The story of toast bread
According to archaeological research, flour was already being used around 30,000 years ago. People made flatbreads from it, which can be considered the ancestors of modern bread.
In Ancient Greece, bread was also used for ritual purposes and offered to gods during various ceremonies. Wheat and barley were among the first domesticated crops, and according to researchers, the development of bread-making also played a role in encouraging people to settle down and gradually abandon their nomadic lifestyles.
The type of bread we know today is believed to have originated in Ancient Egypt. Egyptians observed that dough left exposed to air would rise, and after baking, retain its shape. They were also the first to use enclosed ovens.
Bread was held in such high regard that workers building the pyramids were often paid with it. Leavened bread was considered more valuable than flatbread, although it had one drawback: when left in the open air, it quickly became hard and less enjoyable to eat.
People eventually discovered that slicing and toasting bread made it enjoyable to eat again.
The Romans also adopted the tradition of toasting bread. The word toast itself has Latin origins, derived from “tostum,” meaning “to burn” or “to scorch.”
At first, bread slices were toasted directly over open fire. Later, special tools were created for this purpose, including wire frames and roasting sticks.
The first electric toaster was invented in 1893 by Scottish inventor Alan MacMasters, although it was not particularly successful. Its iron wires often melted, making it a fire hazard, and electricity was not yet widely available.
In 1905, two inventors from Chicago developed a safer version, followed by a wave of similar products entering the market. These early toasters only toasted one side of the bread, requiring users to manually flip the slice.
In 1913, this issue was solved with the invention of the automatic bread-turning toaster, followed by semi-automatic models that switched off heating elements after a certain time. The modern timed pop-up toaster was introduced in 1919.
One final innovation was needed to simplify breakfast preparation even further: sliced bread.
Otto Frederick Rohwedder invented the world’s first automatic bread slicer. He built his first prototype in 1912, but unfortunately both the machine and his plans were destroyed in a fire in 1917.
He had to start over from scratch, facing skepticism from bakers who doubted pre-sliced bread would remain fresh enough for sale.
Finally, in 1927, Rohwedder successfully rebuilt his machine. After several modifications, including immediate wax-paper packaging after slicing, the first sliced toast bread was sold on July 7, 1928, by the Chillicothe Baking Company.
The product became an instant success, with consumers loving the pre-sliced Kleen Maid Sliced Bread brand.
In 1930, Wonder Bread helped popularize toast bread internationally by further improving Rohwedder’s invention. By 1933, bakeries were already selling more sliced bread than unsliced loaves.
Pre-sliced bread also accelerated the spread of toasters, as consumers realized how quickly and conveniently breakfast could be prepared.
Today, toasters can be found in approximately 88% of American households.
Our Toast Bread Selection
We offer several varieties and flavours of toast bread.
American-style toast bread is characterized by larger slices, and two versions are available in our webshop: White and Wholegrain.
Within our Pantastico! Bauletto product range, customers can choose from four varieties:
White
8 Seeds
Wholegrain
Durum
Long-lasting freshness and shelf life are ensured by innovative packaging technology, allowing the product to remain free from preservatives and additives.
In addition, several other toast bread varieties are available on the shelves of hypermarkets and discount stores.
