Toast. Magnificent, isn’t it? Aside from being quick and easy to make, toast is oddly satisfying to eat given how utterly boring and uninspiring it is, if we are being completely honest about it. You know exactly what we mean though, don’t you?
After all, it’s just toast. There isn’t anything even slightly remarkable about it, given the fact that it is just plain old sliced bread, blasted under heat, and subsequently munched. But can you think of anything that hits the spot quite like toast, when the moment calls for it? No, you can’t. And neither can we.
The vast majority of the time, toast would probably be at the very bottom of a list of things that you fancy eating right now. Think about it. There are a whole host of food types that rank higher than toasted bread, in most people’s repertoire of food favorites. Pretty much everything ranks above toasted bread, most of the time.
A good steak or a burger. Mac and cheese or a pizza. A fine lobster Bisque or a lamb pastilla. The list is endless, and almost all of the time, a toast will be at the very bottom, or near it, of things you would like to eat at that very moment.
But occasionally, a strange thing happens when you toast bread. We don’t want to say that it calls to you somehow, because that would be insane. But it does, don’t you think? There are times when the only thing you fancy is perfect toast. No one ever said “wow, I really fancy a lobster bisque right at this moment,” but toast does exactly that, to all of us, from time to time.
It is one of those things that is hard to explain, but we think you understand exactly what we mean. Toast, sometimes, does the job and satisfies our hunger in a way that no burger, mac and cheese, or lamb pastilla, ever could.
But how do you toast bread in an oven? Well, the short answer is that you turn on the oven, and put sliced bread inside. But if you want us to go all rocket science about how to toast bread, be our guest. We will teach you how to toast bread the right way, step by step, through this post.
No Toaster?
Before we launch into our instructions for how to toast bread in the oven, we should of course address the glaringly obvious. So obvious, in fact, that we worry the following advice might even cause mild offense. But we are going to say it anyway, just for the purposes of clarity and transparency. Here it is.
You know you can use a toaster, right?
Of course you do. If you have successfully managed to navigate the internet to find out how to toast bread in the oven on this day, you clearly have the intelligence to grasp what a toaster is. We will assume it is broken, or maybe the toaster factory has gone on strike recently, causing a supply shortage. For whatever reason, you need to employ the services of a huge oven to toast bread, over the convenience of a small toaster.
Playful sarcasm aside, there could be a very good reason why you need to toast bread in the oven. Maybe you have a large breakfast to organize and need multiple slices. There is nothing quite so depressing in this world as a single-slot toaster when you need to toast 24 slices of bread. On that occasion, oven-toasted bread is a must, otherwise, you will spend the next 48 minutes staring at your single-slot toaster, willing it to toast quicker, drumming your fingers on the soon-to-be crumb-infested counter.
And the truth is – again, playful sarcasm aside – toasting bread seems to work out a little better when cooked at oven temperature. The bread is more evenly toasted and completes with a lovely outside crunch while staying reasonably light inside.
Garlic bread is also another appropriate occasion to bring out the big dogs, and use an oven rack for toasting bread. Actually, there are plenty of reasons. Toasting bread with cheese on top is another good call. Or maybe you have a really lovely oven and you like using it, who knows!
With that in mind, let’s get to it and describe in all of its glory, how to toast bread in the oven. The technique applies to both a regular oven and a small toaster oven.
Would it be fair to call this a recipe, and follow our usual format of ingredients and instructions, just for oven toast?
Why not, let’s do just that.
How to Toast Bread in Oven
Look no further for the best options to toast bread in the oven.
1ovenwith an oven rack, baking sheet, and baking tray
Bread slices
Instructions
Without a Broiler: How to Toast Bread in Oven (or Toaster Oven)
The oven method is slower but handy when you need a little wiggle room, like when you're simultaneously frying eggs.
Get out a baking sheet big enough to fit all the bread slices you wish to toast, and preheat your conventional oven to 350°F. Do not oil or butter it. That is a common mistake and one we would hate you to make.
On the baking sheet, arrange your preferred bread slices in a single layer. Place on the oven rack.
Slot the bread in the oven (don't forget the oven mitts), close the oven door, and bake bread on the baking sheet for 4-6 minutes, or until the top is crisp and golden brown. Your oven will determine the timing, or at least, it should do. If not, keep an eye on the time.
Once the top side of the slice is sufficiently golden brown, flip it over, put it back on the baking sheet, and again put the bread in the oven for an additional 4-5 minutes.
Remove, and serve your toasted bread with butter, if preferred.
Using the Broiler: How to Toast Bread in Oven
If you have the leisure to stand and observe for two to three minutes, use this broiler method instead for perfect toast. You must keep an eye on the toast though! To forget or neglect means to risk burnt toast tragedy.
In your oven, set the rack in the second from the top position.
Get a rimmed baking sheet big enough to hold all the bread you wish to toast and turn on the broiler. Don't oil or butter it. Again, common mistake, please don't do the same.
On the baking sheet, arrange your preferred bread slices in a single layer.
Slot the bread in the oven, and broil bread on the baking sheet for 1-1/2 minutes, or until the top is crisp and golden brown. Your oven's timing will determine when to bake the toast, as previously noted. If not, once again, keep 'em peeled.
When the top side has browned, take out the baking sheet lined rack, turn the slices over, and again put the bread in the oven for another minute or so.
You probably just want to munch your bread toasted nice and plain, maybe with a little butter. We do have a few little suggestions though if you want to make an occasion of it. And you should, you know. Toast deserves a little attention now and then! There are so many great toppings – too many to list – but we have one or two suggestions.
Goat cheese and berries mashed avocado is an office favorite here at Kitchen Community when we fancy a little snack cuisine. Add butter, garlic salt, and some cinnamon sugar to the cheese and avocado mash, and serve on golden brown toast with a drizzle of olive oil.
Fruit preserves make a great contrasting side snack. The savory crunch goes nicely with the sugary, soft fruit of your choice.
For simple but extremely tasty toast, just use a little softened butter. Works a treat, especially as a quick snack. Don’t go too heavy with the amount of butter, though. Too much butter can lead to soggy toast. For crispier toast, go very light indeed with the butter.
Garlic mushrooms are always a winner on toast, as is a little smoked salmon and scrambled egg. For a European flavor, you can even try adding baked beans in tomato sauce, which is an interesting but surprisingly tasty option.
Go Get Toasting!
We hope this post helps you arrive at toast magnificence! Good luck with your toasting mission, now go have fun experimenting with different toppings, and remember to keep an eye on it while it bakes! Enjoy!
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
