There’s nothing better than starting your day with a steaming hot cup of coffee and two slices of toast—gluten-free, bagels, sandwich bread, you name it. It’s an underrated breakfast really, especially since it takes no time at all to make. But if you don’t have a toaster on your kitchen counter, things get a little tricker. Not to worry, though, as there are at least seven ways around it. This article is all about how to toast bread without a toaster, with as little effort as possible. Some of these alternatives to toasters will probably surprise you...
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Use Your Stovetop
The most obvious way to make toast without a toaster is to use your stovetop. Grab any type of skillet (a cast-iron skillet works wonderfully well) and set it on medium heat (or medium-high heat). When it’s hot, place your slices of bread directly on it and cover, to lock in the heat. Cook the toast for 2 minutes on each side. You may want to leave it for longer if you like your toast more on the deep-brown side.
You don’t have to use any kind of cooking oil when following this method. However, spreading a pat of butter with a butter knife or a tablespoon of olive oil will add flavor to your toast. Plus, it will also evenly brown your bread.
Slow-Toasting in the Oven
You can also use your oven when you want to make toast. Preheat it to 350ºF and one it’s warmed up, place your bread on a grill rack or baking sheet pan in the middle rack. Make sure both the top and bottom heat sources are turned on. After about 5 minutes, flip each slice. After 5 more minutes, your toast will be ready to eat! Don’t forget your oven mitts to make sure you don’t get burned.
The main downside of this method is that it takes significantly longer than the one we just covered—10 minutes versus 4 minutes. But this may not be a dealbreaker if you’re not in a rush. It’ll give you enough time to get a brew going in your home coffee maker!
Toast Under the Broiler
If your oven has a broiler setting, you can use it to toast the bread relatively quickly. Turn the dial to start the broiler (on high, if your oven gives you the choice) and let preheat for about 5 minutes. Then, using your oven mitts, move the wire oven rack to the top-most position so that it’s as close to the broiler as possible. You’ll then want to place your bread on a baking sheet pan and slide it into the oven. After just one minute, you need to flip the bread and wait another minute or so for your bread to be toasted to perfection.
Take Down the Pancake Griddle
Do you already have a pancake griddle? If so, you could use it to toast up bread. The process is the same as on the stovetop: preheat the skillet and cook on each side for 2 minutes. It’s that simple.
The main advantage of using this process is that you can toast many, many slices at the same time. If you’re feeding your family in the morning, this is a great method to try out.
Use a Waffle Maker
If you have a waffle maker, you can also improvise and use it to toast bread. Again, preheat your waffle iron (medium heat is just fine), close it on your slices of bread, and let it cook for around 2 minutes. You can check on your toast to see if it needs to be cooked for longer or not. Sure, you'll get a funny-shaped piece of toast, but it's great for holding even more toppings!
Toasting in a Panini Press
You can make delicious grilled cheese sandwiches in a panini press, but you can also toast bread very easily. Plug your press into an outlet, wait for it to preheat slightly (on medium heat, if possible), put the bread on the hot plates, and let cook for between 2 and 4 minutes. You’re free to many any adjustments that you see fit, depending on how “done” you like your toast.
Make Toast the Bread in a Quesadilla Maker
Lastly, you could also use a quesadilla maker to make toast. All you have to do is follow the same steps I’ve outlined in this article: let it preheat, put the bread between the hot plates, close it, and wait for it to get done. Simple as that.
Special Recipe Ideas for the Perfect Toast
I am a firm believer in switching things up every other morning—and that includes how I eat my toast. You don’t have to just eat it with butter (even though that’s delicious). Instead, you can try new flavor combinations. And now that you know how to toast bread without a toaster, there's no excuse:
- Spread any kind of nut butter (i.e. peanut butter) on one side of your toast and add some slices of your favorite fruit on top. Banana and apple are two of my favorites. And why not also add maple syrup or honey, for a sweet kick?
- Sprinkle sea salt and red pepper flakes over your buttered toast, for an enhanced toast experience.
- Switch out the butter for extra-virgin olive oil (locally made, if possible). It’s healthier and gives you different healthy fats.
- Since we’re on that subject, half a sliced avocado on one side of your toast is delicious (and nutritious!). If you don’t love the flavor of avocado on its own, season it with sea salt and pepper.
- Lastly, if you’re a sweet-tooth kind of person, sprinkle some cinnamon sugar atop your buttered toast for a decadent breakfast.
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