# Toaster

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toaster/50095>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 15, 2001, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toaster/50095 "2001-01-15T05:47:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![suziek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8491ac/32.png) [@suziek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suziek)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toaster/50095/1 "2001-01-15T05:47:56Z")

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Does anyone know why you have to put a single slice of bread in the side with the arrows? This may answer my second question: I have a brand new toaster that pops up before the bread is toasted. It’ really making me mad. Can I fix it???

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toaster/50095/2 "2001-01-15T05:53:51Z")

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As to why your toast isn’t toast yet–without trying to sound condescending, there is an adjustment knob that goes from “light” to “dark” --try setting it more toward “dark”.

Putting the single slice in the side with the arrows, allows the toaster to electrify only one side, saving energy. This is a WAG.

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**Author:** ![suziek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8491ac/32.png) [@suziek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suziek)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toaster/50095/3 "2001-01-15T06:15:46Z")

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Of course I know there is a slide button. I would venture to say that anyone who grew up in America is familiar with a toaster slide button. Kind of an insulting response. Also, even when I put in one slice, both sides get hot. Just forget it. I’ll try a handyman forum or something.

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**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toaster/50095/4 "2001-01-15T06:24:28Z")

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Didn’t Cecil address this already? Ah yes, [here it is](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_288.html).

As he says, the side with the arrows is nearest the thermostat. I suspect that in addition, if a slice of bread is not present in that slot, there will be additional convection (more open air), causing the thermostat to get more cooler air around it and cook the toast longer.

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**Author:** ![RM\_Mentock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2001, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toaster/50095/5 "2001-01-15T08:53:27Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by CurtC \*  
> \*\*As he says, the side with the arrows is nearest the thermostat. I suspect that in addition, if a slice of bread is not present in that slot, there will be additional convection (more open air), causing the thermostat to get more cooler air around it and cook the toast longer. \*\*

Or, as Cecil suggests (he waffles), the other way around: the toast cools the thermostat, so if you put it in the wrong slot, the thermostat would heat too quickly, and your toast will be underdone.

That sounds like it would answer suziek’s question, too (some of these things take time, suziek).