Most people prefer toasting their bread before eating. They prefer the crisp, brown, and tough texture toasting brings.
On the other hand, some persons are not entirely sold on this toasting thing. They prefer to consume their bread plain, though with other things.
For those that love to toast their bread, there’s a general belief that the heat produced by the toaster could destroy bacteria.
If you’re among people who believe toasting bread can help get rid of bacteria, you’re on the right post to get clarity on the issue.
Here’s what you need to know about toasting bread to kill bacteria.
Can a Toaster Get Hot Enough To Kill Bacteria?
Firstly, know that toasters can get very hot to the extent that bacteria cannot survive the heat inside the appliance. But don’t be confused. Some bacteria can survive high temperatures, although there’s a limit.
When you boil or heat foods using a toaster or oven, bacteria won’t be able to stand the heat inside these appliances. The temperature will increase to a level where the bacteria can’t handle the heat.
How toasters work shows why bacteria won’t survive when the appliance starts working. When you turn on the power toaster, energy is produced when electricity flows into the appliance.
The energy generated causes friction inside the toaster as the bread’s or food’s molecules start moving faster. That’s how toasters work.
Understand that the toaster utilizes infrared radiation, which dries up the bread’s surface. The temperature of this radiation could increase and eliminate the bacteria.
Now, how hot can a toaster get to kill bacteria?
First, keep in mind that toasters can get super hot. The temperature inside the toaster can range from 150 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
A temperature of 150 degrees Fahrenheit can eliminate bacteria. Bacteria also depend on a wet environment to thrive. So, they can’t increase in number when the food or bread is dry.
Here’s why bacteria have a small chance of surviving in the toaster. The heat generated by the appliance dries up the bread, making it unfavorable for bacteria to thrive.
The heat can damage the bacteria’s cells, change their enzymes and even alter their membrane. And when all these happen, the organism won’t have the ability to function, as it should.
Does Toasting Bread Kill Yeast And Germs?
Let’s start with the yeast. Yes, toasting bread can help eliminate the yeast, but the temperature is the main factor.
Normally, yeast is eliminated at 130 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature generated inside the toasters ranges from 150 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
So, when you toast your bread at 150 degrees Fahrenheit, there’s a high chance that the yeast will be eliminated.
Again, the temperature used in baking bread is approximately 200 degrees Fahrenheit, which eliminates the yeast. But before the live yeast is killed, it causes the dough to rise.
Now let’s discuss the possibility of toaster killing germs.
Can toasting kill germs?
Well, yes, toasting can eliminate germs. Just heat the bread at over 150 degrees Fahrenheit for 16 seconds or more and the germs will be gone.
However, you must ensure that the heat touches all the sides of the bread. Ensure there’s no cold spot on the bread. Otherwise, you won’t eliminate all the germs.
So, toasting can kill yeast and germs, but it depends heavily on how hot the toaster gets.
In other words, the temperature at which you’re toasting your bread plays a massive role in deciding whether the yeast or germ will be eliminated.
Can You Eat Moldy Bread If You Toast It First?
The straightforward answer is No. You can’t consume moldy bread after toasting for health reasons.
Why? Toasting the bread will help to get rid of the mold. But unfortunately, the deed has already been done. The mold would have released heat-stable toxins and toasting won’t eliminate the toxins.
So, please don’t consume toasted moldy bread. The toxins left by the mold are not visible to the eyes. Thus, you can’t tell if they were eliminated. Eating such bread can cause big health issues for you.
How To Clean a Toaster With Cheese in It?
Cleaning after heating cheese in a toaster can be a chore. As the cheese melts, it would stain the inside of the toaster oven. So, if you fancy grilled cheese, prepare it on a stove instead of the toaster.
However, if you choose to prepare your grilled cheese on a toaster, use the following tips to clean the appliance.
Tip#1: Unplug the appliance:
The first step is to disconnect the toaster from the electricity supply to eliminate the chances of getting electrocuted.
Pull your toaster’s plug away from the power outlet before starting the cleaning process.
Tip#2: Give the toaster and cheese time to cool down:
Don’t kick-start the cleaning process when the toaster is still hot. You could hurt yourself in the process.
