National Toast Day
A crispy slice of goodness, lightly toasted to perfection. Topped with a delicious spread, it's a perfect start to the day!
Dig out your favorite bread and your go-to toast topper of choice – be it jam, chocolate spread or peanut butter – and top your toast!
National Toast Day is a rather fulfilling day as it acts as an opportunity to experiment with how you would usually have your toast.
You can try out various different ways to enjoy this go-to snack and get creative with how it is presented on your plate.
How to Celebrate National Toast Day
There is no wrong way to enjoy a piece of toast – everyone has their own go-to way to enjoy a slice of toast! While some people prefer lighter toasted toast, others prefer a darker colored piece of toast – some even like toast that has begun to blacken at the edges.
The degree of which toast is toasted is a very personal choice and causes a number of arguments within families.
While some people prefer a lighter colored piece of toast, others like a darker and crunchier piece. It’s the same with a cup of tea; while some people prefer a less brewed cup, others are adamant that a dark-hued tea is a better tea.
How you like your toast is a very personal preference and one that is down to you – and your toaster of course. (Some toasters are far fiercer than others!)
Amother topic of conversation for this day is how to prepare toast and what toppings to choose.
There’s an argument regarding butter and whether butter should be applied only to ‘naked’ toast, or under toast toppings. Again, this is a very personal choice and one that not everyone will agree on.
While some people choose to top their toast with butter regardless of whether they’re going to consume it ‘naked’ or with a topping on, others believe that butter should only be used when eating toast on its own, or under certain, predetermined toppings, like Marmite, for example, or jam.
There’s also the question of how much topping is too much topping. Again, this is another question that a lot of people cannot agree on.
While some toast lovers like to top their toast with a huge portion of jam, Marmite, peanut butter, cream cheese – or whatever their go-to topping is – others prefer to spread a thinner layer of topping onto their toast.
How you enjoy your toast really is a personal preference. There is no right or wrong way to enjoy a slice of toast, it’s down to personal choice – and your taste buds of course!
The most popular toppings can be broken down into two categories: sweet and savory toppings.
For savory toppings, popular choices include Marmite, peanut butter (however, this is some concern over whether peanut butter is sweet or savory – it apparently depends on what it is served with, such as Marmite or jam), cream cheese, or butter by itself.
For sweet toppings, go-to options include jam, chocolate spread – with Nutella being the product of choice for many toast lovers – Fluff and Biscoff spread.
National Toast Day Timeline
c. 3000 BCE
Egyptians Toast Bread to Preserve It
Archaeological and historical studies suggest that ancient Egyptians heated bread over fire to dry it out, helping it last longer in a hot climate and laying the groundwork for the idea of toast as preserved bread. [1]
1st century CE
Romans Popularize Toasted Bread and the Word “Tostum”
Writers of the early Roman Empire describe bread browned over a flame, and Latin sources use the verb “tostum,” meaning “to burn or scorch,” giving rise to the English word “toast” for crisped bread. [2]
18th century
From Toasted Bread to “Drinking a Toast”
In Britain, pieces of spiced or toasted bread were sometimes placed in wine or ale to improve the flavor; by the 1700s, the term “toast” had shifted to mean the honored person for whom a drink was raised. [3]
1893
Alan MacMasters Builds an Early Electric Toaster
Scottish inventor Alan MacMasters designs what is often cited as the first electric bread toaster, using electric heating elements to brown slices of bread, although safety issues and unreliable wiring limited its spread.
1905–1909
Chromel Alloy Enables Practical Electric Toasters
Metallurgist William Hoskins patented nichrome-like chromium–nickel resistance wire around 1905, and by 190,9 the American Electric Heater Company used it in the D-12 toaster, creating a durable, commercially viable countertop toaster.
1921
Pop-up Toaster Patented in the United States
In 1921, Charles Strite received a U.S. patent for an automatic pop-up toaster that times the toasting process and ejects the bread, making evenly browned, unattended toast a standard feature in home kitchens.
1928
Sliced Bread Supercharges Toast at Home
American inventor Otto Frederick Rohwedder perfects a machine that automatically slices and wraps loaves, and the first pre-sliced bread is sold in Missouri in 1928, making quick, uniform toast a daily convenience.
