/ 12 January 2005

A cut-and-toasted solution

For all those concerned about the texture of their toast, a Japanese manufacturer said on Wednesday it has created a ”super toaster” that heats the bread a split-second after slicing it.

Billed as a first, the super toaster can hold two loaves of bread and slice them with internal blades before making them crispy with infrared light.

”Because bread is sliced immediately before being toasted, you can enjoy its fine texture and taste,” said Kenji Nakagawa, president of Neutral, a food-equipment firm in the northern city of Sapporo.

Diners, however, will still have to spread butter on their toast manually.

Neutral plans to market the toaster for about 1,1-million yen (R60 000) from April and is studying ways to take the product to overseas markets.

Whatever market may exist among finicky eaters, Nakagawa said the main clients are expected to be convenience stores, hotels, hospitals and company cafeterias.

”We have received strong interest from hoteliers who have nice bread but have not been able to offer it freshly toasted to their guests,” he noted. — Sapa-AFP