A toaster comprising: a support configured to hold a food product ; an infrared (IR) source arranged relative to the support and operable to direct IR energy to the food product on the support ; a light source arranged relative to the support and operable to illuminate a toasting surface of the food product on the support while the IR source operates to direct IR energy to the food product on the support; a camera that operates to capture digital images of the food product on the support , while the light source illuminates the food product and the IR source directs IR energy to the food product on the support; a processor that receives the images from the camera, the processor analyzes successive images to determine a current toasting level of the food product from the successive images received from the camera based upon an amount of light in at least one test spectrum in each of the successive images, further based upon a brightness compensation factor for at least one test spectrum wherein the processor calculates the at least one brightness compensation factor based upon a reference brightness for at least one test spectrum determined from a portion of an initial image of the food product, acquired by the camera, wherein the portion does not include the food product, the at least one brightness compensation factor further calculated based upon a current brightness for at least one test spectrum determined from a same portion of a subsequent image from the camera, the processor operates the IR source to achieve a predetermined toasting level of the food product, wherein the processor operates the IR source to terminate operation directing IR energy when the current toasting level reaches the predetermined toasting level. a support configured to hold a food product ; an infrared (IR) source arranged relative to the support and operable to direct IR energy to the food product on the support ; a light source arranged relative to the support and operable to illuminate a toasting surface of the food product on the support while the IR source operates to direct IR energy to the food product on the support; a camera that operates to capture digital images of the food product on the support , while the light source illuminates the food product and the IR source directs IR energy to the food product on the support; a processor that receives the images from the camera, the processor analyzes successive images to determine a current toasting level of the food product from the successive images received from the camera based upon an amount of light in at least one test spectrum in each of the successive images, further based upon a brightness compensation factor for at least one test spectrum wherein the processor calculates the at least one brightness compensation factor based upon a reference brightness for at least one test spectrum determined from a portion of an initial image of the food product, acquired by the camera, wherein the portion does not include the food product, the at least one brightness compensation factor further calculated based upon a current brightness for at least one test spectrum determined from a same portion of a subsequent image from the camera, the processor operates the IR source to achieve a predetermined toasting level of the food product, wherein the processor operates the IR source to terminate operation directing IR energy when the current toasting level reaches the predetermined toasting level. <EOS>