REASONS TO BUY
Long slots
Easy crumb tray access
Easy to use
REASONS TO AVOID
Poor bagel toasting
Inconsistent bread toasting
Dash Clear View Review
The viewing window offers a fun and unique experience, but this toaster is a mediocre performer with regard to toasting consistency
Credit: Dash
RELATED: Best Toasters
Our Verdict
The Dash Clear View is a mediocre toaster compared to other models we tested. This see-through toaster is relatively easy to use, but its overall performance is below average, and it costs more than other much better performing toasters. If you are on the hunt for a new toaster, you can gander past this one and take a more serious look at a handful of better and more affordable models.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Dash Clear View | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  | | |||
| Price | $50 List $44.99 at Amazon | $30 List $29.95 at Amazon | $35 List $39.99 at Amazon | $40 List $34.99 at Amazon | $25 List |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Long slots, easy crumb tray access, easy to use | Strong toasting, small storage, easy to use, budget friendly, good strudel | Budget-friendly, easy-to-use, great strudels | Inexpensive, toasts 4 slices at once, toasts bagels evenly | Fair price, great bread toasting performance |
| Cons | Poor bagel toasting, inconsistent bread toasting | Mediocre bagels, waffles | Subpar bagel toasting | No specific bagel mode, toasting can be slightly inconsistent overall | Inconvenient cord |
| Bottom Line | The viewing window offers a fun and unique experience, but this toaster is a mediocre performer with regard to toasting consistency | It may not be the most aesthetic, but this toaster is compact, practical, and budget-friendly for its high performance | An easy-to-use toaster that is also easy on the wallet, and great for strudel lovers, but not for bagel lovers | The best option we've found for people seeking a 4-slice or long-slot model on the cheap | A budget-friendly option that gets the job done but skimps on quality |
| Rating Categories | Dash Clear View | Cuisinart CPT-122 | Oster 2 Slice | Elite Gourmet ECT-3100 | Black+Decker 2-Slic... |
| Bread Toasting Quality (35%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (35%) | |||||
| Bagel Toasting Quality (15%) | |||||
| Frozen Food (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Dash Clear View | Cuisinart CPT-122 | Oster 2 Slice | Elite Gourmet ECT-3100 | Black+Decker 2-Slic... |
| Model Number | DVTS501 | CPT-122 | TSSTTRJBG1 | KT-3680 | T2569B |
| Weight | 4.5Ibs | 3.7Ibs | 3.5Ibs | 6.4 lbs. | 2.5Ibs |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 15.7" x 6.6" x 7.8" | 6.5" x 11" x 7.2" | 11.7" x 6.9" x 7.3" | 14.7" x 7.1" x 7.7" | 7.3" x 12" x 8" |
| Standard/Long Slot | Long | Standard | Standard | Long | Standard |
| Available with Long Slot? | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Available in 4 slot? | No | No | No | No | No |
| Color/Finish Options | Seafoam, Black, Red, Gray | White, Red, Black | Gray | Black Plastic/Stainless | Black |
| Exterior Housing Material | Plastic | Plastic | stainless steel | Stainless Steel | Plastic |
| End of Cycle Indicator | None | None | None | None | None |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
A timelapse of toasting with the Dash Clear View.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Bread Toasting Quality
Our first test metric evaluated how well the Dash Clear View prepared toast on three available settings, low heat, medium heat, and high heat. Unfortunately, its performance overall was less than impressive, as it could not reliably and consistently produce the same results with the same settings in repeated tests.
The Clear View occasionally did a lovely job of browning an enjoyable slice of toast. Strangely, it couldn't provide the same results from an entire loaf of bread on the same exact heat settings. This held true across all of our heat settings, and it became apparent that the only consistent thing about this toaster is that no toast will be the same each time you use the device.
This see-through toaster allows you to keep a close eye on your food.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The Dash Clear View is an average toaster when it comes to ease of use. A clear window, hence the name 'Clear View', lets you see the state of what you are toasting, although just because you can see the object you are toasting, this does not mean it's going to excel at toasting. However, it is removable, making occasional cleanings very easy.
A clear window lets you observe the items you are toasting.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
An oversized lever to start toasting is easy to use but is large enough that it's almost comically large. A surprisingly narrow crumb tray is located inconveniently on the back side of the toaster but is relatively simple to remove and empty.
The long and narrow crumb tray is located on the rear of the model, and is easy to remove and replace.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The operation of the toaster is quite simple. Three push buttons for Defrost, Reheat, and Bagel, illuminate when selected. A dial with seven heat settings controls browning, and there is a 'Cancel' button in the center of it.
Less convenient is the location of the buttons and lever. The lever is on the right side of the toaster, with the dial buttons on the front to the right of the viewing window, whereas many of the simpler toasters we've tested have all of their buttons and levers on a single side.
A dial controls settings, and incorporates a cancel button at its center.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Bagel Toasting Quality
Our third test metric evaluated each toaster's ability to toast bagels, and the Dash Clear View did a below-average job compared to the performance of its peers.
The bagel setting on this device did not actually toast our bagels.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
On the bagel setting, our bagels came out under-toasted with no golden crispiness and no soft center. While the bagels were warm, they were not visibly toasted. Increasing the heat settings on the dial made little difference. Bagels still came out with no golden crispiness, and while the texture changed from soft to toasted, it lacked any toasted color.
The Clear View undercooked bagels in our tests.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
Frozen Food/Defrosting Quality
Across our frozen foods metric, the Dash didn't do much better than it did across other test metrics. Surprisingly, it did an exceptional job in our frozen bread tests.
Unfortunately, its success was limited to frozen bread, as it produced waffles that were unevenly cooked from one side of the slice to the other, and strudel that was consistently undercooked and unevenly heated.
Food is clearly visible in the Clear View.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
Should You Buy the Dash Clear View?
Our team could not in good faith recommend the Dash Clear View over other toasters we tested based on its underwhelming all-around performance. We've tested a lot of models, including cheaper and easier-to-use toasters that offer much better performance.
What Other Toaster Should You Consider?
The Dash Clear View did not perform as well as many other models tested, including the Oster 2 Slice and the Cuisinart CPT-122. Both are more affordable and offer greater all-around performance, making them much better choices.
—
Genaveve Bradshaw and Benjamin Hickok
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