How to Prepare a Pop Tart

Co-authored by Hannah Madden

Last Updated: March 26, 2023 References Tested

Toaster

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Microwave

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Toaster Oven

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Video

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Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

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Things You'll Need

ARTICLE

VIDEO

Pop Tarts are delicious small pastries that you can eat for breakfast or as a snack. Although you can eat Pop Tarts straight out of the package, they taste a little better when they’re warmed up. You can use the tools in your kitchen to heat up any flavor of Pop Tart to make them taste great.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Toaster

1
Take the Pop Tart out of the foil package. All Pop Tarts come in a metal foil package with 2 Pop Tarts in each. You can eat 1 or 2 Pop Tarts at a time, depending on how hungry you are.^{[1]
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- If you don’t want to eat the second Pop Tart, put it into a plastic bag so that it doesn’t get stale.
2
Set your toaster to the lowest setting. Since Pop Tarts aren’t very thick, they can get burned if you toast them on a high setting. Turn the dial on your toaster all the way down so that you Pop Tart will get warm but not burnt.^{[2]
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- You can turn your toaster to a higher setting if you want your Pop Tart a little more well-done, but keep an eye on it so that it doesn’t burn.
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3
Toast your Pop Tart for about 1 minute. Place your Pop Tart into the toaster vertically and let it toast on the lowest setting. For most toasters, this lasts about 1 minute. Keep an eye on your Pop Tart and take it out of the toaster if the edges or the icing start to turn black.^{[3]
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- If your toaster doesn’t have a low setting, you can set a timer for 1 minute and just take your Pop Tart out manually.
4
Wait for 30 seconds to let the Pop Tart cool down. It will be tempting to grab your Pop Tart out of the toaster right away, but it’s going to be hot! Leave your Pop Tart in the toaster for about 30 seconds so that it doesn’t burn you.^{[4]
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5
Grab your Pop Tart with your fingers and put it on a plate. Carefully grab the top of your Pop Tart and transfer it to a plate. Since it’s already cooled down in the toaster, it should be cool enough to eat.^{[5]
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Warning: Never use a fork or a knife to grab your Pop Tart out of the toaster. Metal conducts electricity, so you could get shocked.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Microwave

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Unwrap the Pop Tart and take it out of the foil package. Pop Tarts come in a metal foil package, so you need to take them out before you put them in the microwave. You can heat up 1 or both of the Pop Tarts at a time depending on how much you want to eat.^{[6]
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Warning: Putting metal foil in the microwave is super dangerous and could cause a fire.
2
Put the Pop Tart on a microwave-safe plate. Make sure the plate you are using is safe to go into the microwave by checking on the back. It should say “microwave-safe” somewhere on the label. Center your Pop Tart in the middle of the plate so that it gets heated evenly.^{[7]
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- If you don’t have a microwave-safe plate, use a paper towel instead.
3
Microwave your Pop Tart for 3 seconds. Since Pop Tarts are pretty thin, they don’t need to go in the microwave for a long time. Set the timer for 3 seconds and make sure the microwave stops.^{[8]
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- It may seem silly to only microwave your Pop Tart for 3 seconds, but that’s all the heat it needs!
4
Wait for about 10 seconds before picking up your Pop Tart. Your Pop Tart may be a little warm, so let it sit in the microwave for a little bit before you grab it. Then, you can pick up your Pop Tart and dig in.^{[9]
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- If your plate got super hot in the microwave, use an oven mitt to grab it out so you don’t hurt your hands.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Toaster Oven

1
Take the Pop Tarts out of the foil package. You can toast 1 of the Pop Tarts or take both out at the same time. Make sure the foil wrapping is completely off of the Pop Tarts and then throw it away.^{[10]
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- If you aren’t going to eat the second Pop Tart, seal it in a plastic bag and save it for later.
2
Place your Pop Tarts on the middle rack of the toaster oven. Make sure the frosting side is pointed upwards so that it doesn’t burn. Try to put the Pop Tarts onto the center part of the middle rack so they get toasted evenly.^{[11]
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- If your toaster oven has 2 racks, put your Pop Tart on the top one.
3
Set the timer for 1 to 3 minutes. Make sure your toaster oven is on the “toasting” setting. Click the timer over until it’s at 1 to 3 minutes, then wait for your Pop Tart to crisp up.^{[12]
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- The longer your Pop Tart is in the toaster oven, the more crispy it will be.
4
Use a pair of tongs to grab your Pop Tart. The Pop Tart will probably be pretty hot, so don’t use your bare hands. Instead, grab a pair of tongs or a spatula and gently pull the Pop Tart out of the toaster oven and onto a plate. Enjoy your warm Pop Tart!^{[13]
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Tip: If your Pop Tart isn’t toasted enough, put it back into the toaster oven for about 1 minute.

Community Q&A

Question

How long do I need to heat it in the toaster?

Community Answer

You should heat it for 1-3 minutes, depending on how toasted you want it to be.
Question

Are there different heating techniques for different flavors?

Community Answer

No, they should all be the same.
Question

How long does it take to heat a Pop Tart in the oven or microwave?

Community Answer

Generally, 30-40 seconds, but every microwave is a different intensity, so you might have to do some adjusting.

Warnings

Let your Pop Tart cool down before picking it up or eating it so that you don’t burn yourself.

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Helpful 3 Not Helpful 1
Always take your Pop Tart out of the package before putting it in the toaster or microwave.

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