History of National Toast Day
Tiptree World Bread Awards with Brook Food established National Toast Day in 2014; the humble slice of toast is a national treasure and deserving of a dedicated day of celebration. National Toast Day has become an international phenomenon.
Sadly, National Toast Day isn’t celebrated in the same way as other food-related days, such as Pancake Day, for instance, which gets a huge celebration.
In the run-up to Pancake Day, the whole world becomes pancake obsessed; new products are sold, adverts are customized, new toppers are launched.
However, National Toast Day is celebrated in a more ‘relaxed’ manner, with most people choosing to celebrate at home with their favorite bread, some delicious toppings, and their toaster!
Some toast lovers choose to celebrate by hosting their own private toast making parties, where guests are invited to select their favorite bread – whether it’s white bread, brown bread, granary bread, or sourdough bread it doesn’t matter – and bring along their toasters, ready to spend the evening making lots and lots of toast.
Many toast lovers also choose to share their National Toast Day creations via social media, tagging World Bread Award and using the hashtag #ToastDay. According to the World Bread Award, the weirder and more unique the toast toppings, the better!
Featuring on BBC Radio 2 Chris Evans Breakfast Show, Good Morning America, the Sun, the Metro and more.
It’s been the number one Twitter trend in the UK; with social media engagement from a whole range of institutions including the NHS, Iron Maiden, MasterChef, Paddington Bear, Great British Bake Off, Aston Villa, Paul Young, You Gov, Coronation Street, British Heart Foundation, Hell’s Kitchen USA, BBC Three, Love Food Hate Waste, This Morning and many more.
Enjoy toast as your choice of breakfast (or lunch or dinner) on National Toast Day. Maybe experiment with toppings and share your favorites with the world. Or even host a toast and tea party!
National Toast Day brings the fun to food by calling for toast lovers to turn their toast into art to celebrate their favorite crunchy fare.
Toast art is a sensation; it is huge in Japan and has been explored by a number of artists, such as Nathan Wyburn who has famously toastified many members of society’s upper crust including Jimmy Carr, Simon Cowell, and Boris Johnson.
How could you craft your next Toast Art project? Painting with peanut butter, cutting out characters, maneuvering your baked beans? Whatever you choose, at least you’ll have a tasty treat to enjoy at the end of your arty endeavor!
National Toast Day FAQs
Did ancient civilizations enjoy toast?
Yes, ancient Egyptians toasted bread over open fires to extend its shelf life. This practice dates back to around 3,000 years ago.
How did the term “toast” originate?
The word “toast” comes from the Latin “tostum,” meaning “to burn or scorch.” This reflects the process of browning bread.
What’s the story behind the first electric toaster?
In 1893, Scottish scientist Alan MacMasters invented the first electric toaster. However, it had safety issues and wasn’t widely adopted.
Are there unique toast toppings around the world?
Yes, in Australia, Vegemite is a popular spread. In Sweden, people enjoy toast with caviar paste.
Is there a Guinness World Record related to toast?
Yes, the record for the most people making sandwiches simultaneously is 607, set in 2016 in the UK.
How do different cultures incorporate toast into their cuisine?
In France, “tartines” are open-faced sandwiches. In Italy, “bruschetta” features toasted bread with toppings like tomatoes and basil.
Are there any myths about toast?
One myth suggests that dropping toast always lands butter-side down. Studies show it’s due to the height of the fall and the toast’s rotation.
How do people celebrate National Toast Day creatively?
Some host “toast parties,” where guests bring unique toppings. Others experiment with gourmet toast recipes, like avocado and poached eggs.
What’s the significance of toast in literature?
In “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde, characters discuss the proper way to eat muffins and toast, highlighting societal norms.
Are there health benefits to eating toast?
Toast can be easier to digest than fresh bread. It also has a lower glycemic index, which may help regulate blood sugar levels.
Also on ...
View all holidays
National Tell A Fairy Tale Day
Once upon a time, magical stories of princesses, knights, and talking animals filled our hearts with wonder and imagination.
National Carpe Diem Day
Embracing every opportunity, living life to the fullest, and making the most of each moment with a spirit of adventure.
We think you may also like...
National Bagel Day
Munch on this doughy, holey bread at every meal, bake your own or host a bagel party to sample a variety of delicious fillings and toppings.
National Veggie Burger Day
Looking for a healthy alternative to traditional burgers? Try a plant-based patty that's packed with protein and bursting with flavor!
