We have a 4 slice toaster with a designated slot for a single slice.
A quick bit of research indicates that you should use it for singles slices because that’s likely where the thermostat is located. Otherwise without the bread in that slot, there is nothing to ‘shield’ the thermostat and it will likely pop up your toast early.
The owner’s manual for my toaster says that I should use the slot for a single slice but still turn down the toaster because it will tend to over cook.
What? I thought that was basically the purpose of the single slice slot; was to make toast without having to adjust anything.
Now here’s where things get really hinky (and the purpose of this thread in the first place). I was making eggs yesterday morning and my wife only wanted one slice of toast, and I wanted two slices. She put two slices in the side of the toaster where there was the ‘single slice’ designation, and the single slice in the slice where there is no such designation.
I promptly moved once slice of bread so that single slice side only had one slice, and the non-designated half of the toaster was full up.
In my mind there might be two thermostats (after all there are two levers for pushing the toast down); The half with the single slice designation is for anytime you’re using an odd number of slices.
In my wife’s mind you start at the single slice designation, and fill from there.
What’s the straight dope? Based on the fact that the instructions themselves say to turn the toaster down when toasting a single slice, I’m saying it’s basically the equivalent of the elevator button to close the doors on some elevators that don’t actually do anything.
Yes there’s a thermostat; but are there two thermostats? One for each toaster?
IOW, as I see it, it’s not really one toaster. It’s two toasters in one houseing. After all there are two two levers to push down toast; which implies two thermostats. There is not a “single slice” option on the ‘other’ toaster.
I emailed the toaster manufacturer. Hopefully I’ll get a reply.
So between that response, and the fact that the instruction book says to adjust the knob even if you do use the designated single slice slot; I’m going to agree with t-bonham@scc.net in that “I suspect the ‘single slice’ option is there just because buyers like that – it doesn’t really do anything.”
An easy way to test for a thermostat vs. a timer would be to cook multiple (probably 2 is enough) slices in succession and see if the time to pop-up decreases on subsequent slices.
If it uses a timer, then when toasting one slice, the heat from the unused side doesn’t get absorbed by the missing slice, so some of that heat drifts to the other side and helps toast the one slice. Result: slightly over-toasted bread.
If it uses a thermostat, it’s more complicated. The stray heat warms the thermostat faster so it shuts off faster. But the slice is also toasting faster. Depending on the conditions, this might mean under or overdone toast. The maker will know which based on tests. In any case, the inside is not going to be as warm as the two slice situation. Most noticeable when thawing a frozen slice.
So Cuisinart/Conair doesn’t even know their own product? Hmmm…
I too have pondered the great question about single toast placement. While playing with my toaster lately I noticed something(ya I was that board). While pushing down the toaster knob the mechanism that grabs and squeezes the bread closes first on the slot that is marked 1 slice only. I checked another toaster of a different brand and it did the same thing(yes life is so good I own 2 toasters). My guess is that without proper tension on the 1 slice only side, there could be a slight chance of the toaster not popping your toast up since it is spring loaded. Usually the single slice arrow is closest to the toast knob. I guess if I’m wrong I can still die happy knowing I own 2 toasters. Happy toasting!
