Questions about kitchen toasters
What is a toaster?
A: A toaster is a small electric appliance designed to expose various types
of sliced bread to radiant heat, browning the bread so it becomes toast.
In pop-up or automatic toasters, a single vertical
piece of bread is what?
A: Dropped into a slot on the top of the toaster.
A lever on the side of the toaster is pressed down to
do what?
A: To lower the bread into the toaster and activating the heating elements.
The length of the toasting cycle (and therefore the
degree of toasting) is adjustable via what?
A: A lever, knob, or series of pushbuttons.
When an internal device determines that the toasting
cycle is complete, what happens?
A: The toaster turns off and the toast pops up out of the slots.
The completion of toasting may be determined by what?
A: A timer or by a thermal sensor, such as a bimetallic strip, located close
to the toast.
Toasters may also be used to toast other
foods such as
what?
A: Teacakes, toaster pastry, potato waffles and crumpets.
Among pop-up toasters, those toasting two slices of
bread are what?
A: More purchased than those which can toast four.
Pop-up toasters can have a range of appearances beyond
just a square box and may have what?
A: An exterior finish of chrome, copper, brushed metal, or any
color
plastic.
The marketing and price of toasters may not be an
indication of what?
A: Quality for producing good toast.
A typical modern two-slice pop-up toaster can consume
how much power?
A: From 600 to 1200 watts.
Beyond the basic toasting function, some pop-up
toasters offer additional features such as what?
A: One-sided toasting, which some people prefer when toasting bagels.
Some toasters have the ability to power the heat
elements how?
A: In only one of the toaster's several slots.
Some have slots of various depths, lengths, and widths
to accommodate what?
A: A variety of bread types
What are toaster ovens?
A: They are small electric ovens that provide toasting capability plus a
limited amount of baking and broiling capability.
Similarly to a conventional oven, toast or other items
are placed on a small wire rack, but toaster ovens can do what?
A: Heat foods faster than regular ovens due to their small volume.
They are especially useful when the users do not also
have what?
A: A kitchen stove with an integral oven, such as in smaller apartments and
in recreational vehicles such as truck campers.
Conveyor toasters are designed to do what?
A: To make many slices of toast where constant or high-volume toasting is
required.
Bread can be toasted at what rate?
A: At a rate of 300–1600 slices an hour.
The doneness control on such a toaster adjusts what?
A: The conveyor speed, thus altering the time during which the bread is near
the heat elements.
Before the development of the electric toaster how was
sliced bread toasted?
A: By placing it in a metal frame or on a long-handled toasting fork and
holding it near a fire or over a kitchen grill.