ELECTRIC TOASTERS

Prior to the development of the electric toaster, bread was sometimes toasted by placing it into a metal frame and holding it over a fire. People have been eating bread for 6,000 years and have been toasting bread since the time of the Romans. Electric toasters have been in existence less than 100 years. Before we had electric toasters, bread was toasted over an open fire with the help of a variety of simple tools. Toasting bread makes it crunchy and preserves it. Thomas Edison harnessed electricity in the late 1800’s, but even after electricity was introduced in homes across America, the electric toaster was still not a feasible invention. Electric toasters must contain wires with the ability to reach very high temperatures without becoming damaged or starting a fire. Nichrome was invented in 1905 to make it possible to develop electric toasters. A variety of toasters was produced, and in 1919 the pop-up toaster was invented. Finally Americans did not have to stand and watch their toast. Toasters produced during the next several decades were not very different from the toasters of today. By the 1980’s, the slots of toasters had grown, enabling bagels and wider bread to be toasted. We also have toaster ovens. Toaster ovens are small electric ovens with a door on one side and a tray within. To toast bread in a toaster oven, you lay down slices of bread horizontally on the tray, close the door and turn on the toaster oven. When the toast is done, the toaster turns off but the door must be opened manually. Toaster ovens are capable of performing most of the functions of ordinary ovens, but on a much smaller scale. The fanciest toaster ovens now use computer controls instead of electromechanical controls.