Give the toaster some time to cool down before you start the cleaning. Let it also cool down on its own.
Another reason to let the toaster oven cool down is the cheese. It is easier to clean the cheese once it has solidified than when it hasn’t solidified.
Tip#3: Remove the crumbs:
Cleaning grease inside a toaster is much easier when you take out the crumbs first. So take steps to remove the crumbs in the toaster before focusing on the grease.
To remove crumbs, take the toaster outside and have it flipped over. The bottom of the toaster should be facing you, while the electrical grates should face the bottom.
Now shake the toaster vigorously. You’ll see the crumbs falling off.
Tip#4: Utilize a wooden spoon or spatula:
Since the toaster has cooled down, the grease should have solidified. Now take a wooden spoon or spatula.
Use the handle of the spoon or spatula to remove the grease. But be careful. Don’t exert too much force. Otherwise, you may damage the inside of the appliance.
Now flip the appliance over and shake vigorously to remove the grease.
Step#5: Use a brush:
You may have removed most of the grease at this point. Unfortunately, the goal is to clean the appliance completely, not partially.
In this step, you’ll require a brush. Move the brush into tight angles and remove grease from your toaster.
Note that this process can be time-consuming, but it is necessary to ensure your toaster is clean.
Step#6: Fill up the sink with warm water:
To remove grease or oil, try using warm water.
Now plug the sink and fill it up with warm water. Pour a few drops of dishwasher detergent and mix the water to enable it to lather quickly.
Step#7: Remove the toaster tray:
If your toaster’s tray is removable, please remove it. Take the tray out to prevent crumbs from spilling over your kitchen and flip it over.
Now, place the tray in the sink filled with warm water and wash it thoroughly. You can choose to wash with a brush or cloth.
After washing, rinse the tray multiple times to remove the detergent. Again, do not mount the tray in the toaster immediately after washing.
Give it time to dry up before placing it in the toaster.
Step#8: Mount the tray in the toaster:
Now that the tray has dried successfully, you can mount it in the toaster. After mounting, put on the toaster to see if it is still working.
Can You Put a Toaster in The Dishwasher?
The straightforward answer is No. You cannot put a toaster in a dishwasher or a sink filled with water. The reason you can’t is simple. A toaster is an electrical appliance with coils and components that could get spoiled when water touches them.
So, using a dishwasher to wash your toaster is an easy way to damage your appliance. Again, when water enters the internal components of the toaster, you run the risk of being electrocuted.
Only use water to clean outside the appliance and ensure the water doesn’t enter the appliance. You can also utilize water to wash the crumbs tray.
Can You Put a Toaster Oven On Top of a Microwave?
Yes and no! “Yes,” if you plan to use a protective material on top of the microwave before placing your toaster. “No” if you plan to place the toaster directly on the microwave.
Directly placing a toaster on a microwave can be a disaster for both appliances. Your toaster could slip and fall off the microwave. There’s also a possibility of heat transfer from the toaster to the microwave.
So, before placing a toaster on a microwave put a protective mat (heat or fire-resistant material) on top of the microwave.
Can You Put a Toaster Oven in a Cabinet?
Yes, you can. But before doing such, please hear us out. But keep in mind that you can’t place certain toaster ovens on a cabinet because of how they work.
Some toaster ovens generate too much heat to make placing them directly on a wooden cabinet a huge risk. Such toasters might damage the cabinet and become a fire hazard over time.
So, what’s the best strategy to make a toaster oven placed on a cabinet safe?
Ensure the toaster has proper ventilation to enable it to dissipate heat efficiently. Another crucial step is putting a protective mat underneath the top cabinet before placing the toaster.
Conclusion: Does toasting bread kill bacteria?
Yes, it can. Bacteria will be eliminated when you heat bread at over 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Why? Bacteria can’t survive such heat.
Toasting can also kill germs and mold. But please, understand that toasting mold-infested bread doesn’t make it healthy for consumption.
The heat may wipe out the mold, but don’t forget that the mold has already released toxins in the bread that could be harmful.
We also discussed how to clean grease off a toaster. You can follow the steps to clean up your toaster with ease.
