Hamilton Beach 2-Slice Metal Toaster, Red (22623V) review

The Hamilton Beach 22623V is a red, two-slice toaster with two conventional openings and manual controls. Its exact manufacturer page lists Toast Boost, Cancel, automatic shutoff, seven shade choices, a drop-down crumb tray and cord storage. Unlike the page for 22623G, the 22623V detail page checked on November 1, 2026 did not display a “NO LONGER AVAILABLE” notice; that distinction describes the maker pages at the time checked, not the stock or condition of any particular seller's unit.

Simple two-slice operation, without a named special cycle

The maker describes a manual lifter, a shade selector and a Cancel button, with Toast Boost to raise small items for easier retrieval. The page calls the slots extra-wide and shows a two-slot toaster. It also lists seven shade positions, a useful amount of control for a basic household routine. The sources do not give an independent toast result for any level, so neither the dial number nor the product photograph should be treated as a guaranteed color outcome.

Bagels are named as a type of food for the wider openings, but the exact 22623V page and the 840228603 guide do not describe a dedicated Bagel button. Likewise, no dedicated Frozen/Defrost, Reheat, A Bit More, Keep Warm, Lift & Look, Sourdough or timer program is documented. The reported automatic shutoff is not a special cycle and is not a reason to leave a toaster running unattended. If your routine depends on a specific dedicated mode, use the corresponding finder requirement rather than inferring it from a plain shade dial.

Counter footprint and bread-fit caveats

The exact product page lists the body as 7 inches high, 11.3 inches wide and 6.4 inches deep. Those values are distinct from the plain 22623 page's 8.4 H x 7.1 W x 12.6 D listing, so keep the code on the appliance aligned with the dimensions used for a counter decision. The 22623G page publishes the same 22623V dimensions; the two pages also link the same red product image and show the same listed operating features. I retain each code and its page history separately rather than treating suffixes as proof of identical retail packaging.

Body width and depth do not describe a slot opening. Neither exact page gives a maximum slice length, aperture width or thickness limit. “Extra-wide” is a qualitative maker label; it cannot settle whether a particular bagel or thick cut will fit. If you are buying for a specific bread, measure the bread and check the actual product opening rather than relying on the picture. Also leave space for the lever, cord, safe placement and the crumb tray's drop-down cleaning path.

Model-table rating, guide and upkeep

The official 840228603 booklet lists model 22623 as T95 at 120 V, 60 Hz and 750 W. It notes that covered model numbers may carry letter suffixes, which supports applying its operating sequence to 22623V. That guide describes selecting a shade, lowering the bread lifter, letting food pop up, using Cancel to end the cycle, and cleaning a swing-open tray. The page calls the tray drop-down; either way, this is not documented as a slide-out front drawer.

The guide says to disconnect power and let the toaster cool before cleaning or freeing a jam, and not to reach in with utensils. It cautions against unattended operation and directs toaster pastries to a toaster oven. The printed warranty gives one year for qualifying U.S. purchases from the original purchase date, subject to written conditions and proof. That term is not a promise of coverage for any specific reseller, old-stock or used unit.

Exact code and lifecycle checks

Confirm that an offer or secondhand unit says 22623V, not the base 22623 or 22623G. Their pages share some wording, but the base page has a different published footprint and no stated seven-shade count, while the G page was explicitly marked no longer available on the checked date. For the V unit, inspect the lifter, shade dial, Cancel control, cord, crumb tray and rating label; check the seller's condition, return route, package contents and warranty eligibility. No stock promise, condition report or exact-series recall clearance follows from an active manufacturer detail page.

The manufacturer recall index and the notices checked for this assessment do not name the 22623V model code, but those named lists do not establish the history or safety of a particular toaster. Compare its printed series code with current manufacturer instructions. The evidence-based case for this model is a simple two-slice layout with a manual stop and lift aid, published outside dimensions and seven shade choices; the main limits are unmeasured food openings and no documented dedicated Bagel or frozen program. This is not a hands-on test.

Who might consider the 22623V?

It can be a reasonable reference for a household that wants two conventional slots, a manual shade control, retrieval lift and compact front-to-back body dimensions, provided the actual counter and bread fit are checked. It is less suitable when a long-slot design, a named Bagel/Frozen setting, numeric slot dimensions or a confirmed warranty on an old unit are essential. A product page, image and manual can establish a configuration; they cannot establish how uniformly it browns, how fast it works or how long an individual used toaster will last.

Sources: Hamilton Beach 22623V product page, Use & Care guide 840228603, and the maker's recall index.