Bread is placed between two sheets of heated glass and cooked in full view so you can eject your slice at the perfect moment.  A traditional timer dial is still incorporated for people who are too busy to keep an eye on their bread.

Click to enlarge

Melinda Hart from product developer Inventables said: "This transparent toaster allows you to see bread while it is toasting so you're never surprised by toast that comes out too dark.

"This idea is based on a transparent heating glass technology."

But it's not all good news. The current design, with a chrome base and neatly cut glass, only fits one piece of bread at a time.

And as one online reviewer notes of the invention: "I bet the glass is a right sod to keep clean."