How to Make Buttered Toast

Last Updated: May 6, 2021 References

Buttered toast is one of the easiest grab-and-go meals you can make. You can jazz it up with some jam or jelly, or keep things plain and simple. Making toast isn't just geared towards the toaster either. Try these different methods to find your perfect buttered toast.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Making Toast in the Toaster

1
Choose your bread and place it in the toaster. Any bread works for buttered toast: white, brown, wheat, sourdough, rye, pumpernickel, or another variety. Each one will give you a slightly different flavor and/or texture, so pick your favorite.
- Making bread in the toaster is perhaps the faster and easiest way to make bread. Use this method if you are pressed for time.
2
Choose the toaster setting. Your toaster probably offers options for how dark and crisp you want the toast to be. If you're not sure, start with a light setting; you can always put the toast in for a second round to get darker, but you can't do anything about toast that's become too dark.^{[1]
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3
Remove the toast. When your toast is done, take it out of the toaster. If you think it's dark enough before it actually finishes the toasting cycle, pop it up manually to save it from burning.
4
Butter your toast. Use a butter knife to spread butter over the toast while it is still warm. If you wait until the toast has cooled, the butter will not melt into the bread. Cut the bread into halves or quarters before you eat, if you wish.
- Lots of butter will likely make your toast softer as it melts, and less butter will keep your snack more crisp and dry. The amount of butter used is based on personal preference.
- Soften the butter before spreading it on your toast. Take it out of the refrigerator 20 minutes before you plan on making toast to help it warm to room temperature. Whipped butter may also work for this. If you're using a stick of butter and don't have time to soften it, cut the butter into thin slices and apply to warm toast. Thicker slices won't melt as well.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Making Buttered Toast on the Stove

1
Choose your bread. Thick, dense breads like whole grains and sourdoughs can take longer cooking times. Fluffy, tender breads like challah and brioche can't take as much heat and need shorter cooking times. Choose any bread, like ciabatta, semolina bread, baguette, or rye.^{[2]
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Research source} Cut the slice thickly if you have a loaf.
2
Heat the pan. Turn the burner on the stove to low and place 1/2 teaspoon of butter in the pan. Let the butter melt. Make sure to use real butter and not margarine.^{[3]
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3
Toast the bread in the pan. After the butter has melted, place the bread into the pan. Make sure the bread soaks up the butter. Place a lid over the pan and let the bread cook for 2-3 minutes.^{[4]
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- After 2-3 minutes, flip the bread over. Make sure the other side of the bread soaks up some of the butter in the pan. Place the lid back on top. Let this side toast for 2-3 minutes.^{[5]
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- An alternative is to toast the bread in a pan that has no butter in it. Just let the bread brown in the pan and then flip. Butter it after you remove it from the pan.^{[6]
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4
Remove from the pan. When the bread has browned to your desired level of crisp, take the bread out of the pan. Do not add extra butter after taking it out of the pan.
- This method of toasting bread cooks the butter into the bread, giving it a different flavor than if you add the butter after it is toasted. This method ensures there are no uneven chunks of butter on the toast, and helps the toast not to be soggy from too much buttering.
- Toasting the bread this way allows for a crisp outside but a fluffy, chewy inside.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Making Buttered Toast in the Oven

1
Preheat your oven. You want to use the broiler in the oven. You can bake it in the oven, but it takes longer and isn't necessary for toast.
- You can also make toast in a toaster oven instead of a conventional oven. Just turn the setting to your desired darkness. As long as you watch the toast, you won't burn it.
2
Spread the butter on the toast. Use a butter knife to spread butter on the bread before you place it into the oven. Make sure to use real butter instead of margarine.
- An alternative is to spread the butter on the bread after the bread is finished. However, buttering the bread before you put it into the oven bakes the butter into the bread, giving it a better flavor.
- You can butter both sides of the bread or just one side. This is up to you.
3
Place the bread into the oven. Put the bread into the broiler, or onto the wire rack if you are using a toaster oven. Let it cook for 2-3 minutes. Make sure to keep watching the bread. If you like your bread lighter, don't let it cook as long; if you like darker bread, let it cook for longer. Turn the bread over when the first side is brown enough. Let the next side cook for 2-3 minutes.^{[7]
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- If you are using a toaster oven, you probably will not have to flip it over because the bread will cook on both sides.
- You don't have to flip it over and cook it on both sides. You can leave one side un-toasted if you wish. It will still be warm and slightly cooked from being in the oven.
4
Remove the bread from the oven. When the bread is to your desired level of toasted, remove it and place it on a plate. If you haven't buttered the toast already, add butter now.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Making Cinnamon Butter Toast in the Oven

1
Make the cinnamon butter. Take 1/2 a stick of butter at room temperature and mash it with a fork. Add 1/4 cup of sugar and 2 tablespoons of cinnamon to the butter. Mix these three things together with a fork until it becomes a mushy, uniformed consistency.^{[8]
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- To get the butter to room temperature, take it out of the refrigerator half an hour before you begin making your toast.
2
Spread the butter on the bread. Using a butter knife, spread the cinnamon butter on a piece of toast of your choice. Spread as much or as little butter as you'd like.
3
Bake the bread. Place the bread in the oven at 350 degrees. Let the bread cook for 10 minutes. You want to melt the butter and cook it into the bread slowly.^{[9]
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4
Place under the broiler. After 10 minutes, move the bread to the broiler. Let it brown for a few minutes, until the bread is to your desired level of crispness. Make sure to watch the bread so it doesn't burn.
- You do not flip over this toast. The bottom will be toasted from cooking in the oven for 10 minutes.

Community Q&A

Question

What do you call toast only browned on one side?

HumanBeing

Top Answerer

"Half-done toast" is one name for bread only toasted on one side. Sting, in his song "Englishman in New York," sings, "I like my toast done on one side," so there is evidence it can still be called toast.