The Kitchen Bench
Smeg 50S Retro Style 2 Slice Toaster TSF01 Review (2027)
An evidence-based look at the Smeg 50S Retro Style 2 Slice Toaster TSF01: what it is, what to check before buying, who it suits, and the alternatives worth comparing.
By The Kitchen Bench Research Team · Updated for 2027 · Independent · Reader-supported · No paid placements
✓ Specs checked
✓ Claims verified
✓ No paid placements
✓ Sources cited
On this page
- 01Bench take
- 02What this product is
- 03Inside the pop-up toaster
- 04Pros and cons
- 05Key decisions for this category
- 06What to verify before buying
- 07How to buy it right
- 08Common mistakes to avoid
- 09Who it suits — and who should skip it
- 10Also consider
- 11In this category
- 12Frequently asked questions
- 13Ready to buy?
Bench take
The Smeg 50S Retro Style 2 Slice Toaster TSF01 is Smeg’s entry in the pop-up toasters category. On the category’s key decisions — slot size and count, browning control, bagel and defrost functions, crumb tray — it deserves a place on any shortlist, provided the checks below confirm it fits your kitchen, your batch size and your care tolerance. This review does not claim hands-on laboratory testing: it assesses the product from its category, its maker’s line and the specifications buyers should verify on the manufacturer sheet for the exact variant they are buying.
Check price on Amazon →Compare all pop-up toasters
Prices and availability change — the retailer page shows the current price for your exact variant. If the variant, size or colour differs from what you wanted, do not order it on price alone.
What this product is
A pop-up toaster does one job — toast, bagels and similar — and does it faster and more evenly than a toaster oven. Slot size, browning control and a crumb tray are the whole buying decision. Within that category, the Smeg 50S Retro Style 2 Slice Toaster TSF01 sits as Smeg’s offering. The name itself tells you the most reliable facts — brand, product line and, where stated, size or capacity. Anything beyond that — exact dimensions, materials, warranty terms, care instructions — should be confirmed on the manufacturer sheet for your exact variant, because retailer listings for the same product frequently disagree.
Inside the pop-up toaster
Illustrative exploded view — parts shown separated so you can see how it fits together. Not a photo of this exact product.
Key decisions for this category
Slot size and count
Long or wide slots handle artisan bread and bagels; standard slots do not. Count slices per batch for your household.
Browning control
A control that actually changes results across its range, not one where settings 2 and 7 taste the same.
Bagel and defrost functions
Bagel mode toasts one side; defrost handles frozen bread. Both are worth having if you use them.
Crumb tray
A tray that slides out fully makes cleaning a ten-second job. A tray that sticks makes it a chore.
What to verify before buying
Before you buy the Smeg 50S Retro Style 2 Slice Toaster TSF01
- ✓ Slot dimensions against your usual bread
- ✓ Browning control range
- ✓ Bagel and defrost functions if you need them
- ✓ Crumb tray access
Where the manufacturer sheet and a retailer listing conflict, this site follows the manufacturer sheet and flags the conflict. Never buy a pop-up toaster on a single specification from a single listing.
Pros and cons — at a glance
These are the honest trade-offs for this type of pop-up toaster, not a score. The strengths are what the category does well when the size and care needs fit; the watch-outs are the checks that decide whether this particular pop-up toaster fits your kitchen.
What it does well
- ✓ Fits the pop-up toasters use case when slot size and count and browning control are checked first.
- ✓ From Smeg, a maker whose line is built around this category — spare parts, care guidance and variant information are easier to verify than for a no-name listing.
- ✓ The name states the key facts (brand, line and, where stated, size) — so you can match it to the manufacturer sheet before ordering.
What to watch
- ✗ Uneven toasting — check this before buying, not after unboxing.
- ✗ One side darker — check this before buying, not after unboxing.
- ✗ Toast gets stuck — check this before buying, not after unboxing.
- ✗ Retailer listings for the same product frequently disagree on size, capacity or care — verify the exact variant on the manufacturer sheet.
How to buy it right — in 5 steps
- 1. Measure first. Check your counter, hob, cupboard and storage against the manufacturer dimensions for the exact variant — not the roundup photo.
- 2. Match the batch. Size and capacity should fit your usual cooking, not your largest party. A pop-up toaster that is too big wastes space; one that is too small forces second batches.
- 3. Check the variant. Colour, size and included accessories change the price and the fit. Confirm the variant name on the retailer page matches the one you checked.
- 4. Run the verify checks below. Slot dimensions against your usual bread; Browning control range; Bagel and defrost functions if you need them; Crumb tray access. If any check fails, pick an alternative from the list below instead of hoping it will work out.
- 5. Check returns before ordering. Confirm the retailer return window for your variant, so a wrong size or a damaged arrival is a swap, not a loss.
Check price for the Smeg 50S Retro Style 2 Slice Toaster TSF01 →
VIP pick — the winner is inside2027
Still deciding? Reveal the No. 1 pick.
The ranked roundup hides its winner until you tap — then shows the full ranking, the checks, and what to verify before buying.
Best Pop-Up Toasters →Browse all reviews
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The winner is insideCommon mistakes to avoid
Uneven toasting
Bread thickness and moisture vary. Centring guides help, but very thick slices will always toast unevenly.
One side darker
That is usually the bread, not the toaster — uneven slices brown unevenly. Rotate the slice and try again.
Toast gets stuck
A lever that does not lift fully, or bread wider than the slot. Never fish toast out with metal.
Crumbs everywhere
Empty the tray regularly. Crumbs in the bottom smoke and smell on the next use.
Who it suits — and who should skip it
Best for
Cooks choosing pop-up toasters who prioritise slot size and count and browning control, and who have verified the product’s size, capacity and care needs against their kitchen.
Skip if
You need a different size or capacity, you cannot meet its care or cleaning needs, or the verified specifications do not match your hob, counter or storage. In that case, compare the alternatives below before deciding.
Also consider
Pop-Up Toasters
Breville A Bit More BTA720
Full review — what to verify before buying, who it suits, and the alternatives worth comparing.
Pop-Up Toasters
Cuisinart Cpt 180 Metal Classic
Full review — what to verify before buying, who it suits, and the alternatives worth comparing.
Pop-Up Toasters
Dualit Newgen 4 Slice
Full review — what to verify before buying, who it suits, and the alternatives worth comparing.
In this category
The full pop-up toasters cluster — the hub, the ranked best list, the buying guide, the problems-and-fixes article, and the use-case picks for this category.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my toast brown unevenly?
Usually the bread — thickness and moisture vary across a slice. A centring toaster helps but cannot fix uneven bread.
Can I toast bagels?
Yes, with wide slots and a bagel setting that toasts the cut side.
How often should I empty the crumb tray?
Weekly for daily use. Crumbs left in the tray smoke and smell.
Ready to buy?
If the checks above pass — size, capacity, care and variant all match your kitchen — this is the point to order. If any check fails, go back to the alternatives below instead of buying on hope.