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Most of us routinely wake up too late or need to start working from too early, to be able to prepare a full breakfast spread every day.
However, even if warm scrambled eggs with bacon, or freshly squeezed orange juice are not possible – we should still be able to have some fresh toast. But what happens if you don’t have a toaster?
For those who have recently moved, or don’t have access to a fully-equipped kitchen, the lack of a toaster may feel devastating.
It doesn’t have to be: with a few tweaks, you can easily make your daily toast in the oven, in just a few minutes.
So how to use an oven as a toaster? The answer will depend on the kind of oven, but it’s still very easy!
How to Make Toast in the Oven
Depending on the type and model of your oven, you can use one of two methods. Both will yield perfect toast – but if you have a broiler set, the process will be significantly faster.
Making toast on an oven with a broiler set
A broiler set is an additional hot coil inside your oven. This allows for more intense heat, coming from both directions. This is invaluable when making toast!
Just follow these steps:
Arrange slices of bread on the broiler oven rack
If your oven has a broiler, it probably also came with a special rack meant to “reflect” the heat from the broiler better.
Arrange your slices of bread alongside the broiler oven rack. It’s okay if they touch each other, but don’t pile them up.
Set the temperature
Bread toasts really easily, and it is already cooked. Because of this, set the temperature dial to the lower or second-lowest position.
Pre-heat the oven
Let the coil start heating up by setting the timer for 3 minutes. Keep the bread outside while you do this.
Place the rack in place
In order to take full advantage of the broiling option, your bread should be as close as possible to the top heating coil.
Place the rack on the top position, as high as possible.
Set a timer for the desired toast color
This step will depend on how you like your toast. Set a timer for:
- 60 seconds if you want light brown toast
- 90 seconds if you want a darker, golden brown toast
Such small amounts of time may be hard to set using the oven’s timer dial. Don’t risk burning your toast and use your smartphone’s timer option instead.
Flip the slices
The broiler function provides heat from both sides, top and bottom. However, since you are using the top rack, your toast may be too pale on the bottom.
In this case, just flip it and let it broil for up to 30 more seconds
Now your toast should be done! You may not get the color of your toast exactly right the first time. You may need to add or subtract 10 seconds on each side.
Keep a sticky note around the oven and write down how much time it took per side, and what to tweak the following day.
Make toast on a standard oven (without a broiler)
If your oven does not have a broiler, you will need to use a slower method. However, the more sustained heat will also give you better control when making French or cinnamon toast.
Set the temperature
Set the oven’s temperature to 350 degrees, and let it pre-heat for 3 minutes. In the meantime, prepare the toast!
Arrange your tray
Place your toast in a single layer, on top of a sheet pan.
Place the bread in the oven
For more even results, place it in the middle rack. If you want quick toast, you can try the bottom rack instead – but you will run the risk to burn the toast from underneath (where you can’t see it from outside).
Set a timer for 3 to 4 minutes
The exact amount of time you need will depend on how dark you like your toast. For the first time, it’s better to go for a shorter time, check, and give it 20 or 30 more seconds if necessary.
PRO TIP: After you get it right, write down the total amount of time it took, and put it on a sticky note nearby.
Flip the slices
Take a pair of oven mittens, and gently slide the baking tray or sheet pan outside. Then, flip the slices and place them back in the oven.
Toast the other side
As the oven will be hotter now, you will only need to leave them for 1 or 2 minutes. Then, take a pair of oven mittens before you remove the toast from the oven.
The heating coils inside your oven often heat up progressively. If you need to make a second batch of toast less than 5 minutes later, you won’t need to preheat the oven again. You may also need to leave it for 30 seconds less.
Final thoughts
You don’t need a toaster for toasting the bread – your oven can do the job. Results may not be as precise the first time around, so make sure you take note of the times you use each time.
Pretty soon, you will have perfect toast without the need for any extra appliances!
