Toast (food)

For other uses, see the food.

Two pieces of toasted white bread.

Toast is sliced bread which has been browned by exposure to dry heat. This browning reaction is a form of Maillard reaction. Toasting warms the bread, making it more pleasant to eat for some, and makes it crisp such that it holds toppings more securely. Toasting is also a common method of making stale bread palatable. Toast is often served with butter, cheese, marmalade, or any number of other toppings. Toast is a typical breakfast food.

Toasting methods

Using a household toaster

A classic two-slot toaster

The usual method of browning bread is by the use of a toaster, first used in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century, a small appliance made for that purpose. For a modern toaster, sliced bread is placed into the narrow slots on the top of the device and the desired toast setting is selected (some toasters have more elaborate settings than others). Then, the lever on the side of the toaster is pushed down, simultaneously turning on the heating elements.

Preparation and use

A slice of bread, contrasting untoasted and toasted

Care must be taken while toasting bread to avoid burning toast unless it is desired in that state. Burnt toast is possibly carcinogenic, due to elevated levels of benzopyrene.

Toast is commonly eaten with butter or margarine spread over it. Jams and jelly are also commonly used as toppings. In some countries a more popular practice is to spread a yeast extract, such as Marmite or Vegemite on toast. "Beans on toast" is a very popular simple meal in the United Kingdom. Other methods of preparing toast include to sprinkle a mixture of sugar and cinnamon on buttered toast, creating cinnamon toast. Toast spread with jam, jelly, apple butter or marmalade is commonly associated with breakfast. It is sometimes used instead of fresh bread for making sandwiches.(such as a BLT sandwich)

Toast is a common component of many breakfasts, and is also used in some traditional bland specialty diets for people with gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, or morning sickness during pregnancy, such as the BRAT diet consisting of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.

Bread can also be cubed before being toasted, sometimes after being coated with seasonings. These toasted cubes are called croutons, and are often added to salads, soups, and other dishes.

See also

• French toast
• Toasted sandwich
• Texas toast
• Melba toast
• Fried bread
• Milk toast
• Toast rack
• Egg in the basket
• Tostada
• Bagel toast
• Kaya toast