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Usually, I put slices of bread in my toaster. Sometimes, I toast bagels. On my toaster, there's a little button that says "bagel". How does this setting toast the bagel differently?

JesseTG
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    The question we've always wanted to know but have been afraid to ask. – Jason C Jul 18 '16 at 23:17
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    Cross-cultural comment: perhaps in more British-influenced parts of the world, the equivalent is known as the "crumpet" setting, and achieves similar results. – Michael MacAskill Jul 19 '16 at 03:48
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    @MichaelMacAskill - Speaking as a British toaster-owner, I've had toasters with bagel settings, but never one with a crumpet setting. – Jules Jul 19 '16 at 07:00
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    @Jules Thanks, revise that claim to just "in New Zealand" to be more precise. – Michael MacAskill Jul 19 '16 at 21:23
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    I think that prevents the toaster from throwing an exception when it reaches the hole. It's necessary since tney started programming embedded devices in Java. (For those not in on the joke, a *toaster* is slang for an embedded device that doesn't have any I/O (the toast doesn’t count).) – JDługosz Jul 19 '16 at 23:31
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    Some things man was just not meant to know. – marsh Jul 20 '16 at 13:21

4 Answers4

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Unfortunately, the function depends on the manufacturer.

While turning off a set of elements may be common, another option is that the setting may just increase the cook time. Bagels are thicker and have more mass than sliced bread, so a longer toast time is necessary to have a similar level of toasting.

In particular there are Cuisinart toasters where the bagel button only lengthens the time of the toasting and does not change the pattern.

From Cuisinart PDF manual

Bagel button

The bagel feature adds extra time to the toasting cycle to allow for thicker breads. You may also use the bagel button for English muffins and other thick breads.

BowlOfRed
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The bagel setting deactivates or lowers the power on the outer heating elements. This has the effect of toasting the cut surface of the bagel while only warming the outer surface. Generally it's the inner elements that get up to toasting temperature.

ElendilTheTall
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    Ok, now why wouldn't I want to toast the bagel's outer surface? – JesseTG Jul 18 '16 at 19:37
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    I guess the fatter profile of the average bagel means that it closer to the heating element, so you risk burning it. – ElendilTheTall Jul 18 '16 at 19:43
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    It depends on the toaster if its inner or outer; there will be a picture of a bagel in the way to insert it. – Batman Jul 18 '16 at 19:50
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    @JesseTG : the smooth texture of the outside of the bagel makes it so you're really likely to burn your fingers if you touch it after heating it up. – Joe Jul 18 '16 at 20:56
  • @JesseTG Also, because of the way bagels are made (boiled and then baked) the outside crust can be kind of thick. Many people wan't to warm the outer crust without really cooking it further and the "bagel" setting can help with that. – djmadscribbler Jul 18 '16 at 20:59
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    @Batman Huh. I don't think I've ever actually seen a picture of a bagel on "bagel mode" toasters. – Kyle Strand Jul 18 '16 at 23:00
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    @KyleStrand On my parents' there's just a "D" (and inverted "D" for the other side) shape; it's not clear it's representing a bagel unless you know. [See this image for an example](http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-Decker-4-Slice-Extra-Wide-Slots-Metal-Toaster-Bagels-Bread-Kitchen-New-/151989536457?hash=item23634846c9:g:B0UAAOSwPc9WyAzA&_trksid=p2349526.m3874.l7936) – Random832 Jul 19 '16 at 05:40
  • @Random832 I don't think the ones I've seen even have that. – Kyle Strand Jul 19 '16 at 22:46
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    On my toaster, not using the Bagel button results in the outside starting to singe before the inside gets toasted much. I tried and failed to find my toaster manual. I then read that generally a Bagel button toasts the inside only. So I tried facing the insides in, since that seemed logical and I had a source saying so. It's the opposite. I now have a singed-outside, cool-inside bagel I'm waiting to cool down before trying it inside-out. My toaster is a "Perfect Toaster" model. – Dronz Oct 25 '16 at 15:40
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    You don't want to toast the outside of the bagel because sometimes there are seeds, raisins, etc., that coat the outside. They may burn. – Lor Jan 09 '17 at 22:49
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I have a Dualit toaster and the 'bagel' setting switches off elements on specific sides of each slot, allowing you to toast only the cut side of a bagel or English muffin, which is the norm. If you wish to toast both sides, just use the normal setting.

Steve Ives
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The bagel setting toasts on one side only. Usually the inside coils so the cut side of the bagel gets toasted while the outside stays soft and warm.

Bridgette L.
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