New inexpensive incendiary device

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Strawberry Pop Tarts can potentially cause significant fires when left in malfunctioning toasters, with flames reaching heights of 10-18 inches. This phenomenon was highlighted by columnist Dave Barry, who noted their ability to emit flames like a blowtorch. The discussion includes personal experiences of users who verified this by intentionally overcooking Pop Tarts, leading to flaming incidents. While some participants debate whether Pop Tarts are uniquely flammable compared to other foods, it is suggested that their sugar content contributes to their combustibility. Concerns about safety are emphasized, with warnings against trying this at home. The conversation also touches on the general risks associated with toasters and the importance of proper handling to prevent accidents.
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Strawberry Pop Tarts may be an inexpensive source of incendiary devices. Toasters which fail to eject Pop Tarts cause the Pop Tarts to emit flames 10-18 inches in height. Last year, an article by well-known newspaper columnist Dave Barry noted that Kellogg's Strawberry Pop Tarts could be made to emit flames "like a blow torch" if left in a toaster too long. . . The present work describes our independent verification and experience with SPT-based combustion. . .
http://prorev.com/511poptart.gif

http://www.pmichaud.com/toast/
 
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Damn... I'm getting some of those.
 
Where are the controls? Fires started by burning things in malfunctioning toasters are nothing new...ask the local fire department. Is there any reason to think a pop tart is anything special compared to anything else that burns in a toaster?

You forgot the warning:
Don't try this at home![/color][/size]
 
i would bread would work better, since it's full of holes that would make for better ventilation than a dense poptart. maybe the poptart is made of a more flammable material. :confused:
 
Its the sugars, which make it burn so well.
 
hypatia said:
Its the sugars, which make it burn so well.
And don't forget all of that ammonium nitrate that they used to fertilize the strawberries. :-p
 
I hope the military doesn't see this. They will be stuffing those pop tarts into incendiary artillery shells. and pop tarting the enemy into submission.
 
fourier jr said:
i would bread would work better, since it's full of holes that would make for better ventilation than a dense poptart. maybe the poptart is made of a more flammable material. :confused:

For some reason bread just turns black and sets there and smokes.


REMEMBER TO UNPLUG THE TOASTER BEFORE DIGGING OUT THE BURNT TOAST WITH A TABLE FORK!
 
Moonbear said:
Where are the controls? Fires started by burning things in malfunctioning toasters are nothing new...ask the local fire department. Is there any reason to think a pop tart is anything special compared to anything else that burns in a toaster?

You forgot the warning:
Don't try this at home![/color][/size]

Actually I did try it a few years ago. (Outdoors of course) As the link stated if set on the highest setting some toasters, mine included, will start the pop tart fires. Even worse, my son and I put an extra coil spring under the pop up mechanism and the toaster actually tossed flaming pop tarts out onto the sidewalk.

edit: I no longer have that toaster.
 
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  • #10
edward said:
REMEMBER TO UNPLUG THE TOASTER BEFORE DIGGING OUT THE BURNT TOAST WITH A TABLE FORK!


This is a physics website, I would hope that people know this :bugeye:

If not, natural selection, here they come...
 
  • #11
moose said:
This is a physics website, I would hope that people know this :bugeye:

If not, natural selection, here they come...
but...we're in the dungeon...:rolleyes: :bugeye:
 
  • #12
Nitrocellulose also has this effect on toasters.
 
  • #13
Mk said:
Nitrocellulose also has this effect on toasters.
I was not aware that Nitrocelluose was a popular breakfast snack.:wink:
 
  • #14
Well you're not aware of a lot of things, are you?
 
  • #15
edward said:
I was not aware that Nitrocelluose was a popular breakfast snack.:wink:
It's not a snack in itself; it's a common filler in certain brands of breakfast burrito.
 

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