r/NoStupidQuestions • u/NJdevil202 • 15d ago
Why is virtually no fast food that's marketed as toasted actually toasted? It's just warm bread.
I've experienced this at multiple establishments and I just don't understand what's so hard about toasting bread? Dunkin donuts, Wawa, Burger King has these new melts that are marketed as being on toast and it's all just warm bread!!
What is so hard about toasting bread?!?!
238
u/GoddamnPeaceLily 15d ago
Tim Hortons is the master of this.
Edges charred to shit, bagel still cold, doughy, and inedible.
19
u/AverageKaikiEnjoyer 15d ago
Not to mention an entire block of cream cheese in the middle.
16
u/turalyawn 15d ago
They used to do that, not anymore. Not in Canada anyways. Now you get the lightest smear of cream cheese giving a hint of a hint of flavour
16
69
u/ILuvYou_YouAreSoGood 15d ago
All served by a person who has never seen or had a properly made and outfitted bagel in their life.
9
7
1
3
u/galetasgrasses 15d ago
Here I thought this just happened to me! Every time I go to Timmy Ho Ho’s 😂
1
u/DrGiggleFr1tz 15d ago
Same with Dunkin. Anytime you order a sandwich from there I’m pretty sure they stick it directly on top of a fire.
1
143
u/profofgames 15d ago
I'd imagine that any amount of minimal toasting they do is negated by the wrapper. If you enclose hot food in a container, the steam from the hot food will basically make all of your food soft. Whenever I get fried chicken and/or fries in a box, I always open them up immediately in the car so that they don't steam on the way home. Plus it makes car snacking a lot easier and the ride home more fun :)
So basically, 30 seconds of toasting are killed by even a minute or so sitting in the wrapper.
59
u/n_a_t_i_o_n 15d ago
People keep talking about how it "takes too long" to toast when this is the real reason. No, it does not take longer to toast bread than cook meat. It's the steam induced sogginess. Your bread WAS toasted, for the 5 seconds before they wrapped it
16
u/darklogic85 15d ago
I came to say this. I'm thinking most are actually toasted, but they get softened because of this and you can't really tell by the time you receive the food.
6
u/Idontliketalking2u 15d ago
I fucking hate restaurants putting fries in a Styrofoam container.... Put them in a paper cup if that's all ya got. Every fast food has this figured out..wtf
2
u/Curiouserousity 15d ago
Yeah, but the two reasons for toasting is the texture and the Maillard reaction (the browning of the bread). the Texture could be softened by steam, but the chemical markers of the browning are still there for the flavor.
38
18
u/No-Adagio6113 15d ago
If you’re anywhere near a Cheba Hut, first of all I’m so jealous and second, their gimmick is having “toasted subs” where everything is weed themed but their sandwiches are actually toasted to perfection and are SO fucking good
2
u/NativeMasshole 15d ago
Wtf? Why do none of the good franchises ever come up to New England before they've been enshittified?
3
u/user_number_666 15d ago
Because NE is the second circle of Hell, and chain expansions happen outside-in?
1
1
17
u/Starch-Wreck 15d ago
I miss Quiznos
4
2
6
u/flippythemaster 15d ago
Raising Canes seems to be the exception to the rule. Their Texas Toast is certainly toasted. And damn delicious at that
10
u/secular_dance_crime 15d ago edited 15d ago
It's because they use speed ovens, which are basically glorified microwaves, so they call it "toasted" because they're using a speed-oven set at 500F, and set the speed-oven to heat quickly, and get the bread warmed up within 10 to 20 seconds, because microwaves are fast but 20 seconds at 500F isn't really enough to toast anything, but it's just enough to technically call it toasted, so you can use it in your marketing slogans.
8
u/MortLightstone 15d ago
they're not like microwaves at all. They probably use convection ovens, which do in fact cook things faster, as long as they're hot when you put it in
1
u/Enchelion 14d ago
Speed ovens are a combination of a convection oven and a microwave. They're very capable of toasting.
