The present invention provides a toner having a releasing agent, a binder resin and a colorant. The binder resin is contained in a form of particles, surfaces of which have 1.2 times or greater amount of a polar group-containing compound, or of a cross-linked compound, than insides thereof. A viscosity of the releasing agent, as determined by using a type-E viscometer provided with a cone plate having a cone angle of 1.34 degrees at 140° C., is 1.5 to 5.0 mPa·S. The present invention further provides a developer containing a carrier and the toner. The present invention further provides an image forming method that utilizes the developer.