Toast - How To Cook The Next Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

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This recipe for perfectly toasted Toast is the best thing since, well, sliced bread.Butter optional, but highly recommended.

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Today’s post wouldn’t be possible without the caveman. You see, our ancestors in the Stone Age (literally the Stone Age) discovered that bread and water mixed together could be baked on hot rocks to create flatbread. That was awesome, and I imagine many delicious dinosaur tacos were had by all.

But then one especially smart caveman left his or her ‘dough’ out too long and discovered that it expanded. Say what!? Yup, that dough attracted wild yeast from the air which in turn leavened (or ‘proofed’) the dough. Hello, bread. The world hasn’t been the same since. Indeed, bread was used as a form of currency in ancient Egypt and Rome. Heck, I might work for bread now…but only if it’s a really good loaf!

The next great step forward for mankind occurred when the Romans realized they could make old slices of bread edible again by toasting them near an open fire. Indeed, toast comes from the Latin word ‘torreo, torrere, torrui, tostum’ meaning ‘to scorch.’ And, once again, the history of food changed forever.

In 1893, an electric toaster oven was invented by a Scotsman named Alan MacMasters, but it wasn’t terribly popular. The concept was good but the execution was poor. The iron wiring in MacMasters’ toaster oven often melted and set flame to the bread…and everything else nearby. However, about 20 years later, (my metallurgist wife loves this part of the story) several metallurgists in Chicago created a fire-resistant alloy. And with that, I bring you the greatest thing since sliced bread: Toast.

The Perfect Slice of Toast

If you happened to be paying attention to Twitter back around Christmas 2017, then you might have noticed a major Twitter debate over this photo below.

How do you slice your toast? This photo gave 3 options, and it led to an incredible virtual argument in the Twittersphere. Most folks generally accepted option #1, with #2 and #3 causing a great deal of angst. As one person put it, “Finding out that there are people who cut their toast on the slice of bread’s horizon is making me really nervous. These people have been walking the earth amongst us and I’ve never known.” To which another nugget of Twitter wisdom arose: “People who slice their toast like number 3 will murder you in your sleep.”

I personally say if you’re serving said this to a 3-year old (or making grilled cheese sandwiches), then slice it in triangles.  Otherwise, leave it whole or slice it in half like #2.

How to Cook Toast in the Oven

No toaster oven? No problem! You can absolutely toast bread in the oven – and it’s a great way to make a whole bunch of toast at once. To make toast in an oven:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Place bread in a single layer in oven – either on a baking sheet or directly on the oven rack.
3. Bake for 8-10 minutes, flipping the bread over halfway through. For lighter color, remove it sooner. For darker color, leave it in the oven a bit longer.

Another way to cook toast in the oven is by using the broiler. This method works – but it requires you to pay very close attention. The broiler can take toast from perfect golden brown to burnt in a matter of seconds. If you do want to use the broiler, place the bread on a sheet pan. Put the sheet pan on a rack closest to the broiler and turn broiler on. Broil for 2-3 minutes; flip halfway through. As noted, keep a close eye on the bread if using the broiler! No one likes totally black toast – well, at least not me. Cheers!

On a side note, we’ve been using this toaster oven for almost 10 years now – it’s a workhorse of a kitchen appliance! Everything from toast to roasted broccoli to chicken nuggets have gone through that thing!

Toast Toppings

Once you’ve achieved that perfect slice of toast, then you have another decision to make. What do you put on top? For me, cinnamon toast or butter with a bit of blackberry jam will always be my go-to’s. However, I’ll go savory flavor with a scrambled egg and a bit of shredded cheese, too. Peanut butter, honey or Nutella are also excellent options for toast. And we can’t leave out the classic garlic bread!

Did you make this Toast at home? Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts. Or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog).

Looking for more recipes using bread? Check out these favorites:

Grilled Jerk Chicken SandwichSouthern Meatloaf SandwichesSous Vide Steak SandwichesThai Peanut Hummus ToastSlow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches

Oh, and Happy April Fool’s Day, my friends!

Toast

This recipe for perfectly toasted Toast is the best things since, well, sliced bread. Butter optional, but highly recommended. 5 from 13 votes Print Pin Rate Cook Time: 4 minutes minutesTotal Time: 4 minutes minutes Servings: 1 serving Calories: 151kcal Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• 2 slices of bread

Instructions

• Place both slices of bread into oven, toaster oven or skillet.
• Cook until toast reaches desired degree of doneness.
• If feeling really adventurous, add a bit of butter to toast while it’s still hot.
• {optional} Slice toast before serving.

Notes

Note: The type of bread doesn’t really matter.  We usually use wheat bread or occasionally white bread.  If you happen to have sourdough bread around, it’s fantastic when turned into avocado toast!  Challah is particularly good when topped with butter and jelly.

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