How to Toast Bread in Toaster Oven | Proven Methods and Useful Tips

If you DO NOT have the toast mode, you can toast your plain bread using the broil setting as well.

In this article, we will comprehensively look at how to toast bread in a toaster oven. We will talk about how to do it properly, and the time and temperature required to toast bread in a toaster oven.

We will also talk about how to toast bread in a normal oven that lacks toast mode but has the broiler setting.

The Science Behind Toasting

Why is toasted bread so appetizing and crusty brown? Due to the Maillard Reaction!

This is a simple reaction that creates a large number of flavonoids that impact food with flavor and also change the texture of the bread.

The heat produced by the toaster oven heating elements, in turn, heats the bread prompting this reaction to produce a caramel-like toast taste.

This reaction typically occurs at 285°F (140°C) and above. As the chemical reaction occurs, the molecular compounds break and then re-emerge thus completely changing the taste of the bread.

Can You Toast Bread in Toaster Oven?

With that said, this begs the question, can you toast bread in a toaster oven?

Well, the answer to that question is a resounding YES! Toaster ovens are particularly designed for bread toasting, baking as well as broiling.

All oven toasters have three primary functions: bake, broil and toast.

• With the bake settings, the bottom heating element turns on.
  • Heat oven to 350 degrees F
  • Spread the bread across a single layer on a baking sheet (do NOT apply butter or oil)
  • Put the bread in for 3-5 minutes, then flip for another 3-5 minutes so that both sides are toasty and brown
  • Eat your tasty toast how you enjoy it
• With the broil setting, the top heating elements turn on. We prefer baking in a toaster oven over broil to toast bread.
• With the toast setting, both heating elements turn on. As such, this literally acts like a normal slot toaster as it heats the bread for both sides resulting in a crispy toaster oven-toasted bread. Scroll down to learn how to use the toast setting.

How to Toast Bread in Toaster Oven?

Now that you know the basics of the science behind it, especially the fact that toasting literally produces new flavors, it is time to look into how to toast bread in a toaster oven properly.

Toaster ovens have different settings that can be used to achieve the toasting texture of the bread. Most toaster ovens even have dedicated settings for the toast itself with selectors to select the degree of toast you want to achieve.

It is important to know that though advanced toaster ovens exist, you still need personal judgment during the toasting process.

You may want to spruce up your toast by adding exciting toppings. Some of the most common toast toppings may include chili cheese toast, egg in a blanket, mozzarella toast, masala chicken on toast, prawn, and sesame toast, among others.

1. Using the Toaster Oven Controls

The simplest way is to use the toaster oven “toast” mode.

Every basic toaster oven has a toasting mode. You only have to set the desired temperature and the timer.

You can experiment with the temperature and the timer as the cooking time may differ from oven to oven. This depends upon how fast the heating elements reach the desired temperature and how large the oven is.

To start with, you can set the temperature at 350 °F or 177 °C and have the oven toast for about 60 – 90 seconds.

Keep monitoring.

What is Toasting Mode?

In a toasting mode, both top and bottom heating elements turn on. This is contrary to the bake and broil setting whereby only the bottom or the top (respectively) heating elements turn on.

With both heating elements on, the slices of bread toast from both sides, this removes the need to flip them.

2. Digital Toaster Ovens Settings

Digital toaster ovens have dedicated setting not just for toasting mode, but also for the level of brownness you want (see Breville’s smart toaster oven or their cutting-edge smart oven).

You can simply set desired brownness and the oven will manage the cooking timer and the temperature for you.

3. Broiling Toasts

Suppose you do not have a dedicated toast mode, you can use the broiler (top heating element) for quick toasting.

When your toaster oven is put to broil setting, then it uses direct radiant heat from the top heating elements only.

During broiling, the bottom heating elements are off. There might be a chance of uneven browning, but the continuous flip of bread would give you perfect results.

Here are the simple steps to follow when using the broiling setting

Step 1: Place the Bread at a Proper Distance

Adjust your rack to the top position so that it is about 3 inches below the broiler heating element. Place the slices of bread directly on the oven rack leaving half inches space between them for even toasting. Putting the bread directly on the rack increases the crunch feel as opposed to a baking sheet.

Step 2: Start the Broiling Process

Set your toaster oven to broil choosing the lowest heat setting if the broiler settings are calibrated.

If there are no different settings, then just set it to broil, the catch here is to stay near the toaster oven during this process to avoid burnt and uneven toasted bread.

Step 3: Wait for them to Toast

Wait until the bread turns golden brown toast or to your preference for approximately 60 to 90 seconds.

The toaster oven door should be open during this process to be able to flip the bread often.

Some models cannot broil with their doors open, so it is important to occasionally open the doors and check the condition of your toast.

Optional Step

If you like your toast extremely crispy and dark, then you can continue with your broiling process for a little bit longer.

It is important to have your mittens on because to flip your toast, you need to pull the grillrack out, then push it back in after you finish.

Step 4: Ready to Serve

When ready, turn off your oven and use tongs to pick the toast from the rack. Set the toast on a plate or tray, then add your preferred toppings or just melted butter and enjoy.

What Temperature to Toast Bread in Toaster Oven At Bake?

If you are confused about what temperature to toast bread in a toaster oven, then we recommend that you keep things simple.

Take the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and make sure that all your subsequent garlic bread toasting is done at this temperature. That way, your temperature would act as a steady variable, the only thing you will need to adjust is the time depending upon the shade you want.

Some toaster ovens have a dedicated setting for “Toast” on temperature knob control. So select that instead.

How Long to Toast Bread in Toaster Oven?

May toaster ovens have a dedicated setting for the shade to toast you want from light brown all the way to dark crispy brown.

In case your toaster oven is missing this function, then you will need to do a bit of a trial and test for the desired shade.

You can toast the bread in the oven for about 3-5 minutes. However, if you want a lighter or darker shade, toast the bread for a long or short period. Make certain the temperature stays constant.

Storing Toasted Bread

You might decide to keep some of the toasted sandwiches to bite later or carry to work for a brunch. It is important to know how to store them so that they do not lose their crunchiness and taste.

The key is that you have to toast your bread to medium-dark and wait for it to cool to room temperature.

Then put it in an airtight Ziploc bag with air squashed out. If you want to store them for up to two days, then you can put them in a freezer after bagging them. Then later put the frozen toast in tinfoil and heat it up in the toaster oven.

It might taste like a crouton, but it works alright.

Tips When Toasting Bread

• Compared to white bread, whole-grain bread toasts relatively slower.
• Old bread can be saved for toast. Old bread revitalizes when toasted under high temperatures to produce tasty and crunchy toast.
• If you want extra crunchy toast, you can spread some butter before putting it in the oven.

Final Words

After choosing the best model of a toaster oven, the quality of bread also determines the outcome for your toast.

A denser bread like bagels and the pre-sliced bread is the best quality for toasting, though the normal white bread can hack it. In the end, it all depends upon personal preference.

For an exclusive and personal taste of toasted bread with toppings, you can look up different recipes and make breakfast or brunch toast your favorite part of the day.

We hope this guide on how to toast bread in the toaster oven at least pointed you in the right direction.