This completely random thought occurred to me as I was laying down for a nap.

They don't have toasters, so how do they make toast?

And if they don't have toasters, why did they call them toast?

Is there a bread toasting spell?


Nap time!

 

Perhaps the most important question ever asked on the forums!!

Without muggle integration they would not think to call burnt bread toast. Perhaps a toasting charm was invented by a muggleborn who wanted to bring toast to the wizarding world?

It is one of those questions like 'Why do wizards celebrate Christmas?'

 

Well, Muggles did eat toast before toasters were invented...

Wizards use cookers to cook, so it's not too far a stretch to say that they have grills too, which is where I make my toast. They may even have toasters, since they have radios and cameras. Or there could indeed be a charm for it, in one of those many books on cooking with magic that Molly has. Or maybe they cook it above the fire, or use a fire charm, or use any of the many other ways it could be achieved...

 

We use all kinds of tricks to toast bread over an open fire when out camping.

Yak.

 

Grilled toast = the shit. It toasts much nicer.

 

It's a lot easier to keep control of toast that's been made in the grill - you can flip it over when its browned to the point where you like it. A grill also (usually) can fit more bread in it that a toaster.

The only downside of course being that it takes longer.

 

Pans are bulky, require cleaning, not suited to large fires without burning your hands, and too heavy to hold above the flame if you stick a long handle on 'em. A long-handled toasting fork is much easier to work with, or the long-handled sandwich toaster was always popular as a kid.

We also sometimes used a toast rack that had a fine wire mesh over a gas stove. This was very light and has near zero cleaning. But it only counts if you're already hauling around a camp stove.

I don't really go camping anymore. Where we live now, fires are banned year round. There's too many bush fires from lightning strikes and power lines.

Yak.

 

My gas grill is faster than my toaster. The only downside for me is that I can't walk away and leave it because in about 10 seconds it alights

 

Avada Kedavra was originally meant to toast bread; that whole 'death' thing is just a nasty side effect discovered by a chef with poor aim. And an exceptionally unlucky assistant.

 

Lol you mean burnt toast right?

 

The biggest plot hole Rowling has ever made. Right up there with why the hell cameras work in Hogwarts, but other muggle devices won't.

 

Old cameras didn't use batteries; that's why Creevey's camera was bulky and retarded.

As for toast: Preparing French toast - everything used in french toast except butter and bread = toast

 

Toasting over a fire works (I've done it before) or over a campstove but I never like the results - it dries the bread out even more than a regular toaster does!

However, I daresay they use something like forks (two pronged) that they used in the middle ages for toasting bread over a fire. You would use it in a similar way to toasting a marshmellow...

 

I'm sure I read an article about an interview a couple of years ago where JKR admitted that was a mistake. It had been her intention all along that muggle devices would not work at Hogwarts. A fan then asked her about Colin's muggle camera, and she then realised her mistake. It was too late to change it by then though.

Hmm. I might be spreading lies. I can't find that interview and this is what JKR and the Lexicon have to say about the matter:

http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/faq_view.cfm?id=81
http://www.hp-lexicon.org/magic/devices/devices_a-g.html#camera

Yak.

 

JKR nowadays reminds me way too much of Carrie Fisher when she was doped out on heroin and the like.

 

Except wealthier and more useless.

 

Does anyone else get the sense she's struggling to dig herself out of the hole she's made?

 

Toast is an intentional anomaly in the HP universe. JKR wanted to enable Rocky Horror/Harry Potter crossovers.

(Don't forget your copy of the Plain Dealer. The Daily Prophet won't cut it, virgins).

- Perspicacity (Got my cards for "I'm going home...").