and other food items. There are typically presets for things like bagels, English muffins, frozen waffles, and even dense pastries. Each mode adjusts the heat and timing to toast each item perfectly, to get better-tasting toast every time.
Some even have additional features like a “defrost” option to help thaw and toast frozen items evenly or a warming rack accessory to keep the cooking warm.
4. Touchscreen controls
Instead of traditional knobs and levers, many smart toasters come with digital touch screens that allow for precise control over settings. These screens are easy to read and often display helpful information like the countdown timer.
5. Reheat and keep warm settings
A reheat function provides the ability to warm up already-toasted bread without burning it. Additionally, some smart toasters feature a “keep warm” mode, which holds the toast at the perfect temperature until it’s time to eat. This is perfect for those who have busy mornings or are forgetful and don’t want to have to eat cold toast on the way out the door in the morning.
Benefits of a smart toaster
- Consistency: With the advanced features, a smart toaster is more likely to make the perfect toast every time.
- Convenience: The ability to control the toaster via the app and the keep-warm features make the toasting process convenient, particularly for those who are multi-tasking in the kitchen or elsewhere in the house while getting ready.
- Customization: Many people put much more than just bread in the toaster. The customizable features help ensure these other foods are cooked to perfection. For example, the bagel setting ensures delicious and perfectly cooked bagels every single time.
- Energy efficiency: Because the toaster monitors the toasting process more efficiently, there may be some energy saved; however, it’s likely minimal.
Is a smart toaster worth the investment?
Smart toasters are much more expensive than traditional toasters, so how do you decide if it’s worth it? Here are some things to think about before rushing out to buy a smart toaster:
1. Price
A regular 2-slice toaster generally costs around US $20–30, while a smart toaster is likely to range from US $100 to potentially over US $300. It may still be worth it—consider the rest of the list below to decide.
2. Frequency of use
Think about how often the toaster will be used. For those who use their toaster daily, then the investment in a smart toaster could be worth the convenience, consistency, and added features.
Also consider how often other food items are being toasted in the toaster. For those who toast bagels, waffles, English muffins, etc., the added features of a smart toaster may make it easier to toast these items.
3. Importance of quality
Some people care more about the quality of their toast than others. Those who are regularly disappointed by the regular toasting experience would benefit from upgrading to a smart toaster that gives them more control.
4. Gadget lovers
For people who love incorporating smart technology into their homes, a smart toaster can be an exciting high-tech addition. Those who enjoy using smart gadgets to automate their home or improve daily tasks will likely appreciate what a smart toaster has to offer. However, those who prefer simplicity and don’t want to add another app to their phone may prefer sticking with a traditional model.
5. Space considerations
A smart toaster is going to take up more space in the kitchen, so it’s likely important to consider the available kitchen space before purchasing.
Final thoughts
A smart toaster can bring convenience, consistency, and a touch of modern technology to any kitchen. For those who toast often, appreciate customization, or love using the latest gadgets, a smart toaster could be a great investment.
