Burning 101

I totally missed this part (see above comment about being a natural at this, lol)-will have to borrow the library copy again.

I thought I was the only one who had done this! It was a lovely lamb roast whose drippings had failed to achieve an adequate degree of charring, so I exploded it all over the kitchen in revenge.

You might want to hop on foodpickle and commiserate with Peter regarding his applesauce tragedy and the imminent loss of his favorite Le Creuset pot for similar reasons... I think he's on a last ditch effort to reclaim it this weekend. That is, when he isn't poaching ostrich eggs for brunch!

This is what I love about food52 . . . so many interesting and exciting variations on a basic but important recipe, and a community eager to share those brilliant ideas! Love it. The addition of pure sugar is a stroke of genius! Have put this on my "must-try-this-weekend" list!! ;o)

Thank you for reminding us of the power of sugar in incernation recipes! The joy of watching it go from carmel to black and the heat and the smoke - not to mention the honor of clean up. Antonia James is absolutely correct - this is a community sharing brilliant ideas.

Among the already fascinating uses for burned sugar, burned caramel will do an excellent job of removing the bottom from a triple-ply stainless steel pan.

In fact, it will even separate all 3 of the layers in a nice little anatomy of a pan lesson.

I declare a winner!

I agree, this is impressive indeed! Our fire department charges a hefty fee after the first false alarm during any twelve-month period, so I haven't had the opportunity to perfect this technique. I've tried in vain to convince the alarm/security company not to call the fire department unless I tell them it's okay, first. Unfortunately, their lawyers won't let them agree to that. I've been told that there might be insurance issues there, as well. I have, however, completely destroyed three LeCrueset French ovens using this bean burning technique. I really envy the public nuisance variation, though. ;o)

I second the motion!

I find that working in the garage or someplace outside of the house altogether really produces the deepest, most thorough burn. Plus, you get that fabulous ultra-dark smell throughout the entire house that way. Walking down the block to mail letters is another good technique, especially if your neighbors are out working in their yard and you can stop and chat for awhile. ;o)

Or try this. Take the garbage out, and on the way back notice the first sign of spring: weeds! And say to yourself, if I pull them now, well you know the rest. Then wonder what that odd noise is . . .

Do you have a doggy you could walk? That would probably do the trick! And chat with the neighbors :-) Hey TB I messaged you from this site, did you get it?

You haven't achieved that perfect charcoal unless you can't get the smell out of your house for at least 2 days afterwards.

Mmmmm, good aagersi! And the the dog spies a rabbit and pulls the leash out of your hand!

Another fool proof technique is to leave for a doctor's appointment and suddenly remember as you arrive at the dr.'s office door. Then rush back to find your perfectly incinerated toast.

Geez, recently, I didn’t even need to leave the house, or be distracted by anything; I was blind baking a pie crust using old beans on some foil, went to take it out of the oven, part of the mitt I was wearing hit against the stove, spilling beans to the bottom of the oven, they started smoking, turned off the oven and shut the door, luckily the bottom elements in my oven are covered. The alarm went off, I can’t reach it without a ladder (I’m only 5ft.), and husband drove up just as I was hauling the ladder into the house, just in time to turn off the alarm. Needed to vacuum out all the beans, once the oven cooled and just the other day as I opened the oven’s bottom drawer a couple beans fell out!

been remembering this, Liz ;)