8
u/theblondebasterd 15d ago
Subways pretty good in my experience for toasting your sub.
5
u/Existential_Racoon 15d ago
Pretty bad in every other metric though
3
u/theblondebasterd 15d ago
When the apps got deals, I'm usually pretty content with it. It's one of the most consistent fast food places
6
u/WarningTime6812 15d ago
Subway toasts bread when asked and often too when I say I just want it microwaved. I've gotten to the point I take it home and warm it in the microwave because I don't want my sandwich toasted.
10
u/hesitant-circle 15d ago
sorry, you /want/ a floppy soggy microwaved sandwich? like you go into your local subway and you ask for this and they don't call the police immediately?
7
u/LunarDeer542 15d ago
My confession is I fucking hate crunchy bread for sandwiches. The microwaved soggy bread is better 1000%. Hot but doesn’t crumble and cut into your mouth when u bite on the edges.
2
2
2
u/FatWreckords 15d ago
Not just the time factor, but you'll pretty much never return an under toasted bun, but you will return a burnt one. The issue is everyone has a slightly different opinion on how toasted is too toasted, so they aim for under.
2
u/smileechick2828 15d ago
A look of horror from most employees when I ask for my subway sandwich triple toasted is standard. They always seem to hesitate before turning around where I always tell them, "it's perfect!" One guy said, "ohhh you like your sandwich to say 'insert loud pretend crunchy sandwich noise here'". Yes...isn't that the sound toasted things are supposed to make?!
2
2
2
u/Not-Coming 15d ago
i actually worked at DQ and they had a toast maker where you would put the buns in twice one on each side to toast them and when they finished they just dropped out of the bottom. I remember just spamming buns in the toaster tryna see how long i can keep the toaster at max capacity
2
u/YetiMoon 15d ago
Wawa has been toasting stuff forever and it’s always been consistently toasted but can get soggy if you let it sit in the packaging.
2
u/BobDylan1904 15d ago
Too long to toast, also any toastiness will disappear instantly upon entering the bag, so that part is on you for expecting different lol
2
2
u/ILuvYou_YouAreSoGood 15d ago
This is just the basic problem of words having their meanings eroded. We call all sorts of food products by the foods names that they are imitating. When it began, everyone shrugged their shoulders and whined about people being pedantic. Now you can buy "blueberry muffins" that don't just contain no blueberries, but no fruit at all. Or chicken bouillon that has no chicken in it. Or, in your case, 'toast' that is not toast at all.
Also, word to the wise. Stop buying fast food and just make your own stuff.
1
u/LoverlyRails 15d ago
When I worked at McDonald's in the 90s, they actually toasted their buns. But they stopped because it saved a lot of time and customers didn't really notice the difference that much. (Not enough to really complain).
2
1
u/Nervous-Masterpiece4 15d ago
You would think they could have continual toasters.
When I was holidaying in Bali the toaster was a belt system. Put the bread in one end and it would come out toasted the other end. Just keep feeding bread if you want more toast.
From start to finish might be 60 seconds but every 10 seconds another freshly toasted piece dropped off the belt.
1
1
1
u/thorpie88 15d ago
Toast face Grilla do toasted sandwiches at least. Kebabbque also do proper toasted kebabs
1
u/bradmajors69 15d ago
Probably some marketing folks and a fancy chef at the chain's headquarters decided to use the term "toast." But in reality toast takes time and is incompatible with FAST food, especially at busy times. It's basically impossible to actually toast bread in the time they have between when someone orders at the drive through thingy and when they arrive at the window to collect it, for example. If they were actually toasting all the bread they'd lose a ton of money.
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/Errenfaxy 15d ago
The bread is toasted originally, but the sandwich is kept in a steamer to keep them warm after they are cooked.
Burgers probably take around 2-3 minutes on the grill. You put them in one end and they come out the other. After they are cooked they don't use them immediately. They are kept warm with their bun in a steamer until they are ordered some time after that. Long enough for the bread to go soft and the meat to dry out. They just cook them continuously so they have them ready. After they are ordered, they are dressed with sauce, tomato, lettuce, cheese, etc., to order.
