Toast in a breakfast staple around the world. Not only is it quick and easy to make, but you can also personalize them in different ways, which means it appeals to a variety of taste buds. However, making toast can sometimes be as frustrating as it is easy – especially when it doesn’t fit into your slots in your toaster.
Your toaster is too small for your bread because it’s the wrong size. Pop-up toasters come in different sizes, with slots of varying lengths. If your slots are too small, you can buy a new toaster, trim off the excess bread before toasting, insert the toast horizontally, or buy smaller bread.
This article will look at the different toaster sizes and better examine what to do if the slots are too small. It’ll also look at the difference between a pop-up toaster and a toaster oven and help you decide which is suitable for your needs.
Understanding Pop-Up Toaster Sizes
You should pay attention to two significant factors when considering the size of the pop-up toaster you’re buying – the number of slots and the length and depth of the slots.
Pop-up toasters are generally available in 2-slot and 4-slot variations. If you’re looking for a bigger option that can toast more slices of bread simultaneously, you’ll likely have to opt for a toaster oven instead.
The other consideration to keep in mind is the length of the slots on the toaster. Most pop-up toasters tend to fit regular sliced bread. However, if you prefer artisanal bread or your favorite brand of bread makes extra long slices, you’ll need to opt for a toaster that has been specifically designed to accommodate these pieces of bread.
Such toasters are often known as long-slot toasters, which is how you can distinguish them from regular options. These appliances are a minimum of 10 inches (25.4 cm) in length, allowing them to accommodate longer slices of bread that would otherwise remain untoasted.
I recommend trying the IKICH Long Shot Toaster from Amazon.com. The slots are 10 inches (25.4 cm) in length and are also 1.5 inches (3.81 cm) in width, making them great for accommodating thicker slices of bread. Additionally, this toaster can also be used to toast other bread foods, including sourdough bread and English muffins.
Toasters are also available in varying depths. However, unlike long-slot toasters, these aren’t usually advertised as such, which means you’ll have to look at each toaster’s technical specifications to determine which meets your needs perfectly.
I recommend the BUYDEEM DT-6B83 4-Slice Toaster from Amazon.com. According to its technical specifications, it’s just over 11 inches (27.94 cm) in height, ensuring the slots are deep enough to fit taller breads. Additionally, it’s available in three different colors, and the retro design means that it’ll look great sitting on your countertop!
What Do I Do if the Slots on My Toaster Are Too Small for My Bread?
It can be challenging to realize that the pop-up toaster you thought was perfect for your kitchen doesn’t actually fit your preferred brand of bread. However, this doesn’t mean all hope is lost and you have to invest in a new appliance.
If the slots on your toaster are too small for your bread, try trimming the bread down to size. Alternatively, if you have a long slot toaster, try placing the toast horizontally instead of slipping it in vertically. Make sure that the lever is working correctly, or consider buying smaller bread.
Let’s examine these options in detail.
1. Trim the Bread
If there’s only a slight overhang, you should consider trimming your bread slices down to size.
Trimming is especially a great option if you’re someone who doesn’t like the crust, and doing it is the perfect excuse to get rid of it!
2. Place the Bread in Horizontally
How do you drop a slice of bread into your toaster? Most people drop it in length-wise – that is, with the narrow end at the bottom of the toaster.
However, if there’s a significant overhang, and you own a long-slot toaster, change the orientation of the slice. Place it with the broader sides towards the top and bottom of the toaster to allow for more bread to fit inside the appliance.
3. Check the Lever
Most toasters are designed to accommodate a slight overhang when you first place toast into the appliance – essentially, you want your bread to fit inside the machine fully after you push down the lever. It’s only if you still have bread popping out after you do so that it becomes an issue.
However, occasionally, your toaster lever may stop working. If this is the case with your toaster, unplug it and try troubleshooting the issue.
Some solutions you can try include:
- Clean your toaster.
Breadcrumbs may be stuck in the slot, preventing the lever from staying down completely. - If you’re confident in repairing it, try opening it up to see if there’s a broken part.
Only do this if you’re fully confident, as you may damage your toaster further otherwise. - Replace the toaster.
If you can’t identify the issue with your toaster lever, you’ll need to replace it with a new appliance.
I have an in-depth article covering how to fix a broken toaster lever.
