[arghwhat]

Is it labelled "bagel", or is it a symbol that could be interpreted? What you describe is what the "defrost" feature of the linked circuit would do.

I have certainly misinterpreted iconography completely before...

[sotix]

It's labeled bagel, and there is a separate defrost button. According to this[0] manual from Cuisinart, "The bagel feature adds extra time to the toasting cycle to allow for thicker breads." So there's our answer!

[0] https://www.cuisinart.ca/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-ca-cui...