What the settings on your toasters actually mean & it all depends on what model you have
FINDING the “right” setting on your toaster is often a matter of luck – the confounding controls often don’t seem to make sense.
There’s actually a different meaning behind the numbers on the side of the machine depending on how old – and how expensive – your model is.
The experts at Reader’s Digest revealed that if you always burn your toast, there are probably multiple dynamics in play.
“The moisture in the bread plays a huge factor in the final toasted product, and this varies from white to wheat, as well as how old your loaf is,” they wrote.
If you’re making breakfast for the whole family, residual heat could also be at play, building every time you put in a new piece of bread.
But in all likelihood, the culprit is probably those confusing numbers on the side of your toaster, which don’t indicate a timer, the experts explained.
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The most common type of toaster is a capacitor toaster, they wrote. A capacitor is a device inside the toaster that stores energy.
These models run on a circuit that cuts off once the capacitor reaches a specific voltage.
“So, the numbers on these toasters refer to a resistance rate, or the time it takes for the capacitor to charge,” the pros explained, which in changes how long the bread sits inside.
Meanwhile, if you have an older toaster that came with your home or was passed down by a family member, it’s probably a bimetallic strip toaster.
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In these models, the circuit within is completed by a bent strip of metal.
“When the heat gets too high, the bimetallic strip will bend to a point where it no longer connects to the circuit,” the experts said. Then, “out pops your toast.”
On these models, the numbers on the side control the level of electricity you’re using.
“A lower number means a higher electric current, which will heat up and cut off the circuit quicker and toast your bread only briefly,” the experts said.
Some people mistakenly believe the digits on their toasters indicate a timer, like a microwave or conventional oven.
In fact, that’s pretty rarely the case, the experts said. “Most timer toasters tend to be pretty expensive,” they explained.
It’s much more likely that your toaster is one of the traditional types – and most toasters you encounter will be, too, so use this information to conquer continental breakfast bars once and for all.