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Hello! I’m Anjali. I’m a board certified health coach, author, wife, mom and food lover from the SF Bay area (now living in Seattle, WA!); with a passion for delicious food and a desire to make healthy eating easy, tasty and fun! Learn more about me here and stay for a while!

Anjali Shah

How To Toast Bread In The Oven

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If you’re wondering how to toast bread in the oven, this how-to guide covers all the basics! A conventional oven toasts sliced bread until it’s golden brown and crisp – no toaster necessary. But don’t stop there, toppings only make toast better!

toast on a cutting board - how to toast bread in the oven

Sometimes two slices of toast just won’t cut it. If you need a big batch of toast, the oven is the way to go. Depending on the size of your bread, you can toast up to 8 slices per sheet pan.

Bread can be toasted one of two ways in the oven – with or without the broiler element. When I prepare fried eggs or an omelette, I toast the bread without the broiler. This provides just enough time to whip up my eggs. If I want to make a whole loaf of toast done in a flash, I go with the broiler setting.

Latest Recipe Video!

Toasting bread in the oven is quick and easy! All you need is a sheet pan and a few bread slices. Slather your toast with jam, use it to make a sandwich, or serve it with eggs and bacon, then enjoy with a hot cup of coffee!

👩‍🍳 Why This Recipe Works

  • Easy recipe for how to make toast in the oven
  • Crispy toast without a traditional toaster
  • A great method for making bunch of toast at once
  • Works with any kind of bread
  • A great alternative to a toaster
  • Master the different methods to make toast
  • Make perfect toast every time!

🥘 Ingredients

ingredients for how to toast bread in the oven

Plain Bread: Any type of regular sandwich bread can be toasted! White bread, gluten-free bread, texas toast, whole wheat bread, buckwheat bread, a sliced loaf of french bread, or english muffins are all great options. Just be sure the bread is sliced for even toasting.

You only need one ingredient for a slice of golden brown toast and that’s bread (butter is optional, see the notes below)!

📖 Toast Variations

  • Cinnamon Toast: Stir together cinnamon, softened butter, and sugar. Spread the butter mixture on bread slices, completely covering the surface of the bread. Bake the toast for 8 minutes at 350 degrees and then broil until golden brown. Make sure to watch it so it doesn’t burn!
  • French Toast: Whisk together two eggs with two tablespoons of milk and one tablespoon of honey. Dip four slices of toast into the mixture and place them onto a greased baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for around 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
  • Garlic Toast: Spread softened butter onto bread slices and sprinkle with garlic salt. Bake, butter-side up, at 400 degrees until golden brown.
  • Garlic Bread: Spread softened garlic butter onto bread slices and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit until the edges begin to toast.
  • Grilled Cheese Sandwiches: Butter one side of two slices of bread. Place the bread butter-side down on a sheet pan and top with sliced cheese. Bake at 450 degrees until golden brown then flip and bake the other side.

🎛 How To Toast Bread In The Oven (No Broiler Method)

Preheat The Oven: Make sure the oven is preheated so the toast doesn’t dry out. Prep your baking sheet.

bread slices on a baking sheet

Toast The Bread: Place the sliced bread in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Place the baking tray in the middle rack of the oven and cook until the slices are lightly golden.

bread on a baking sheet

Flip Bread Over: Open the oven door, remove the tray from the oven, and use tongs to carefully flip the pieces of bread over. Return the tray to the oven rack and bake until golden brown – about 3 to 4 minutes.

toast on a baking sheet

Serve: Enjoy warm with your favorite toppings!

Three Slices toast bread on a wooden background

🍞 How To Make Toast In The Oven (Broiler Method)

This is the best option to make a lot of toast quickly!

Preheat Oven On Broil Setting: Set your broiler to high heat.

Toast The Bread: Place the sliced bread onto a rimmed baking sheet and place under the broiler to cook until golden in color. Keep a close eye on the pieces of toast! The broiler cooks the bread quickly.

toast on a baking sheet

Flip The Bread: Carefully remove the baking pan from the oven and turn the hot toast over. Return the baking sheet to the oven and cook until lightly golden. Serve: Enjoy warm with your favorite toppings!

