How does bread turn to toast?

Bread turns into toast through a process called toasting. Here's how it works:

1. Heat application: Bread is exposed to high heat, typically from a toaster, oven, or pan.

2. Moisture evaporation: The heat causes water molecules within the bread to evaporate. This process is called dehydration.

3. Starch gelatinization: As the bread dries, the starch granules within it gelatinize. This means the starch molecules absorb water and swell, becoming soft and translucent.

4. Maillard reaction: The high heat also triggers the Maillard reaction, a complex chemical process that occurs between sugars and amino acids. This reaction is responsible for the browning and development of flavor in toast.

5. Caramelization: Sugars in the bread caramelize, producing a sweet, nutty flavor.

6. Crispy texture: As the bread continues to dry and the starch gelatinizes, it becomes more rigid and develops a crispy texture.

Essentially, toasting is a combination of dehydration, starch gelatinization, and chemical reactions that transform the soft, moist texture of bread into a crunchy, golden-brown toast.