Hamilton Beach 2 Slice Stainless Steel Toaster (22794) vs Breville the Bit More 2-Slice Toaster (BTA720XL)
Which controls and counter-care instructions fit the way you make toast and the space where the toaster will sit?
Products compared
ASIN B09G24YVNG
Hamilton Beach 2 Slice Stainless Steel Toaster (22794)
You want seven numbered shade steps and a display that shows the selected shade.
Last observed offer
$37.99
- Confirm offer eligibility on Amazon
Size: Defrost Function
Price checked
Observed condition: new. Coupon and subscription requirements unverified.
ASIN B00COMHC12
Breville the Bit More 2-Slice Toaster (BTA720XL)
You want Lift & Look to check toast without interrupting the cycle, or A Bit More to add time.
Last observed offer
$109.95
- Confirm offer eligibility on Amazon
Size: 2-slice
Price checked
Observed condition: new. Coupon and subscription requirements unverified.
Prices are per listed package. Pickoryx may earn a commission from qualifying purchases through the paid Amazon links on this page, at no added cost to you.
Published by Pickoryx · Published 2026-10-21 · Source checked 2026-10-21 03:21 UTC
The main trade-off
The 22794 makes shade selection explicit with numbered steps; the BTA720XL adds in-cycle checking and extra time, while its US manual specifies numeric clearance.
Quick verdict
Pick the Hamilton Beach 22794 if its seven-step shade display is the control you want; choose the Breville BTA720XL if checking toast mid-cycle or adding time matters more. Both have two slots, Bagel mode, high-lift access, and a removable crumb tray; neither has a sourced performance win here.
Choose Hamilton Beach 2 Slice Stainless Steel Toaster (22794) if
- You want seven numbered shade steps and a display that shows the selected shade.
- You prefer the 22794 guide's documented slide-out-tray routine and can follow its placement warnings without a numeric clearance figure.
Choose Breville the Bit More 2-Slice Toaster (BTA720XL) if
- You want Lift & Look to check toast without interrupting the cycle, or A Bit More to add time.
- Your counter can meet the BTA720XL manual's 4-inch side and 8-inch overhead clearance and you want a numeric placement instruction.
When the recommendation changes
- A controlled same-condition test establishes a meaningful difference in browning that matters to your bread and settings.
- The actual installation location cannot meet the chosen model's official placement instructions.
The differences that matter
| Decision point | Hamilton Beach 2 Slice Stainless Steel Toaster (22794) | Breville the Bit More 2-Slice Toaster (BTA720XL) |
|---|---|---|
| Bread Controls And Food Fit | Model 22794 has seven numbered shade steps, a digital display showing the selected shade, and Bagel, Defrost, and Cancel buttons. Its guide says Bagel and Defrost are selected after a cycle starts.[1, 2] | BTA720XL uses a variable browning control with an LED progress indicator; Lift & Look checks toast without interrupting the cycle, and A Bit More adds time. It also has Bagel and Frozen settings.[3, 4] |
What this changes: The choice is between a plainly numbered shade display and a cycle that can be checked mid-toast or given extra time; neither source establishes better browning results.[1, 2, 3, 4] The better fit depends on your priorities | ||
| Crumb Care And Counter Setup | The 22794 guide describes emptying its slide-out crumb tray and warns against enclosed cabinet, caddy, or garage use and placement near walls or cabinets; it provides no inch-based clearance figure.[1, 2] | BTA720XL's linked US manual requires at least 4 inches at the sides and 8 inches above, prohibits enclosed-area use, and describes removing the tray and inverting the cooled toaster over a bin for extra crumbs.[3, 4] |
What this changes: Check the actual counter location against the chosen model's instructions before buying: Breville gives numerical clearance, while the 22794 guide gives placement warnings without a numerical distance. The manuals do not establish that either toaster is easier or faster to clean.[2, 4] The better fit depends on your priorities | ||
Value and trade-offs
One or both observed offers have eligibility conditions, so no unrestricted price difference is shown.
