The Dash Clear View DVTS501RD toaster uses a heating element different from other toasters. Rather than thin wires stretched alongside the wall, this toaster has two large elements on the bottom of each side. This design allows the bread to toast evenly and with minimal bar marks.
The Dash Clear View performed well in our performance tests on evenness, consistency, and toasting frozen bread and bagels. Like the Breville Smart Toaster, it did well on all tests, making it one of the best toasters we reviewed.
Dash Clear View Toaster: Setup
To set up the Dash Clear View toaster, I just place it on a flat, stable surface and make sure there's enough room around it because it's one and a half feet wide. Plugging the toaster in makes sure it gets a lot of ventilation. I get to know the controls, typically on the side, that let me adjust how toasty it gets.
The first time I use it, I'll run a cycle without bread to eliminate any factory residue. Once it's set up, I'm ready to toast bread.
Dash Clear View Toaster: Design & features
The Dash Clear View is an innovative toaster with a glass front panel that lets me see how toasting is going. This feature adds a modern touch and lets me see the bread brown as it toasts, so it's a conversation starter in my kitchen. Two large heating elements are on each side of this toaster, so it toasts evenly and doesn't leave a bar mark.
While the glass design is appealing, it requires significant counter space, measuring one and a half feet in width. Also, it has only one slot, so it can fit two standard slices of bread. The crumb tray, accessed from the left side, is also somewhat awkward, as it’s long and hard to remove if the toaster is placed next to a wall.
Dash Clear View Toaster: Performance
A well-designed heating element system enhances the toaster's toasting capabilities, making it an excellent performer. Two large heating elements positioned at the bottom of each side give even heat distribution, so my bread toasts evenly without the typical bar marks often associated with conventional toasters. Toasting frozen bread and bagels with this feature gives consistent results regardless of the type of bread.
In performance tests, it outperformed premium toasters like the Breville Smart Toaster. No matter what kind of bread I'm toasting, I can get a satisfying crunch and golden brown finish. With the front glass panel, I can watch the toast in real-time, so I don't have to guess when it's time to take it out.
It's important to note that while the toaster performs well, it only has one slot, so if I regularly make multiple slices or larger artisanal breads, it might not be the best choice.
Would I buy the Dash Clear View DVTS501RD?
The Dash Clear is an unusual and eye-catching toaster due to its front-viewing glass design. Although this design has a few disadvantages, it proved to have a better-than-average toasting performance in our testing. Consider this toaster an interesting conversation piece in your kitchen, as it lets you watch your bread toast as you drink your morning cup of coffee.
| Attribute | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | straightforward; may require careful consideration of counter space | 8/10 |
| Design | innovative glass front panel; seven browning levels; single slot design limits its capacity | 9/10 |
| Performance | even toasting capabilities; real-time viewing feature | 9/10 |