4. Buy Smaller Bread
If none of the above solutions work and you love your pop-up toaster too much to change appliances (or if your budget is tight at the moment), try switching to a different brand of bread.
Like toasters, bread is available in various sizes. If the bread you’re buying is too long, try finding a different option that’s shorter and fits your toaster better. You may even be able to find an alternative from the same brand. If you buy artisanal or handmade bread, ask your provider if they have smaller options that are easier for you to use.
Is a Pop-Up Toaster Right for Your Needs?
A pop-up toaster isn’t the only toaster option available to you. One alternative that most people don’t usually consider is the countertop toaster oven. You can buy them in larger sizes than regular pop-up toasters, and they can be used for several different foods aside from bread.
A pop-up toaster is right for your needs if you’re looking for an appliance for bread such as toast, bagels, or English muffins. If you want a more versatile option or need a larger device to meet your daily toast needs, you should opt for a toaster oven.
Let’s look at the main differences between the two appliances to determine which is better suited to your requirements.
Pop-Up Toaster vs. Toaster Ovens: Size
Pop-up toasters tend to be significantly more compact than their toaster oven counterparts, especially if you’re looking for a basic, 2-slot pop-up toaster. Additionally, they’re lightweight and easy to store if you have limited counter space, and most pop-up toasters will fit in a standard kitchen cupboard or cabinet.
Toaster ovens, on the other hand, are available in a variety of sizes. There are two options to choose from – the countertop and the mounted variations. The countertop toaster oven is exactly what it sounds like – a toaster oven designed to sit on your countertops. However, a mounted toaster oven must be mounted into a cabinet or below a countertop, which means it cannot be moved.
It’s possible to find a countertop toaster oven that’s small and lightweight. However, by doing so, you sacrifice capacity, which is one of the biggest advantages of opting for a toaster oven.
Pop-Up Toaster vs. Toaster Ovens: Capacity
Pop-up toasters are generally available in 2-slot or 4-slot varieties, which means you can only toast a few slices of bread at a time. On the other hand, toaster ovens can easily accommodate up to 9 or 10 pieces of bread, depending on their size.
Additionally, most toaster ovens are designed to have enough space for other types of food, including whole chickens and frozen pizzas. This ensures their versatility as an appliance, allowing you to use it for a host of functions.
Pop-Up Toaster vs. Toaster Ovens: Functionality
Pop-up toasters aren’t simply limited to toasting slices of sandwich bread – they can also be used for sourdough bread, bagels, and English muffins. If you use toaster bags, you may even be able to use them for grilled cheese sandwiches or reheating a pizza slice.
If you’re looking for toaster bags for your pop-up toaster, I recommend the Yoocool Non Stick Toaster Bags from Amazon.com.
These bags are completely reusable and can be washed in warm water between uses. They’re available in sets of 4 and 10, so you can have enough to get the whole family’s breakfast ready at once.
Toaster ovens, however, can do everything a pop-up toaster can and more.
Additional ways of using a toaster oven include:
- Baking potatoes
- Baking various desserts, including cakes and cookies
- Reheating frozen foods and leftovers
- Cooking fresh foods
- Making gooey open-faced sandwiches that would ruin your pop-up toaster
- Roasting both meats and vegetables
Pop-Up Toaster vs. Toaster Ovens: Price
When making any purchase, the budget is one of the most important things that a person considers. Choosing between a pop-up toaster and a toaster oven is no different.
Pop-up toasters are undoubtedly the more affordable option, and you’ll easily be able to find a great appliance in the $20-$100 price range. On the other hand, toaster ovens tend to be a little more expensive, starting at about $50, with most models going up to $300.
You can, of course, find appliances more expensive than the mentioned price range. However, most individuals will find that they can find a serviceable and effective option that falls within it.
Conclusion
Pop-up toasters are available in varying sizes, and if it doesn’t fit all of your toast, chances are you’re using a smaller model than appropriate. You can address this issue without buying a new appliance by:
- Trimming the bread
- Buying smaller bread
- Checking if the lever is working
- Placing the bread horizontally instead of vertically
However, if none of these options work for you, you may have to opt for a new toaster altogether. You can choose between a regular pop-up toaster and a toaster oven. Pop-up toasters are more compact and affordable; toaster ovens offer greater functionality and capacity.
Hi all! I’m Cora Benson, and I’ve been blogging about food, recipes and things that happen in my kitchen since 2019.