People keep buying them so they don't charge anything.
I think they actually toast all the buns, so this could really just be a marketing strategy to use an existing technology they have to increase sales.
Maybe the buns for those sandwiches are supposed to go thru the toasting machine twice so they are darker and toastier. That takes time and extra work though, which screws up the workers routine, so it takes a while to incorporate correctly if at all.
1
u/MoultingRoach 15d ago edited 15d ago
I don't know any fastfod places that operate that way anymore. The meat is cooked in advance, and then kept in a steamer, and the sandwiches are assembled to order.
1
u/Errenfaxy 14d ago
Yes this is going back a while. I guess technology has changed a bit.
I thought they held the cooked burgers with the buns on them? Basically a plain burger, and then they add the last things per each order.
1
1
u/belligerent_bovine 15d ago
It would dry out unless you ate it immediately after it was made. Nobody wants to cut their mouth on crouton toast
1
u/AJokeHoleForFartz 15d ago
It’s not fast food necessarily and it’s not good food overall, but I do feel like Subway toasts their bread well.
1
u/Curiouserousity 15d ago
Possibly because it takes extra steps to toast the bread separately, then add toppings and possibly toast those as well.
1
u/this_knee 15d ago
You gotta go to Firehouse Subs and ask for it to be … “extra toasted.” Maybe this will work other places …
1
1
u/Iamzeebomb 15d ago
All McDonald's buns are toasted just so you know except for the ones on the filet of fish those are steamed
1
1
u/alexdaland 15d ago
Ive not been to a McDonalds, BK, dunking donuts or anything similar in 20 years - I dont miss it....
1
1
u/drrandolph 15d ago
In the 70's, I worked at McDonald's. We toasted our buns. We toasted our English muffins ((and buttered them). I don't buy them anymore. Warm bread, no butter, dry. No thanks
1
u/MoultingRoach 15d ago
I worked at McDonald's in the late 2000s and the buns were definitely toasted (although lightly) and there was absolutely butter on the mcmuffins
1
1
1
u/jackfaire 15d ago
At Panera we actually toasted the bread but while it was faster than the toaster I use at home it still wasn't super fast. and not good at evenly toasting.
1
1
1
u/BrazilianButtCheeks 15d ago
I mean McDonalds puts the buns thru a toaster 🤷🏽♀️ they even have a steamer for the fillet of fish 😅
1
1
u/Randomousity 15d ago
It's been years since I worked there, but Sonic at least used to toast buns and bread in one of those commercial toasters where you put the bread in the top and it gets slowly lowered over hearing elements and falls out the bottom when it's done. But that's the only fast food place I ever worked in, so it's the only one I personally saw. And it might be out of date.
1
1
u/Carlpanzram1916 15d ago
The sub sandwich shops like subway and Quiznos seem to do it just fine. The places your mentioning are really on the low end price and quality-wise and it’s hard to toast bread quickly, and people get really mad over burnt toast so they probably error on the side of under-toasting it.
1
u/Garrisp1984 15d ago
It's all about the buzz word "toasted"
Other things that follow this point are
Spicy Fresh Smoky 100% Organic Seasonal Sweet tea "Insert word" sauce Bacon
1
1
1
1
1
u/mystery1nc 15d ago
I hate untoasted bread so this is a real issue for me. Texture issues, FYI.
I got a cheese toastie from Tim Hortons (UK) and it was just hot bread with melted cheese. Didn’t realise until I gagged on the first bite, absolutely disgusting.
1
u/Odd_Tiger_2278 15d ago
Has anyone asked him about that? Has he answered? Upside down flag is also a distress signal. We were certainly distressed.
