too bad this didn't make it. I think it is a very interesting picture and a good idea. Maybe just a little more of the black smoke would have been good.
'7' likely - good set up, likely a crop variation (depending what you had to work with of course), to cut out more of the toaster and perhaps include more of the black smoke at the top may have made this better in my opinion.
I've seen this before IN MY KITCHEN ... lol ... there is a burnt toast challenge entry, but I like yours. The exposure is damn near perfect considering you had to expose for steel and flame. 8