A cheese dish, or toaster, is a utensil for toasting cheese on bread before an open fire. It is in the form of a rectangular hot water dish. Inside this example are six individual ramekins of Sheffield plate. Extending from the finial on the lid to a hook on the back is a short chain. A piece of toast is placed in each pan and covered with cheese; then the toaster with its lid partially raised and kept open by the chain is held before the fire and the heat, reflected by the brightly burnished interior of the raised lid , melts and browns the cheese. The hot water compartment below the interior plate is filled through a spout, with a hinged flap at either side. The hot water serves to keep the toast warm while the cheese is melting. These toasters were introduced in about 1760-1780 and continued to be made until about 1830.

Sheffield plate originated, with the discovery in 1742, that bars of silver and copper, in unequal proportions, fused by heating under pressure, could be rolled into sheets of laminated metal and worked like silver. The industry this material created flourished for about 100 years until superseded by electroplating in the 1840s.