Do you need toast for your to-go sandwich in the morning? Want a brown and crispy toast to go with your omelet? Toasted bread is a versatile food item but what if you don’t have a toaster? Can you toast bread in a microwave instead of a toaster?
Most types of microwaves are insufficient when it comes to toasting bread. Read on to find the effects of microwaves on your bread and how you can toast it in alternative ways.
Is it possible to toast bread in the microwave?
Unfortunately, you can’t toast bread in a microwave. The bread dries out and turns rubbery and stale as soon as it cools down. Heating in a microwave will dry burn the bread from the inside, without showing any exterior signs, giving no brown crunchy texture whatsoever.
Do you use a convection microwave? Perhaps an MWC24 or MC24? If so, then the answer to the above question is a big NO. Convection microwaves usually can’t toast bread because they heat the food from the inside out, not from the outside.
Convection microwaves usually draw out the moisture from the bread. This makes the bread not only extremely rubbery but also stale.
Since the microwave heats up food from the inside through electromagnetic waves, speeding up the water particles in the food to make it hot, the brown crunchiness of the toast is not to be expected. You can only achieve that crunchy delight through radiated heat that works from the outside.
Microwaves are the least suggested alternative for a toaster because of this mechanism. It is recommended that you toast bread using another medium such as simply heating it on a pan.
How can you toast bread without a toaster?
If you don’t have a toaster and are thinking of toasting bread in the microwave, think again! You should use an alternative method that provides the optimum heating temperature to achieve a dry, brown, and perfectly crisp piece of bread.
There are a variety of alternative methods to toast bread without a toaster. You can either slow toast it in the oven or heat it in a pan over the stovetop. For an even quicker substitute, you can quickly toast it under the broiler.
The directions to use these three alternative methods of toasting bread are detailed below.
1. Slow toasting in an oven
You can toast your bread either directly on the oven grates or you can place your slices of bread on a sheet pan. Only using the middle rack of the oven, heat it to approximately 350° F. You need to keep heating your bread for around 10 minutes and make sure to flip them halfway through. If you want darker and crisper toast, leave the bread in the oven for a bit longer. However, if you prefer a golden-brown toast then reduce the heating time. The best feature of this method is that the low heat gives you more control hence you can toast the bread to your preference.
2. Using a pan over the stovetop
This is one of the simplest and no-fuss methods for toasting bread. All you need to do is place a pan on the stovetop, heavy-bottomed preferably. Grease it with either butter or olive oil. Heat each side of the bread on medium to high heat for a couple of minutes until it’s as golden brown as you want it to be. If you want, you can also dry-toast the slices of bread in the pan.
3. Quick toast under the broiler
This is one of the quickest methods of toasting bread which gives you the crunchiest toast ever. Turn the oven to broil and place your slices of bread in a sheet pan. Heat the slices on the top rack that is closest to the broiler. The only downside of this method is that it quickly browns your bread so you need to keep a close eye on it. Heating for two minutes on each side of the bread will be more than enough for a crispy toast.
What is the difference between bread toasted in a microwave vs. in a toaster?
Both microwaves and toasters have different heating mechanisms resulting in bread with dissimilar textures. The texture is the key when it comes to toasting your bread.
A toaster heats your bread from the outside however microwaves heat from the inside which dries out your bread. Relative to microwaves, toasters reach a temperature where you can achieve a toasted flavor along with the browning of the bread.
That brown and crisp texture is what makes your toast complete. Therefore, if you want perfectly toasted bread, it’s better not to use a microwave. You can toast bread using a variety of alternative methods.
What does a microwave do to your bread?
Toasting your slice of bread in a microwave is similar to starting a fire with merely a pot of boiling water. In short, it usually reaps subpar results.
When your bread is heated with a microwave, it causes the starch in the bread to re-gelatinize which makes the texture of the bread initially soft, similar to plastic while it’s hot. When you let the bread cool, it quickly becomes chewy and rubbery.
A slice of bread that is rubbery would not be of any use to you. Therefore, it is advised not to toast your bread in a microwave. You will never achieve bread that is crispy and brown this way.
Is there a microwave that can toast bread?
Convection microwaves are the ones that are unable to toast bread if need be. However, there are other types of microwaves available in the market that can possibly toast your bread to the ultimate level of crispness.
A microwave and toaster oven combo can toast your bread while also performing the duties of a microwave. These are the optimum appliances to invest in. One appliance and multiple functions.
You should definitely invest in combo appliances for the ultimate experience. They will make your life easier by offering you many uses in just one appliance.
Still want to toast your bread in the microwave? Here’s how you can do it!
Desperate times call for desperate measures. If a situation arises where you have little to no options left, you can try toasting your bread in the microwave. It may result in an inferior quality of toasted bread but you’re free to try it out.
Place your slices of bread in a microwave-safe plate, elevate them on toothpicks, and heat them on medium to high heat for about 45 to 60 seconds. If the bread doesn’t turn out the way you want it to, use an alternative method.
The trick here is elevating your bread slices on toothpicks, details of which are explained below:
STEP 1: Place the slices on a microwave-safe plate
Place your desired number of bread slices on a microwave-safe plate. It is advised that you use a rimmed plate.
STEP 2: Stick toothpicks under the bread slices for elevation
For this step, you will need toothpicks that are double the quantity of your bread slices. Break these toothpicks in half. You will have to stick the pieces of toothpicks under the bottom right corner of the bread slice. For the bottom left corner, repeat the same process.
STEP 3: Elevate all the slices properly on the plate
Now you need to situate the top corners of the bread slice on the rim of the plate. This is to ensure that the bread is positioned above the surface of the plate. Once all the individual slices of bread have been elevated using this process, you may move on to the next step.
STEP 4: Heat up in the microwave
You should heat the slices of bread in your microwave for approximately 45 to 60 seconds. Use medium or high heat to warm the bread. Your bread should be somewhat toasted by now.
A word of advice here is to not repeat this process with the same slices of bread if they are not as warm or crispy as you want them to be. If you keep reheating the same pieces of bread over and over again, they will turn rubbery and dry.
Here’s a video on how to toast bread using a microwave oven with the grill option!
Concluding our views on toasting bread in a microwave oven!
You technically can’t but if you really want to then you can just pop your slices of bread in the microwave. This method will, however, result in an inferior quality stale toast. It’s better to either toast bread in an oven or a pan on the stovetop. You should invest in a microwave and toaster combo to remain hassle-free.