How to Toast Bread Without a Toaster

Everyone loves warm, toasted bread, but what if you don’t have a toaster to make some? Good news: you don’t need one! You can make toast on the stovetop, in the oven, or even over a campfire if you’re spending a few nights under the stars, no toaster required. Read on to learn how!

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Toasting on the Stove Top

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Get a non-stick medium-sized skillet or a well-seasoned cast iron skillet. Place the pan on a burner and turn it on medium heat. Give it a minute or so to heat up.^{[1]XResearch source}
2
Spread butter on one side of the bread. While your skillet is heating up on the burner, use a butter knife to spread some butter on one side of your slice of bread.^{[2]XResearch source}
- Store your butter in a butter dish and keep it on the kitchen counter so that it’s soft and spreadable.
- If the knife is sticking to the bread too much, hold down a corner of the slice of bread with one of your fingers to keep it in place.
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Once buttered, place your slice of bread in the skillet. The buttered side should be the side that’s in contact with the skillet.^{[3]XResearch source}
4
Cover the bread for 2 minutes. Get a heavy pot lid and place it over the skillet for 2 minutes.^{[4]XResearch source} This will trap the heat in and make the bread toast faster.
- If your stovetop runs hot or you don’t want your toast to be crispy, put the heat on low.
Once the 2 minutes is up, take the lid off. Spread some butter on the side that’s still facing up while keeping it in the skillet. Then use a spatula to flip the slice of bread over.^{[5]XResearch source}
Put the lid back on the skillet and wait another 2 minutes. Then, use a spatula to move the toast from the skillet to a plate. Put whatever toppings or spreads you want on your toast and enjoy!^{[6]XResearch source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Broiling in the Oven

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The broiler is located near the top of the oven. Move the rack in order to make sure the bread is kept as close to the broiler as possible while in the oven.
There’s likely an “on” or “off” button for your broiler, but there may also be a “high” or “low” option. Press “on” and/or “high” and give the broiler about 5 minutes to warm up.^{[7]XResearch source}
3
Put the bread on a baking sheet and slide it onto the top rack. Put your slice of bread on an ungreased baking sheet. Place the baking sheet on the top rack so that it’s nearest to the heat.^{[8]XResearch source}
- If you don’t have a baking sheet, you can also carefully place the bread directly onto the oven grates.^{[9]XResearch source}
- Baking sheets are typically big, so this is a good option if you’re making several pieces of toast at once.
Keep a close eye on the bread. The broiler’s high heat will make the toast desirably crispy, but may also burn the toast if left unattended. Use some oven-safe tongs to flip your slice of bread after one or two minutes have passed.
Once another one or two minutes have gone by, put on some oven mitts and take the baking sheet out of the oven. Use tongs to move the toast from the sheet to a plate and put on any spreads or toppings that you want.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Slow-Toasting in the Oven

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Set your oven to a lower temperature setting, ideally 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176.7 degrees Celsius). Wait until you hear the oven beep to put in your bread.^{[10]XResearch source}
Put the baking sheet on the oven rack that’s most centrally located in order to toast the bread evenly.^{[11]XResearch source}
After five minutes have passed, open the oven door and use tongs to flip your slice of bread onto its other side.
4
Take the bread out of the oven after another 5 minutes. Make sure to wear oven mitts when you take the baking sheet out. Use the tongs to bring the toast from the baking sheet to your plate. After putting whatever spreads or toppings you want on your toast, it’ll be ready to eat.
- Try a classic spread or topping, such as peanut butter, nutella, or cinnamon and sugar.^{[12]XResearch source}
- If you want to get a little more creative, top your toast with fig jam, goat cheese, and walnuts or hummus and olive tapenade.^{[13]XResearch source}

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Making Toast on a Campfire

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If you don’t have a fire pit available to you, pick a spot to build your fire that doesn’t have loose dirt, grass, or debris. Also make sure not to pick a spot that is near any low-hanging branches.^{[14]XResearch source}
2
Start a fire. Place some big rocks in a circle immediately around where your fire will be. Lay tinder, such as paper strips, and kindling, such as twigs or cardboard, inside the circle. Light the fire with a lighter and blow on it softly until it catches and spreads. As the fire grows, add more kindling, followed by small logs, and eventually larger logs.^{[15]XResearch source}
- If you struggle to keep the fire going and growing, try lighting several different pieces of kindling and tinder at the same time.
3
Put a grill rack and a cast iron skillet on the fire. Once the campfire is established, add some charcoal to the fire and then carefully place a grill rack in a stable position over the fire. Then place a medium or large cast iron skillet on top of the grill rack.^{[16]XResearch source}
- If you wish to add some flavor to your toast, put some butter in the skillet and let it melt. You can also use leftover bacon grease if you’re making bacon as well.
Place your slices of bread flat in the skillet. You can put as many slices as will fit in the skillet without any overlapping.
Campfires can be a little less predictable than toasters, stoves, or ovens, so flip the bread with tongs after 20 or 30 seconds to see how quickly the bread is toasting. Flip the bread again after another 30 seconds or so and flip it a few more times if necessary. Use the tongs to remove the toast from the skillet once both sides appear to be equally browned.
Once you’re done enjoying your campfire, fill a big bucket with water and dump it onto the fire to put the fire out. Stir the embers with a stick while you do this to ensure that all of the coals get wet. It’s safe to leave the area once you no longer hear a “hissing” sound coming from the embers and ash.^{[17]XResearch source}

Community Q&A

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Question
Can I dip the bread in egg?
Thando
Community Answer
Yes, whisk 2 eggs with a bit of milk and salt to taste, then dip your slices of bread and fry until the egg/bread changes colour. Be careful not to burn it.
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Question
Can I dip bread in milk?
Shiloh Goodwin
Community Answer
You can dip bread in milk. Sometimes the bread might be a little thick and dipping it in milk will soften it up, if you like soft bread.
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Question
What if the bread is frozen, do I need a toaster then?
Shiloh Goodwin
Community Answer
You may need to fix the bread in the toaster a little longer than usual. But don't fix it too long or else it'll burn.
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Warnings

Always take the necessary safety measures when building a fire.
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Make sure to turn off the stove top burner and/or the oven when you’re done using it.
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