What household appliance uses infrared radiation?

A toaster uses infrared radiation to generate heat for toasting bread. When you turn on a toaster, it activates heating elements that emit infrared radiation, which is absorbed by the surface of the bread. This radiation energizes the molecules in the bread, leading to an increase in temperature that causes browning and toasting.

In contrast, a washing machine primarily uses mechanical action and water for cleaning, not radiation. A refrigerator works by removing heat from its interior using a refrigeration cycle, and although it can emit some infrared radiation, that is not its primary function. A microwave oven uses microwaves—a different part of the electromagnetic spectrum—to excite water molecules for cooking and heating food, rather than relying on infrared radiation.