# One slice or two? Toaster question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 30, 2020, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-slice-or-two-toaster-question/919400 "2020-08-30T22:44:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Vesicant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/43a26b/32.png) [@Vesicant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vesicant)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-slice-or-two-toaster-question/919400/21 "2020-08-31T18:23:20Z")
Doesn’t anybody use a search engine anymore? > **[What happens if I don’t put my one slice of bread in the toaster’s ONE SLICE...](https://www.straightdope.com/21341939/what-happens-if-i-don-t-put-my-one-slice-of-bread-in-the-toaster-s-one-slice-slot)** > **[Why do toasters have a “ONE SLICE” slot?](https://www.straightdope.com/21341942/why-do-toasters-have-a-one-slice-slot)** > [@Why Does the Toaster Care?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-toaster-care/269773): > > I have a standard two-slice toaster, but when I want to make one slice of toast it has a nice little diagram telling which slot to put it in. Why does the toaster care which side I put my single slice of bread? > [@Does it really matter which side of the toaster you use?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-it-really-matter-which-side-of-the-toaster-you-use/514420): > > If you want to cook just one piece of toast (or a Pop-Tart et al.)? My toaster just like most of yours has a little icon showing where the single piece should go. How does the toaster “know” that that side is the one you’re going to use, much less whether you’ll actually use both sides, which supposedly cooks both equally. > **[When toasting a single piece of bread, why does it matter which slot you put...](https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/1998/mar/26/when-toasting-single-piece-bread-why-does-it-matte/)** ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-slice-or-two-toaster-question/919400/22 "2020-08-31T20:29:54Z")
I have a search engine and used it before posting. I searched the Dope, too, and saw those options. My question is NOT why toasters have a “one-slice slot”; it’s why my toaster says using one slot only (EITHER slot) will produce toast that’s darker on one side. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-slice-or-two-toaster-question/919400/23 "2020-08-31T20:37:02Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > While we’re on the subject, why do so many frozen dinners have a _Do not heat in a toaster oven_ warning? Where I’ve seen that warning, I’ve presumed it’s to prevent the plastic container from melting. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-slice-or-two-toaster-question/919400/24 "2020-08-31T20:44:15Z")
I’m up for this. I’ve just decided I’ll have toast and peanut butter for lunch - just one slice. Will report back! ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-slice-or-two-toaster-question/919400/25 "2020-08-31T20:54:50Z")
> [@rbroome](#): > > sounds like a perfect question for an experiment. What make and brand? I will try the experiment with my toaster as well. Everyone in the Dope needs to contribute data to this important question! Please report back on your results. 🙂 It’s a Keenstone. It had good reviews on Amazon. OK, in the name of science, I experimented. Toaster was set on 4 (out of 6). Pushed down the lever with the toaster empty. Heating elements glowed on each side of each slot. Put one slice of bread in one slot (There is no “one slice” slot.) Pushed down lever. Toast emerged toasty tan on one side, dark brown with traces of ebony on the other. ETA: I don’t use a toaster oven because it’d take up too much counter space. ---
**Author:** ![ThisIsTheEnd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisistheend/32/4713_2.png) [@ThisIsTheEnd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisIsTheEnd)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-slice-or-two-toaster-question/919400/26 "2020-08-31T23:40:42Z")
Are you saying that the same rules that applied to toast 50 years ago should apply today? ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-slice-or-two-toaster-question/919400/27 "2020-09-01T02:42:46Z")
Report: I put one piece of bread on the right hand side of my newish Sunbeam toaster. On first pop, the side facing into the middle of the toaster seemed more browned, but the whole thing looked like it could use more time. I reversed the bread and lowered the lever again - the second time it popped, it seemed pretty evenly well-toasted. So, results are inconclusive but suggest that toasting is fairly even. I’ll try again tomorrow on the other side. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-slice-or-two-toaster-question/919400/28 "2020-09-01T03:47:27Z")
A little bit off topic but I just want to pass along a good tip. When making a grilled cheese sandwich put both slices of bread in one toaster slot and toast lightly. When assembling the sandwich use the toasted sides for the inside of the sandwich. Grill as usual and you’ll have a nice crunchy sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-slice-or-two-toaster-question/919400/29 "2020-09-01T04:20:00Z")
