Ever happen to you?
That got us wondering.
When you set the dial to “2,” what exactly is it two of?
Olivia Tarantino/Eat This, Not That!
Two shades of brown?
While you might initially guess the answer is “minutes,” that’s not necessarily always the case.
A mechanical timer is what controls the browning time in toasters like these.
Olivia Tarantino/Eat This, Not That!
Capacitor Toasters
Most modern toasters use a circuit as a timer.
Bimetallic Strip Toasters
Older toasters have yet a different toasting method.
These models use a bimetallic strip which bends as it heats up.
DualitVideos/YouTube
Pushing the toast lever down connects and starts a circuit.
In this toaster, the dial controls how much electricity goes through this switch.
Which toaster do you have?
Here’s the kicker, though.
For starters, toasting depends on the moisture of your bread.
With timer-based toasters, this residual heat will cause your bread to toast faster during the same time setting.