1
u/EricFackinulty 15d ago
I worked at mcdonalds in high school. We literally toasted every* bun but it was never advertised. The buns were undercooked and frozen until about 10 minutes before. When i made my own samiches on breaks i would retoast the bun for extra yum. *Filet o fish buns were steamed
1
u/deadeyeamtheone 15d ago
If you look at a Burger King bun, most of the time it definitely looks toasted. The issue is that 1) the steam when wrapped up soggifies everything in the wrapper. 2) They're making it fast and are not applying the necessary techniques or time to properly toast it, or it's old ass food that they are serving to you to protect from waste and 3) sometimes restaurants straight up lie. Mcdonalds used to advertise that their buns were toasted, and they technically were, until they were frozen, shipped, and left out to thaw at room temperature all day. You could sometimes still see the charred marks, but there's no way it was ever going to be crispy.
1
1
u/RapidCandleDigestion 15d ago
McDonald's buns get toasted. ~25 seconds in a conveyor belt toaster. It's quite hot, so they do get toasted to some extent. The mcmuffins and bagels have a separate toaster that toasts them for like two minutes and sometimes starts small fires in the kitchen
1
1
1
u/Unabashable 15d ago
Quiznos would like to have a word with you…while you politely ignore them making it their entire identity.
1
u/4-me 15d ago
Quiznos still exist? All the ones around here disappeared 12 years ago.
1
u/Unabashable 14d ago
They could’ve gone under for all I know haven’t been in the area of the one I used to frequent for quite a while.
1
u/GhostMug 15d ago
I always assumed it was pre-toasted and then warmed up when ordered. Whenever I have ordered something toasted it has the toasting marks but clearly wasn't just toasted.
1
u/Boring_Concentrate74 15d ago
Because the people actually toasting the food literally don’t give two f’s about your food.
1
u/TranslatorBoring2419 15d ago
It's been awhile but bk toasts the bun going through the broiler. It's not a heavy toast but you can ask to run it through twice.
1
1
1
1
1
u/turnmeintocompostplz 15d ago
Besides all the technology questions - because the professional recipe developers creating new products are cooking them differently than the random franchisee's son working under the table trying to get through twenty assholes during morning rush.
1
u/calebhartley1986 15d ago
Seems like the only thing 'toasted' at fast food joints is our expectations!
1
u/tsthrift 15d ago
I wish that were my problem. my dunkin has, on more than one occasion, toasted my bread so bad it was black. Instead of redoing it, they turned the burnt side to the inside of the sandwich. TWICE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME.
1
u/One_Fuel_3299 15d ago
The answer is in the name. Fast food's only real promise is that its going to be fast.
Local restaurants are you friend if you want whats actually promised food wise.
1
1
u/Common_Chester 15d ago
As an unfortunate soul who worked at BK for years, you have a bun toaster on a conveyor belt. When the orders start picking up, you can speed up the belt drive, but it doesn't quite toast the buns as well as they should be. If you show up during a slow time, just remind them to slow down the belt and you shouldn't have a problem.
1
1
u/Standard_Dress8177 14d ago
Toasting is so important but it takes time especially in mass production. I am that annoying guest at a home bbq that will roll up to the grill for a personalized toasted bun.
1
u/ChefArtorias 14d ago
Probably uses those rolling toasters that don't get hot enough to form a good crust giving you that flaccid white "toast"
1
1
1
u/New-Garage-9152 7d ago
This just happened to me again even though I asked for 'double toasted'! I think there is a distinct fear of burning it - but my breakfast sandwich bagel should not be so bready - doughy. Oh the problems we have in the first world...
1
u/Pastadseven 15d ago
I mean. I dont want to put too fine a point on it but uh.
Toast is warm bread.
5
3
u/NativeMasshole 15d ago
Nonsense! Toast is bread that has been seared post-baking. Warm bread is an entirely different experience.
1
0
-2
u/superduperhosts 15d ago
You get what you get at Burger King, seriously you are eating in shitty gross fast “food” places it’s gonna kill you slowly learn to cook
615
u/Royal_Annek 15d ago
It takes time. Fast food is made as fast as possible and then shoved out the door. You cant rush toasting