One of the various things that doesn't make The Manual's list of daily or weekly tasks in the kitchen is cleaning small appliances. Like the toaster. The icebox and range are covered, but the authors never hit on the toaster. Is it because they weren't yet common enough in American kitchens by 1945? Maybe the authors didn't want their non-toaster owning readers to feel slighted? Not to worry, care of toasters is covered in a chapter near the back of the book titled Small Electrical Equipment --- or "electrical servants" as the authors call them.
1. The metal shell in some toasters may be removed to brush out crumbs.
2. A collection of crumbs in the bottom of the toaster may cause a short circuit. Use a soft brush (a pastry brush does nicely) to brush out crumbs. If it is necessary to shake the toaster, be gentle about it. Violent thumping or shaking damages the fine wires.
3. "Warped" slices of bread are apt to stick to the wires; use even slices for best results.
4. Wipe the outside of the toaster with a soft cloth wrung out of warm soapsuds. Rinse with a cloth wrung out of clear water. Polish with a soft dry cloth.
5. Never immerse the toaster in water.
My own dear toaster is a vintage Toastmaster - an "Automatic Pop-up" model. It's a heavy little piece and awkward to move when I clean the counter underneath it, but it makes a lovely ticking sound as it toasts my whole grain bread in the morning. Sadly, I don't take very good care of it. There's a crumb tray on the bottom which can be unlatched and pulled forward to brush the crumbs away (though I rarely do it). I'll swipe the top or sides of it as I'm cleaning the kitchen --- but only once in a blue moon. Sounds like it's high time that my toaster made it onto my list of chores for the kitchen!
I don't own a pastry brush, but I'll add that to my shopping list so I can do a more thorough job cleaning that crumb tray. For now, I'll tip the toaster on its side, open the crumb tray, and try to clean it out that way. Before I clean the countertop. When the counter is clean and dry, I'll move the toaster back into place and clean off the outside before moving on to my next task.
How are your toast-making skills? Believe it or not, The American Woman's Cook Book (1945) actually includes a recipe for Buttered Toast, presumably for the most inexperienced, young housewives in the group. And Milk Toast, for the housewives who were nursing invalids. Ooh, yes, and a recipe for Cinnamon Toast. How decadent that sounds to this hungry little reducer!
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Cinnamon Toast
Spread hot toast with butter and sprinkle generously with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon. Place on the top shelf of the oven or under the broiler just long enough to melt the sugar.
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7 comments:
Thanks for the toaster cleaning tips. It is definitely a job to clean even a modern toaster. Next to impossible to get all the crumbs out.
As for toast, I couldn't live without it. Scrumptious butter toast and even more decadent cinnamon toast. Used to have it almost every summer morning at my grandparents' cabin. Thanks for reminding me of those great memories. I know what I'm having for breakfast :)
You're an inspiration! It sounds like you're actually getting used to the 1940's mixed with 2009 way of life!
MMMM, I love toast and my kids LOVE cinnamon toast. I just love the I love Lucy episodes with a toaster in them, In one Ricky is reading the paper and Lucy points the toaster at him , with out moving Rick still reading the paper reaches up and catches the toast. If you remember they always said filmed before a LIVE audience. I think the toaster was a very popular appliance. My dad always said if someone wasn't feeling well they should have toast.( Dad was born in 1921) Banks loved to give you a toaster and with wedding gifts, the most popular was a toaster. Every handy man could fix your toaster. ( no tossing in landfills) NOW i think I will go have some toast and tea for breakfast. have a good day all. Love to learn along with you about the heart and home . (Next you will need to research what those old mixers could do.)
Funny you should post this. I just did a major clean-up on my mom's toaster. It is always clean on the outside, but seldom gets emptied.
Hint: Toss the crumbs out for the birds. Careful vacuuming helps clean up the leftover crumbs. (Seems when the toaster is tipped up again, more crumbs fall out.) Wiping just seems to spread them around.
That cinnamon toast recipe sounds wonderful. We just shake cinnamon and sugar on buttered toast.
I just got that cookbook!
Cinnamon toast, mmmm!
You have made me want to go clean my toaster.
lpm
Thanks for reminding me of the tick tick the toaster use to make . Funny those little things make it feel like home. My husbands comment was "oh she's got a good one!"
I have a retro toaster but it is missing that lovely sound.
My Great Aunt use to make toast in the morning and cut it in strips for me she called little soldiers.
Mandy, I hope you enjoyed your breakfast!
Angel, I think there's so much we can benefit from when it comes to the past, don't you? Just makes 2009 a richer place to be for me...
Mrs Tailleur, I wonder if Lucille and Desi used to practice the toast trick at home and that's how they got so good at it on set. :) I'm glad mine doesn't pop up quite that powerfully. There'd be toast all over my kitchen!
Packrat, I learned firsthand last night that the crumbs keep falling out even after you've cleaned out the crumb tray! Well, they're one of the easiest messes in the kitchen to clean up, that's for sure. I've always eaten my cinnamon toast the same way as at your house, but the recipe does sound interesting.
lpm, keep us posted if you try any of the recipes. There's some strange stuff in there, but some treasures, too.
Awwww, Jeanne, your hubby's a sweetheart. I love the story about your toast soldiers!
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