> [@jjakucyk](#): > > [Technology Connections](https://youtu.be/1OfxlSG6q5Y), is that you? Alec caused quite a run on the Sunbeam Radiant Toaster market earlier this year. What was probably a five dollar Goodwill item is now selling for $200-400. ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-slice-or-two-toaster-question/919400/30 "2020-09-01T12:43:51Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > Alec caused quite a run on the Sunbeam Radiant Toaster market earlier this year. What was probably a five dollar Goodwill item is now selling for $200-400. Well he did buy three of them after all. 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-slice-or-two-toaster-question/919400/31 "2020-09-01T14:13:00Z")
Those were hard to find long before that. I always had my eye out for them at thrift shops and yard sales, and have found one (mine) in about fifteen years. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-slice-or-two-toaster-question/919400/32 "2020-09-01T14:55:19Z")
> [@Keeve](#): > > Where I’ve seen that warning, I’ve presumed it’s to prevent the plastic container from melting. But one would think 375-F is 375-F whether it’s in a toaster oven or a big 'ol oven. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-slice-or-two-toaster-question/919400/33 "2020-09-01T15:03:06Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > But one would think 375-F is 375-F whether it’s in a toaster oven or a big 'ol oven. If a toaster oven was designed without internal heating elements, that would probably be the case. The inside of the toaster oven could then be consistently 375 everywhere. But with heating elements, it is going to be hotter closer to the element. With toaster ovens being so small, the food will be inches away from the elements and will be absorbing a lot of radiant (light energy) heat. Ovens also have internal heating elements, but the the food is farther away and will be absorbing less of the radiant heat. It’s similar to how if you hold paper very close to a flame, it will catch fire. But if you hold the paper farther away, the paper will be fine. One way to make food packages safer in a toaster oven is to put some foil on the top and bottom. The foil will act as a heat shield and the food will be heated more from the surrounding air rather than the intense infrared heat from the heating elements. But the infrared heat is what helps with browning, so you may need to remove the foil after a while if you want the food to brown. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-slice-or-two-toaster-question/919400/34 "2020-09-01T15:17:33Z")
Thanks to the information and the results of Straight Dope Level scientific experiments, I’m now reasonably sure the two-slices-only thing is probably unique to this toaster. Since I don’t want to be constrained to two slices of toast–I’m all into, like, freedom, man–I’ve decided the toaster is going back. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-slice-or-two-toaster-question/919400/35 "2020-09-01T17:34:29Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > The real question is, why do people buy “toasters” when “toaster ovens” cost about the same and do so much more. Toasters take up a lot less counter space. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2020, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-slice-or-two-toaster-question/919400/36 "2020-09-02T01:10:12Z")
> [@Gary\_Robson](#): > > Toasters take up a lot less counter space. But you can’t bake potatoes in them. You can’t warm up croissants in them. And I bake my bagels, I don’t toast them, so I can only do them in a toaster oven. Mine has a setting for toast and a button that lets you control the number of slices (3 is good for 2 slices of toast.) A toaster probably makes toast better than a toaster oven, but is pretty limited. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2020, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-slice-or-two-toaster-question/919400/37 "2020-09-02T01:14:21Z")
All you say it true, but for those of us with limited counter space, a toaster oven is simply not an option. If I had unlimited counter space, I’d have all kinds of appliances I do without now. Since I don’t, I have to choose, and a toaster oven takes a back seat to a toaster and a coffee maker. I don’t have room to even _store_ a toaster oven. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2020, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-slice-or-two-toaster-question/919400/38 "2020-09-02T20:11:53Z")
"If a toaster oven was designed without internal heating elements, that would probably be the case. " Well, if the elements weren’t internal, wouldn’t that make it a heater? ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-slice-or-two-toaster-question/919400/40 "2020-09-03T00:55:23Z")
supposedly the heat in a toaster oven is too concentrated for the plastic tray … for some reason in a toaster oven the tray gets hotter faster than than the food … i n the “enlightened 🙄” region i live in they call toasters “ghetto or hood” ovens because a lot of the people in public type of housing supposedly will not have a working stove or oven (or even the gas turned on) but will have a toaster oven that the 10-year-old knows how to use better than the mom ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2020, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-slice-or-two-toaster-question/919400/41 "2020-09-03T01:28:28Z")
We use a toaster oven that takes up as much space as a medium size 2-slice toaster, and we used to have one that took up as much space as a small 2-slice toaster (I don’t think they are available here now). I see large toaster ovens in the shops, but I also see 3 sq ft toasters. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-slice-or-two-toaster-question/919400.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-slice-or-two-toaster-question/919400.md?page=3)