When it comes to kitchen appliances, the toaster setting is often a source of confusion and uncertainty for users due to its lack of clarity and inconsistency across different models, which necessitates consulting the user manual. Despite this, it appears that most toasters have higher settings than what people typically require.
Have you ever wondered why toasters come with such high settings? The reason behind this is that toasters are not only meant for making toast. Other items like bagels, English muffins, and thicker or denser slices of bread may need more toasting time to achieve the desired level of browning. Moreover, some individuals prefer their toast to be very dark.
The toaster setting can vary from person to person, as some prefer their toast burnt while others like it lightly toasted. This article will explore the true meaning behind toaster settings, situations where a higher setting may be necessary, and the enigmatic bagel setting.
Toaster Settings Explained
When purchasing a basic toaster for your first apartment, it is likely to have around six settings without any clear indication of their meaning, along with a cancel button to prevent over-toasting.
There are many myths surrounding the numbers on toasters, with some people believing they indicate timers or temperatures, while others think they are meaningless. However, as users, we tend to experiment with different settings until we find one that suits our preferences and then continue using it.
However, the meaning of toaster settings is subjective and varies greatly depending on the specific toaster being used, including those from the same brand; therefore, let’s explore some potential interpretations for these numerical values.
Toaster Numbers May Indicate the Passing of Time
For certain toasters, particularly toaster ovens, the numbers on the dial signify an additional minute of time.
Toasters with high settings utilize timers to regulate the heating components, and once you determine the required duration for your toast to be toasted, you’re good to go.
Toaster Numbers May Indicate the Brownness of the Toast
When it comes to the numbers on a toaster’s dial, they typically represent the level of brownness desired. For lighter toast, the lowest setting is used while the higher setting is reserved for darker toast.
Setting a toaster to a lower level results in shorter toasting time, while setting it to a higher level increases the duration of toasting, but it is not precise like a timer.
Without using a timer, toasters typically utilize circuitry that ejects the toast when a specific voltage level is attained, resulting in similar timing. Although not exact, this method allows for an estimated duration of toasting.
If you’re curious about the inner workings of a toaster, take a look at “How Toasters Work” on How Stuff Works for an explanation of how the circuits operate.
Toaster Numbers May Mean Very Little
For certain toasters, particularly older or less expensive models, the numbered settings are not reliable indicators of doneness, so it is advisable to monitor your bread closely. These toasters rely on a bi-metallic strip that bends due to internal heat and triggers the toaster’s automatic shut-off mechanism; while not cutting-edge technology, this method has been utilized in toasters for many years.
When the temperature of your house is lower, the heating strip in the toaster will take more time to heat up, which can result in burnt toast, whereas if you have already used the toaster, the strip will require less time to heat up, leading to lighter toast; hence, it is evident that with the bi-metallic string, achieving perfect toast can be quite challenging.
Toaster Numbers Don’t Indicate a Temperature Setting
Unless equipped with a temperature and time setting, the dial on a toaster, which usually has high settings, does not display an exact temperature.
Although the toaster’s highest temperatures can be reached with longer running time, the numbers on the dials do not indicate a gradual rise in temperature.
Toaster Numbers Aren’t Accurate Predictors of Brownness
The mechanism of a typical toaster is quite straightforward. Despite modern advancements, one might anticipate the inclusion of a sensor that gauges the level of browning or temperature and humidity of the bread, ultimately halting the toasting process once the desired outcome is achieved.
Regrettably, there is no such sensor available in household toasters. However, the positive aspect is that utilizing identical toaster settings in similar circumstances will generally produce a consistent degree of browning.
When to Use the Highest Toaster Setting
Although the highest setting on your toaster may not be necessary for everyday use, there are situations where utilizing a higher or even the highest setting could be beneficial.
Depending on your preferences, there are several food items that you may want to use a high setting on your toaster for.
Bagels
Dense bread
Thick bread
Moist bread
Bread made at home or by skilled craftsmen
Types of bread such as hot dog buns or hamburger buns
English muffins
Frozen waffles
Similar food items such as Poptarts and toaster strudels
Toast with a more intense color (naturally!)
For certain situations, you may need to utilize a higher setting than your usual preference on your toaster, depending on its type.
If you have not utilized the toaster yet on that particular day
If your home is cooler, it will take more time for the toaster to heat up.
If the item you wish to toast has been stored in the refrigerator or freezer, it may require a higher setting on the toaster.
How Does the Bagel Setting Work on a Toaster?
While not all toasters are equipped with a bagel setting, it is recommended that bagel enthusiasts opt for one that does have this feature; the specific functions of a bagel setting may differ depending on the toaster model, but typically involve one or more of the following actions:
Extend the duration of toasting
Adjusting the temperature of either the internal or external heating components can be raised.
Lower the heat of either the internal or external heating components
It is possible to deactivate either the internal or external heating component.
The high setting on toasters is useful for bagels as it enables you to preserve the toppings such as sesame seeds from burning while still achieving a well-toasted interior, and also avoids making the exterior of the bagel too hard in an effort to toast the inside completely.
If you want to utilize the bagel setting on your toaster, it is important to refer to the user manual and ensure that you insert the bagel into the toaster with its outer side facing the heating element that has been turned off or reduced in temperature.
How Much Do Toaster Settings Matter?
By and large, we tend to manage without comprehending the complexities of the settings on our toaster. Once we discover our preferred number, we seldom adjust that dial. In reality, numerous toaster consumers will insert their bagels and English muffins at the same level and merely operate the toaster twice instead of modifying the dial.
Ultimately, achieving the perfect toast is subjective and based on personal preference rather than a precise scientific process, so as long as the end result satisfies your taste buds, that’s all that really counts.
You can also check this video about “Why do Toasters Have Such High Settings?”
