Toast Buns

Perfectly toasted buns are crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. You can toast nearly any type of bun, and the process can be completed with a broiler, stovetop pan, grill, toaster oven, or toaster.

Ingredients

Makes 1 serving

• 1 sandwich bun or hotdog bun
• 1 Tbsp (15 ml) butter, melted

Steps

Method One: Broiler

1. Preheat the broiler. Switch on the oven's broiler setting and allow it to preheat for roughly 5 minutes. (10 minutes for ovens with broilers in base)
   • Meanwhile, pull out a small baking sheet. If don't correctly, the bun should not stick to the baking sheet, so there's no need to cover the pan with foil or cooking spray.
   • Note that this method can be used to toast hamburger-style sandwich buns, sub-style sandwich buns, and hotdog buns.
2. Brush the open bun with melted butter. Split open the bun and brush melted butter over the cut sides of both halves.
   • You only need to spread butter over the cut sides of the bun; leave the crust sides dry.
   • When spreading the butter, make sure that you coat the entire cut side, including the edges. The edges are especially prone to burning if left dry.
3. Broil for 30 to 60 seconds. Set the bun halves cut-side up onto the prepared baking sheet. Slide the baking sheet beneath your preheated broiler and keep it there until the bun halves turn golden brown.
   • The bun halves will brown quickly, so you need to watch them closely to prevent them from burning.
   • Since the heating element of broiler lies at the top of the oven, the cut sides of the bun halves must face the top of the oven. You only need to toast the cut sides of the bun, so you do not need to turn the bun halves during the browning process.
4. Serve. Enjoy the toasted bun while it's still hot and crispy.

Method Two: Stovetop

1. Preheat the pan. Place a skillet, griddle, or grill pan onto a stove burner set to medium heat. Allow the pan to heat for approximately 30 seconds.
   • Any pan should work as long as it has a large enough base to hold the bun halves.
   • Avoid using higher heat settings. High heat can cause the bun to brown—and burn—too quickly.
   • This method can be used for hamburger-style sandwich buns, sub-style sandwich buns, and hotdog buns.
2. Paint the open bun with melted butter. Open the bun and brush melted butter over the cut sides of both halves.
   • Spread the butter over the entire cut side, paying special attention to the edges. Dry edges can burn quickly when exposed to heat.
   • Note that you do not need to brush any melted butter over the crust of the bun.
3. Toast for 10 to 20 seconds. Place the bun halves cut-side down into the hot pan. Toast, without moving, until both cut surfaces turn light golden brown.
   • Check the buns after 10 seconds or so. If they still look too light, you can return them to the hot pan and toast them for a little longer. Progress slowly, though, since the buns can burn quickly if left unattended.
   • Only the cut sides need to be toasted, so you do not need to flip the bun halves during the toasting process.
4. Serve. Remove the bun from the pan and use it immediately to enjoy the best texture.

Method Three: Grill

1. Preheat the grill for indirect heat. Preheat the grill as usual, leaving one section open for indirect heating.
   • Both charcoal and gas grills can be used for this. Indoor electric grills will work, too.
   • Since toasting the buns will take a very short amount of time, it's best to use this method only when you are already using the grill to cook something else, such as hamburgers or hotdogs. If you have not yet set up an area of the grill for indirect heat, wait until the rest of your food is done, then turn off one of the burners or push aside some of the hot coals. Allow the newly emptied area to cool for several minutes before toasting the buns there.
   • This method can be used for all bun styles: standard sandwich buns, sub sandwich buns, and hotdog buns.
2. Brush melted butter onto the open bun. Split open the bun and lightly paint both cut sides with melted butter.
   • Coat the cut sides of the bun thoroughly, spreading the butter all the way to the edges. Dry ends will likely burn.
   • You do not need to paint the butter over the crust side.
3. Grill for 10 to 15 seconds. Place the bun halves directly on top of the grill grate, keeping both cut sides face-down. Carefully grill the halves until the cut surfaces turn light golden brown.
   • Make sure that you place the bun halves over the indirect heat. Sitting them over direct heat will increase the likelihood of burning them.
   • Check the progress after roughly 10 seconds. You can return the bun to the grill if it needs more time, but buns tend to brown quickly, so you need to work in small intervals to prevent them from burning.
   • You do not need to turn the bun halves while grilling them since only the cut sides need to become toasted.
4. Serve. Remove the bun halves from the grill and use them while they're still hot and crispy.

Method Four: Toaster Oven

1. Preheat the toaster oven. Switch the setting dial to "Broil" and turn the thermostat dial to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (230 degrees Celsius).
   • Even though toaster ovens also have a “Toast” setting, the “Broil” setting is ideal for toasting buns. The “Toast” setting uses both the upper and lower heating elements, so both sides of each bun half will brown, resulting in drier, crumblier bread. The “Broil” setting, on the other hand, only uses the upper heating element, so one side of each bun half will brown and crisp while the other side remains soft.
   • You should be able to use this method for hamburger-style sandwich buns, sub-style sandwich buns, and hotdog buns.
2. Paint both halves of the bun with melted butter. Open the bun and thoroughly brush both cut sides with the melted butter.
   • You do not need to coat the crust side in butter.
   • Make sure that the entire cut side is coated with butter, however, including the edges. The edges will be the first part to burn if left dry.
3. Toast for 1 to 2 minutes. Place the split buns directly onto the toaster oven grate, keeping the cut sides face-up. Set the timer dial for 2 minutes, but watch the buns closely as they toast and remove them once the cut sides turn a light golden color.
   • Do not cover the grate with foil or place the bun halves on top of a baking sheet. The bun should go directly on top of the grate itself.
   • Watch the bun halves closely throughout the toasting process. They may finish sooner than 2 minutes, or they may require a little more time. Work in relatively short intervals, though, to minimize the risk of accidentally burning the bun.
4. Serve. Use the buns immediately for the best texture and overall experience.

Method Five: Toaster

1. Split the bun. Separate the sandwich bun into its two halves.
   • Note that you do not need to apply any butter to the bun halves before inserting them into the toaster.
   • This method of toasting will only work for hamburger-style sandwich buns, and you'll need a toaster with large enough slots to accommodate the bun halves. You won't be able to use this method for hotdog buns or sub sandwich buns.
2. Toast the bun on medium heat. Turn the toaster dial to a medium-range heat setting. Place the bun halves inside and press the lever down, then wait for toaster to automatically finish its heating cycle.
   • It shouldn't matter which direction the bun halves face when you insert them into the toaster. Unlike the other methods, this procedure will toast the bun halves on both sides, resulting in a bun that is drier and more crumbly.
   • Toasters can vary in strength, so watch the browning progress through the top of the toaster to make sure the buns won't burn. If the bun halves begin to look too dark, press the lever upward to eject the bun quicker.
3. Serve. Use the buns while they are still hot and crispy.

Tips

• For a simple boost in flavor, consider mixing a pinch of garlic powder into the melted butter before brushing it onto the bun.

Things You'll Need

Broiler

• Oven
• Baking sheet
• Pastry brush
• Knife (optional)

Stovetop

• Skillet, grill pan, or griddle
• Stove
• Pastry brush
• Knife (optional)

Grill

• Grill
• Pastry brush
• Tongs
• Knife (optional)

Toaster Oven

• Toaster oven
• Pastry brush
• Knife (optional)

Toaster

• Toaster
• Knife (optional)

Sources and Citations

See also

• Make Hot Cross Buns
• Fix Dough That Won't Rise
• Make Steamed Buns
• Make Rice Krispie Buns