🥯 How To Toast English Muffins In The Oven

Toasting an english muffin the oven is just as easy as the method for using bread slices!

Preheat The Oven: Preheat your oven and arrange the english muffins on the baking sheet. Be sure to toast the english muffins sliced and not whole.

english muffins on a baking sheet

Toast The English Muffins: Cook english muffins until lightly browned. Flip and cook a couple of minutes more.

toasted english muffins on baking sheet

Serve: Enjoy warm with your favorite toppings!

toasted english muffins on baking sheet

✔️ Additional Toasting Methods

There’s more than one way to toast a slice of bread! Try one of these alternative methods if you like.

How To Toast Bread In Oven With Butter

Spread a little butter (about a teaspoon) to one side of the bread slice. This is a great way to make a slightly decadent version of toast. Keep in mind, we all love butter, but it’s best to go heavy-handed after the bread is toasted. Too much butter before you put it in the oven, and the bread will become greasy.

How To Toast Bread In The Toaster Oven

Place the bread slices in the center of the grill rack and set the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook the toast until it’s golden brown and crispy – about 3 to 5 minutes. You shouldn’t need to flip the bread over. Different models vary in cooking time. Be sure to watch the toast so it doesn’t burn.

How To Toast Hamburger Buns In Oven

This is the easiest way to warm up a bunch of buns at once! Separate the tops from the bottoms and brush with a small amount of olive oil or butter. Toast the buns cut-side down at 350 degrees for about 6 minutes – or until lightly brown. The cook time will vary depending on the type of buns.

How To Make Toast On The Stovetop

Heat a nonstick or cast-iron skillet over medium heat and toast the bread in the skillet. Once the bottom is golden brown, carefully flip and toast the other side.

How To Toast Bread In The Air Fryer

Place slices of bread in your air fryer basket in an even layer. Air fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit until golden brown – about 4 to 6 minutes.

How To Toast A Sandwich In The Oven

There are two ways to toast a sandwich in the oven. You can toast the bread first and then assemble, or assemble and then toast. Toast the sandwich on a sheet pan at 350 degrees until any cheese melts and the bread turns brown.

🥪 What Are The Best Toppings For Toast?

Make all kinds of different tasty toast by switching up your toppings! Here are some of our favorite combinations:

  • Melted cheddar cheese or spreadable soft cheese like brie
  • Goat cheese and berries
  • Mashed avocado and poached egg
  • Plain butter
  • Cinnamon sugar
  • Eggs, sunny side up
  • Peanut butter, banana and honey
  • Jam/jelly or fruit preserves (with or without butter or peanut butter)
  • Nutella and crushed nuts
  • Honey
  • Avocado and feta cheese
  • Hummus, tomato and onion
  • Ricotta, granola and berries

❓ Recipe FAQs

How long do I toast bread in the oven?

The short answer is it depends on the temperature and setting of your oven. With the temperature at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, it should take about 8 to 12 minutes. The toast is ready when it’s golden brown and crisp on both sides.

Do I need to flip my bread?

If you want both sides of your bread toasted, your best bet is to flip the bread.

How should I store toast?

Toast is best enjoyed immediately. If you have leftover toast, wait for it to cool completely then place it into an airtight container or ziplock bag. Store the toast at room temperature for up to 3 days.

How should I serve toast?

For best results, enjoy the toast while it’s still warm. Serve it alongside your favorite breakfast foods, use it as a base for a sandwich, or slather it with delicious toppings!

💭 Expert Tips

Here are some of the best tips for how to cook toast in the oven!

  • Cook times vary depending on the appliance used. The best way to know if your toast is done is to watch it.
  • Remember to keep an eye on your toast! The broiler takes it from golden brown to burnt in a short amount of time. If you can’t keep a watchful eye on it, opt for the oven method instead.
  • Use a rimmed baking sheet so you don’t lose any toast as you pull it out of the oven.
  • For a crunchier slice of toast, set the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Aluminum foil isn’t necessary, but makes cleanup a breeze. Layer the baking sheet with foil before laying out the toast, then just toss it in the trash when you’re done. This way you don’t have to wash the baking sheet.
  • A higher temperature will result in a crispier toast. Set the temperature to 400 degrees, if you prefer your toast slightly crunchy.
toast in a basket - how to toast bread in the oven

🍲 More Toast Recipes And How-To Guides!

