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Toast is bread that has been browned by exposure to dry heat. This browning reaction is called the Maillard Reaction.

The usual method of toasting bread is by the use of a toaster, a small appliance made for that purpose. Bread may also be toasted under a grill (US: broiler) or in an open oven, lying on an oven rack. Toaster ovens are special small appliances made to be able to toast bread or heat small amounts of other foods.

Bread may also be toasted exposed to, not over an open flame, as a campfire or fireplace. Special toaster utensils are made for this purpose.

Care must be taken while toasting bread to avoid burning it.

An old French joke credits the English as inventing toast as the only way to butter the bread in their climate.

Toast is an important component of many breakfasts, and is also important in some traditional bland specialty diets for people with gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea (such as the BRAT diet consisting of bananas, rice, apples (or applesauce), and toast).

Toast is most commonly eaten with butterButter is a dairy product made by churning fresh cream. It consists of an emulsion of water and milk proteins in a matrix of fat, with over 80% being fat. It is used as a condiment and for cooking in much the same ways as vegetable oils or lard. It is sol or margarineMargarine is a generic term used to indicate any of a wide range of butter substitutes. In many parts of the world, margarine is now the best selling table spread, although butter and olive oil also command large market shares. It is used as an ingredient spread over it, which ideally melt into the toast once spread. The French used to say that the English invented toast because their houses were so chilly, it was the only way to spread butter on their bread. Toast may also be eaten dry or with preserves or other toppings. Toast and jamFor other meanings of the word "jam", see Jam (disambiguation Jam is a type of fruit preserve. It is a way of preserving fruit by boiling it with sugar to make an unfiltered jelly. The proportion varies according to the type of fruit and its ripeness, but or toast and marmaladeMarmalade is a sweet conserve made from fruit, sugar, and (usually) a gelling agent. In Anglo-American usage the term almost invariably refers to a conserve derived from oranges or from some other citrus fruit. Typically the recipe will include sliced fru are BritishThe word British has several different uses. See the article on Britain for more details. In a geographical context, it usually applies to a person or object from, or the people or nation of ("the British") the island of Great Britain though, confusingly, breakfast favourites. Toast is sometimes used instead of fresh bread for making sandwichThis article is about the food item. For other uses see: sandwich (disambiguation). The sandwich is a food item consisting of bread and other fillings such as one or more layers of meat (often a type of cold cut), cheese, vegetables, condiments, sauces ores.

Toasting is also a common method of making stale bread more palatable.

Bread is sometimes cubed and toasted, sometimes after being coated with seasoningSeasoning is the process of adding flavours, or enhancing natural flavour of any type of food. Common seasonings include black pepper, salt, and herbs. Salt may be used to draw out water, or to magnify a natural flavour of a food making it richer or mores, and then used in saladMy salad days, When I was green in judgement. Cleopatra, in Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra 1606 A salad is a food item generally served either prior to or after the main dish as a separate course, as a main course in itself, or as a side dish accompans or other dishes. These bread cubes are called croutons.