The Difference Between The Toast And Bagel Settings On Your Toaster

There is one food group that never goes out of style regardless of where and when you are eating it, and that's any type of carb you can put in a toaster. Bread, bagels, and toaster strudels all taste better once they've been warmed in this small appliance. But have you ever wondered about those bagel and toast settings? After all, if you want to make a perfect slice of toast, you have to know how to operate this contraption. So, are the two settings really different? The answer is yes, and it all has to do with the thickness of the bread item you are toasting.

The normal toaster setting browns the bread. The bagel button is used for meatier items like bagels, thick slices of brioche, and English muffins. These items take longer to warm and turn golden. When you use the bagel feature, the toaster will keep those slices between the heating elements just a little longer before they pop up. The heating elements also work a little differently with the bagel setting. Those closest to the inside of a cut bagel warm up a little more than those next to the outside surface. This way, the outside of the bagel doesn't burn and has a softer give when you sink your chompers into it, while the interior gets a nice warm crunch. 

According to Bobby Flay, the toaster is the most important appliance you have in your kitchen. However, it is important to note that toasters are not created equal. Different brands and models are engineered differently. It's always best to read the owner's manual before you start toasting. Of course, learning as you toast never harmed anyone either. You may burn a few pieces of bread in the process, but you will be wiser for it. 

But before you get overzealous with this new knowledge, remember this pro tip: You might need to check out your bread's quality before deciding what setting to use. How old a slice of bread is, how much moisture it has, and what type of bread it is can affect the shade of toastiness you may be looking for. Dry bread is going to brown quickly, so you might need a lower setting when toasting, and the same is true with a bagel that might be past its prime. In fact, toasting a stale bagel can revive it completely.