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🎥 Watch How to Make It

toast on a cutting board - how to toast bread in the oven
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5 from 4 votes

How To Toast Bread In The Oven

If you're wondering how to toast bread in the oven, this how-to guide covers all the basics! A conventional oven toasts sliced bread until it's golden brown and crisp – no toaster necessary.
Prep Time2 minutes
Total Time14 minutes
Course: Bread, Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 1 serving
Calories: 153kcal
Author: Anjali Shah

Ingredients

  • 2 pieces sliced white bread, whole wheat bread, or english muffins

Examples of Topping Options

  • melted cheddar cheese
  • goat cheese and berries
  • mashed avocado and poached egg
  • butter
  • cinnamon sugar
  • eggs, sunny side up
  • peanut butter, banana, and honey
  • jam/jelly
  • nutella and crushed nuts
  • honey
  • avocado and feta cheese
  • hummus, tomato, and onion
  • ricotta, granola, and berries

Equipment

Instructions

Toasting bread in the oven method

  • Preheat the oven to 350 F / 180 C.
  • Place the sliced bread or English muffins onto a rimmed oven tray. Do not overlap slices.
  • Place the oven tray into the oven and cook for 5-8 minutes until slices are lightly golden.
  • Remove from the oven, turn the slices and return the tray to the oven for another 3-4 minutes to cook until golden brown.
  • Serve topped with your favorite toppings.

Toasting bread in the broiler method

  • Preheat the broiler to high.
  • Place the sliced bread or English muffins onto a rimmed tray and place under the broiler to cook for 3-4 minutes. Make sure to keep an eye on the bread as this method cooks the bread quite quickly and can easily burn the toast if not watching.
  • When golden, remove the tray from the broiler and turn the bread. Return the bread to the broiler and continue to cook for a further 3-4 minutes.
  • When lightly golden, serve with your favorite toast toppings.

Notes

  • Cooking times may vary depending on the appliance used.
  • Cooking toast in the oven takes longer than under the broiler, however it’s great option to give you some extra time when preparing toppings to go with it, such as scrambled or poached eggs.
  • There’s no need to add butter or spray oil before cooking.
  • Be sure to preheat the oven or broiler before cooking to ensure even and quicker cooking.
  • Make sure to keep an eye on the bread when cooking under the broiler as it can burn very quickly.
  • Cooking bread in the oven is a great option when cooking large amounts of toast.
  • Prepared toppings before or while cooking in the oven to make sure the toast is lovely and warm when served.
  • To keep toast warm after cooking, wrap in foil and leave in the oven on low.

Nutrition

Serving: 2slices | Calories: 153kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 265mg | Potassium: 79mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 3g

10 responses to “How To Toast Bread In The Oven”

  1. Why set an oven temp in a toaster oven, when there’s a toast icon on the temperature/setting dial (broil, bake, toast options) and a toast only dial showing light/medium/dark icons (which act as the timer)? Can one not use just the toaster dial with the setting dial on toast? There is no way to point the setting to toast AND a temperature – it has to be one or the other. (I have not seen/used any toaster ovens that did NOT have a standalone toaster dial, and I’ve have several toaster ovens in my time.) Note, a 3rd dial is just a timer for baking/broiling (and a stay on setting). Blessings!

    • Hi Sandra! Great question! The main reason is, the toaster dial is not as “accurate” as setting the actual oven temp on the toaster oven which can be much more precise. So I chose the most precise route for this guide. However, you can certainly just toast bread in the toaster oven using the toast only dial with the light/medium/dark icons. Hope that helps!

  2. Can’t beat toast for a snack and there are so many great toppings. Cooking toast in the oven is so much easier when you have a crowd too.5 stars

  3. This recipe is a lifesaver for my daughter living in a college dorm where she does not have a toaster.

  4. I can’t believe I’ve never thought to do this before, such a great way to toast lots of pieces of bread at the same time!5 stars

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