"One slice" marking on older toasters

[fan-of-fans]

I've noticed often on older toasters that one of the slots is marked "One Slice" (two slots on four slice toasters with two levers).

Does anyone know why toast should be placed in one slot? I guessed maybe the thermostat is closest to that slot, so would prevent over browning to have the toast in that particular slot.

I have not noticed this on any of the newer toasters.

 

[thomasortega]

I have a fairly new Kitchenaid toaster and it has the "one slice" indicator.

 

[turquoisedude]

In the case of the 'automatic beyond belief ' Sunbeam radiant-control toasters, a single slice had to be dropped in the slot where the trip mechanism was otherwise the toast cycle would not start.

 

[gizmo]

There is a good reason for that "one slice" marking.

The best toasters (IMHO) have a sensor that "reads" the colour of the toast or the heat being re-radiated off the toast. The slot with the sensor is the one marked for the single slice. Your setting stays true even if you use frozen bread, white/wholemeal/gluten free, whatever.

When I was a kid we had a Mitsubishi toaster that had a colour sensor. (in 70s orange and chrome...) It made perfect toast every time, and lasted for decades. Best toaster I've ever seen. Back when Japanese home appliances were a novelty.

 

Most modern toasters run for a time, you adjust the time and cross your fingers.

 

[fan-of-fans]

"I have a fairly new Kitchenaid toaster and it has the "one slice" indicator."

Interesting, I have a newer Kitchenaid as well and it doesn't have that. It has the auto lower/raise, but as far as I can tell works the same as the lever version. It may be "fun" but it takes forever to brown anything - the heating elements don't even glow red, merely heat up!

"There is a good reason for that "one slice" marking.

The best toasters (IMHO) have a sensor that "reads" the colour of the toast or the heat being re-radiated off the toast. The slot with the sensor is the one marked for the single slice."

Ah, so that's what I figured then. Putting a single slice in that slot makes for a truer shade because the sensor is there.

I looked on eBay and the vintage Proctor Silex and GE toasters all had the one slice notation. I think my grandmother's 80s or early 90s ish chrome Proctor Silex did as well. My mother has a newer Hamilton Beach cheapie chrome toaster and it does not have that. Neither does my Kenmore Elite 4 slice.

 

[thomasortega]

Fan-of-fans

Your KA toaster is older than mine and a higher end model (KA no longer has toasters with auto lower)

Mine came right after that and it's way below that Pro Line.

I love it because it's fast. It glows red. First batch is always super perfect, browning is even. At this point it's actually the best toaster i've ever had. No matter if the bread is at room temperature or frozen (press the frozen button) the results are always very accurate. What i HATE about it is that the second batch has a very thin line between "albine bread" (setting 1) and "somebody please call 911 and grab a fire extinguisher". (setting 2)

I actually NEVER managed to make two batches were the second batch did NOT look like a bread-shaped piece of charcoal and my kithcen filled with black smoke.

Also, the "reheat" button, forget... It should be called "blow torch". In 10 seconds it incinerates the bread.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Mine isn't as fancy as the Pro Line. It's an Architect model, stainless steel color on top, front and back, with a kind of light bronze color on the side panels (cocoa silver might be the name?) Has four slots with two start buttons, blue digital displays for each side.

I think it's about 5 years old, I got it used. But looks like they never used it at all. It isn't quite like the Pro Line where you just put the bread in and it lowers, it has a start/stop button you have to press first.

I wasn't aware the Pro Line was discontinued. I'm sure they didn't sell many of those since it was like $500 for the four slice and $200 for a two slice which is insane for a household toaster. I guess it's above my pay grade.

 

[lowefficiency]

>> What i HATE about it is that the second batch has a very thin line between "albine bread" (setting 1)
>> and "somebody please call 911 and grab a fire extinguisher". (setting 2)
>> I actually NEVER managed to make two batches were the second batch did NOT look like a
>> bread-shaped piece of charcoal and my kithcen filled with black smoke.

A lot of cheap toasters now have no temperature sensor of any kind - they have been cost-optimized down to an electronic timer, and that's it. Selecting a darker setting simply adds a pre-determined amount of time. Some of these junk toasters attempt to compensate for the preheated start on the second batch by shortening the timer period, but it will only ever be a calibrated guess by the electronics, so the results will be unpredictable as so many outside factors are unaccounted for.

On one hand, it's hard to be *too* critical, because it's rather amazing that a brand new toaster can be had from numerous sources for less than 10 bucks. But on the other hand, if they had spent even fifty cents more on each toaster, they could have improved the product so much. It's a huge step-change in the results for such a little difference.

That's what the race to the bottom has done for us.

 

[ea56]

Get  a Dualit!  

 

You have complete control over the toasting time.  There is a timer and you select the time you want.  They suggest preheating the toaster for 1 min before the first batch, which I do.  

 

I originally thought that this kind of toaster would be a PITA, but I was wrong.  It actually makes perfect sense to give the user control over the toasting time, rather than the toaster.  You can lift the toast with the handy lever during the process if you think the toast may already be done to your liking.  

 

They are expensive and worth it.  I bought mine used on ebay,  It was in excellent condition.  I paid  $89.00 free shipping.  I’m hoping it will be the last toaster I ever need to buy.  All the new toasters are mostly junk from China.

 

Eddie

Dualit Classic Toasters

Explore Dualit's Classic Toasters, hand-built in the UK with timeless design, unique ProHeat elements, and fully repairable parts for longevity.

www.dualit.com

 

[anthony]

i have a Morphy richards toaster from

1965 .When bread is placed in the one slice slot only one set of elements heats up