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- For other meanings, see Toast (disambiguation).
Toast is bread that has been browned by exposure to dry heat. This browning reaction is called the Maillard reaction. Toasting warms the bread and also makes it firmer, so that it holds toppings more securely. Toasting is also a common method of making stale bread more palatable.
Toasting methods
The usual method of toasting bread is by the use of a toaster, a small appliance made for that purpose. To use a modern toaster, simply place sliced bread into the narrow slots on the top of the toaster, tune it to the correct setting (some toasters have more elaborate settings than others) and push the lever down. The toast is done when the lever pops up along with the toast. If the toast is not done to the user's liking, press the lever down again. Originally, toasting was not this easy; one of the first home toasting appliances that was available would only toast one side of the bread at a time, so the bread had to be flipped over half way through. Bread can also be toasted under a grill (US: broiler), in an open oven, or lying on an oven rack. Toaster ovens are special small appliances made for toasting bread or for heating small amounts of other foods. Bread can also be toasted by holding it near but not directly over an open flame, such as a campfire or fireplace; special toasting utensils (e.g. toasting forks) are made for this purpose. Toast is also common as a comfort food, or as a baby's first solid food.Toast is made using slices of bread and hence many brands of ready-sliced bread have become available, some specifically marketing their suitability for toasting.
Preparation and use
Care must be taken while toasting bread to avoid burning it.Toast is most commonly eaten with butter or margarine spread over it. People in some countries spread a yeast extract, such as marmite or vegemite on toast. It may also be eaten dry or with additional or alternative preserves, spreads or other toppings. Toast and jam or jelly or toast and marmalade are British breakfast favourites. Toast is sometimes used instead of fresh bread for making sandwiches.
Toast is an important component of many breakfasts, and is also important in some traditional bland specialty diets for people with gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea (such as the BRAT diet consisting of bananas, rice, apples (or 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.
Additional notes
- An old French joke credits the English as inventing toast as the only way to butter the bread in their climate.
- French toast is not toast in the usual sense; it is bread fried with an egg-custard coating.
- The English comedian Eddie Izzard is noted for his fondness of toast, as evinced in several of his performances.
- A few other condiments that can be enjoyed with toast are jam, peanut butter, Vegemite spread, Nutella, and cream cheese. Owing to the dryness and neutrality of toast, most food products that are high-fat and/or high-flavor are compatible.
- Folk wisdom teaches that buttered toast, if dropped, always lands buttered-side down. This is because it is usually buttered-side up just before it is dropped, and will rotate less than a half-circle if dropped from less than 10 feet; therefore, dropped toast almost always lands on the opposite side (buttered-side down). *
- The word toast is used only for Toasted sandwich in some languages.
- The flavour of toast differs from its previous form because the starch in the bread is converted to dextrose through heat exposure.
See also
- French toast
- Toasted sandwich
- Texas toast
- Melba toast
- Fried bread
- Milk toast
- Toast rack
- Powdered Toast
Toastbrot | Toast | トースト | Tosti
External Links
"Toast"