The observed current offers are not matched for seller and offer condition, and no price history is available to establish a typical price or value premium. Compare the exact current offers and included terms before deciding.
Price history is unavailable, so a timing recommendation is not supported. Check the current offer for the exact model and seller terms.
Limitations
- No controlled side-by-side test establishes browning consistency, speed, or toast quality.
- The 22794 guide gives placement warnings but no numerical clearance measurement; do not infer that a smaller counter gap is acceptable.
- Breville's product page calls its crumb tray front-mounted, while its linked US manual locates the tray on the left side opposite the lever; verify the actual unit rather than relying on a claimed tray side.
- There is no verified price history, and the available current offer observations are not confirmed to have matching seller or condition terms.
Questions shoppers ask
Can I place either toaster in an appliance garage?
No enclosed-area use is recommended: the Hamilton Beach guide warns against an enclosed cabinet, caddy, or garage, and the Breville manual also says not to use the toaster in an enclosed area.
Does the Breville brown toast better?
The sources describe its controls, not a controlled result against the 22794. Choose based on the documented controls you will use rather than an unsupported browning winner.
Methodology and sources
Compared published shade and cycle controls, placement instructions, and crumb-tray care for the exact 22794 and BTA720XL. Shared features are identified; no performance result is inferred from feature descriptions.
Automated research support organized model-specific source details; no physical testing was conducted for this comparison.
View 5 sources
- 1.2 Slice Stainless Steel Toaster (22794)Hamilton Beach · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-21 03:21 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Features and specifications: Identifies model 22794 and lists the selected-shade digital display, seven shade settings, Bagel/Defrost/Cancel controls, Toast Boost, two extra-wide slots, and slide-out crumb tray. The page dimensions are body dimensions, not operating-clearance guidance.
- 2.Use and Care Guide: Toasters, models including 22794Hamilton Beach · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-21 03:21 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- English instructions: Toasting Guide, Bagel/Defrost/Toast Boost operation, Cleaning, and Important Safeguards: The guide explicitly includes model 22794. It describes seven shade steps; Bagel and Defrost selection after a cycle begins; high-lift Toast Boost; slide-out-tray cleaning and a weekly cleaning suggestion for daily use. It warns against use in an enclosed appliance cabinet, caddy, or garage and near walls/cabinets, but gives no numerical clearance measurement.
- 3.the Bit More 2 Slice Toaster (BTA720XL)Breville · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-21 03:21 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Selected BTA720XL product page: features and specifications: The selected SKU is BTA720XL. The page lists variable browning control, LED progress, A Bit More, Lift & Look, Bagel/Frozen functions, and a removable front crumb tray. Body dimensions are listed but do not state operating clearance.
- 4.Instruction Book: BTA720 and BTA730Breville · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-21 03:21 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- US manual linked from the BTA720XL product page: Components and Functions; Important Safeguards; Care and Cleaning; Storage: The product page links this US manual for BTA720/BTA730. It describes Lift & Look as checking toast without interrupting the cycle, A Bit More as adding time, LED progress, Bagel/Frozen functions, and tray cleaning. It specifies at least 4 in/10 cm at the sides and 8 in/20 cm above, and says not to use in an enclosed area. Cleaning instructions say unplug and cool completely, remove/empty the tray, invert the toaster over a bin for extra crumbs, then wipe and dry. Storage instructions specify upright on a flat surface. The manual places the tray on the left side opposite the lever, which differs from the product page's 'front' wording; this article does not claim a tray side.
- 5.Instruction Manual: BTA720XL and BTA730XLBreville · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-21 03:21 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Cover identifies US BTA720XL/BTA730XL booklet; used only to cross-check the exact XL model identity: The booklet cover names BTA720XL and BTA730XL, confirming the exact XL suffix. It is not used for the current clearance or crumb-care instructions, which are sourced from the newer US manual linked on the product page.