What You Need to Know
Toast is sliced bread that has been browned by radiant heat. The browning is the result of a Maillard reaction altering the flavor of the bread and making it crispier in texture. The firm surface is easier to spread toppings on and the warmth can help spreads such as butter reach their melting point. Toasting is a common method of making stale bread more palatable. Bread is commonly toasted using devices specifically designed for such, e.g., a toaster or a toaster oven. Toast may contain more acrylamide, caused by the browning process, which is suspected to be a carcinogen. However, claims that acrylamide in burnt food causes cancer have not been proven.
Steps
- 1.
Avocado Toast (Australia): Provides crisp base contrasting creamy avocado
- 2.
Pain Perdu (France): Revitalizes stale bread through caramelization
- 3.
Melba Toast (UK): Creates ultra-dry platform for delicate toppings
The Science
Primary Reaction
Maillard Reaction