Non-Electrical Toaster? (Everyday kitchen appliances, without power) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 31, 2017, 08:49:06 am
content: I love technology as much as anyone else here, but one thing that annoys me is the seemingly endless amount of kitchen gadgets people buy which are more complicated than they need to be, are of dubious quality or require endless cleaning/maintenance (or any combination of the three). I don't like my kitchen benches cluttered with appliances that aren't being used for the most part and there is something therapeutic about cooking over flame.I already use a stainless steel kettle which goes on the gas cook top to boil water. It's cordless, cheaper to run, has no parts to wear out or fail and looks a hell of a lot nicer than a crappy plastic one (it whistles when it's done too!).What I don't have is a toaster. Is there anyone like-minded on here who can recommend a product to make toast on a gas cook top? It seems there are plenty out there with all kinds of designs and implementations.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 31, 2017, 09:31:27 am
content: Doesn't your cooker have a grill?

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 31, 2017, 09:38:06 am
content: My gas cook top has 6 burners (see here) but my electric oven is a separate device built into the wall/kitchen cabinetry. The oven does have a grill function but it's terribly inefficient (and slow) to heat an element inside a 76cm wide oven just for a few slices of toast. I'm not sure what the specific grill elements are rated at, but the whole oven is rated at a maximum of 4.25KW (@ 240v).I'm guessing by "cooker" you mean a combined oven and cook top in one free-standing appliance? They aren't too common in Australia anymore (not since the 1980's).

author: VK5RC
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 31, 2017, 10:10:38 am
content: Use a 'camping' toaster over the gas flame an low e.g. below. Really quick.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 31, 2017, 10:33:29 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on May 31, 2017, 09:38:06 amYou can still get them in the UK. Simon has an all gas cooker he got a few years back. It might be second hand though. You'll have to ask him.

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 31, 2017, 03:01:38 pm
content: How about a pan?Not sure if you have grilled cheese in Australia, but we do that on a pan in the US. They are also great with American cheese extract doped wax on top (American cheese isn't actually cheese, but it's still pretty good)But can't you just use a pan to toast it?Or use a rack like others mentioned.Or a blowtorch. Those are nice.

author: noidea
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 31, 2017, 03:07:21 pm
content: Quote from: VK5RC on May 31, 2017, 10:10:38 am+1I added an extra layer of stainless steel flywire mesh to my camping one as out of the packet all it was good for was turning bread into charcoal.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 31, 2017, 06:35:02 pm
content: Quote from: TwoOfFive on May 31, 2017, 03:01:38 pmI use a fry pan for toasted sandwiches, but you'd need a pretty big pan to toast two slices simultaneously, let alone four.

author: vinicius.jlantunes
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 31, 2017, 08:02:17 pm
content: Well not exactly a toaster but this thing used to be really popular around here. It's more for grilled sandwiches but I'm pretty sure it could toast two or four (for the "double" version) slices of bread with nothing in between. It's called "forma de bauru" in Portuguese.You put the bread or sandwiches inside, close it, then hold it over the flame for a couple mins (of course only works with gas stoves), turning every now and then.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 01, 2017, 12:12:45 am
content: I would call that a "sandwich iron" - similar to a waffle iron, but without the fancy shape profile.The design is meant to contain the filling placed between the outer bread - but all the OP wants is to toast some flat pieces of bread.

author: timb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2017, 12:19:24 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on May 31, 2017, 06:35:02 pmI can fit two slices of bread in my medium sized cast iron frying pan just fine. Nothing cooks like cast iron!

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 01, 2017, 12:31:18 am
content: Quote from: timb on June 01, 2017, 12:19:24 amAgreed. All my fry pans and works are all solid steel - Nothing more.

author: ConKbot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2017, 12:32:43 am
content: Quote from: noidea on May 31, 2017, 03:07:21 pmYep, a layer of stainless mesh to get red hot and put off a ton IR is good for searing instead of relying solely on hot combustion gasses.https://www.amazon.com/Searzall-Torch-Attachment-Small-Stainless/dp/B00L2P0KNOwas a torch attachment kickstarter that succeeded and went into production. Meant for searing/finishing sous vide food.

author: LaserSteve
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2017, 01:17:05 am
content: Oh, your post just brought back the most wonderful memories of camping with Dad. Google for "Coleman Toaster".A combination of radiant heat and a small amount of hot gasses thru the grid of central holes makes memorable toast. Especially if used on a Coleman stove running off white petrol, aka Coleman fuel. With the addition of bananas and peanut butter, many good memories can be had.Coleman stoves use a modest burner of small diameter, so these work best with flame in a small ring around the center. If you have a big flame, don't let that stop you from buying one, anyways.The right one has a collapsible wire frame, located on a stamped circular metal base. Holds up to four pieces of bread. Aka camp stove toaster.Steve

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2017, 02:12:55 am
content: I have a pan that can do four slices at once, no problem.