The Toaster

A toaster is a small machine found in many kitchens. It cooks bread with heat to make it crispy and warm. Most toasters have slots on top where you drop in the bread. In just a few minutes, you have a tasty piece of toast.

How a Toaster Works

Inside a toaster are tiny wires that get very hot when electricity flows through them. These wires glow red and toast the bread from both sides. A timer tells the toaster when to stop. Then the toast pops up so you can grab it. Most toasters let you pick how dark you want your toast.

History of the Toaster

The first electric toaster was made in 1893 in Scotland. Early toasters only cooked one side of the bread at a time. You had to flip the bread by hand. In 1919, a man named Charles Strite invented the pop-up toaster. His idea is still used in toasters today.

Fun Facts

• The first pop-up toaster went on sale in 1926.
• Some toasters can hold four slices of bread at once.
• People eat more than 300 million slices of toast every day around the world.

Did You Know?

The toaster was invented before sliced bread was sold in stores. People had to cut their own bread to fit inside.