Why You Should Never Leave Powdered Coffee Creamer Near Open Fire

Hopefully, most people are aware of common kitchen dangers, though the frequency of kitchen-related accidents suggests that many are not. For instance, cooking oils can catch fire, and people often mistakenly dump water on it, spreading the flames around. Alcohol-based fires, such as those from cooking sherry, work the same way, and the only solution is to smother the flames with another pan or a rag. But few people know that common powdered coffee creamer can also present a large fire risk, enough to create a momentary fireball in the kitchen.

For a combustion reaction to occur, the combustible material needs to be exposed to oxygen. That's why the only way powdered coffee creamer can ignite is when it's suspended in the air. When it's piled on a spoon or sitting in its container, only the particles on the surface of the pile are exposed to the air, so it's not as dangerous. They're still considered flammable, but they won't ignite and explode. However, if you take a handful and toss it into the air, the resulting cloud can explode in a ball of fire should it encounter a spark or flame to ignite it.

This is true of many of the powders commonly found in kitchens, including powdered milk, flour, finely ground seasonings, and even sugar. And because such products are often used near the open flame of a stovetop, there is a real risk for the inattentive. However, the risk is much greater when large quantities are used, such as in factories, bakeries, and industrial storage facilities. In fact, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the United States even puts combustible foods like flour and powdered milk in the same section of "combustible dusts" as sawdust, aluminum dust, and sulfur particulates.

No, you don't need a bomb-squad suit to handle your powdered coffee creamer. Still, it's a good idea to know the dangers and teach curious youngsters about fire safety. The first step to handling combustible foods safely is to stay attentive. Never leave the kitchen when the burner is on, and keep powdered foods away from the flame at all times. Also, ensure that containers aren't placed precariously on a countertop, since the container could fall and eject a cloud of the stuff around the room. And even if the cloud doesn't ignite, the suspended particulates are bad to breathe in (plus, they're technically a type of air pollution).

If you're not fully convinced that there is any hazard, though, in 2008, the MythBusters set out to test just how serious a coffee creamer explosion could be. They created a "creamer cannon" to test the explosive power of suspended powdered creamer. The team filled a large steel drum to the brim with powdered coffee creamer and used compressed air to blow it into the sky. Then they lit it on fire. The cloud erupted into a giant fireball that burned up in a few seconds and left huge plumes of black smoke in the sky. The "myth" of explosive coffee creamer was confirmed as true.

That being said, most people don't use an entire drum of powdered coffee creamer in their kitchens. Accidentally combusting powdered creamer in your kitchen is unlikely to cause immediate injuries since the quantities are so small, so the main risk is starting a fire that gets out of hand. Thus, you can keep enjoying your coffee creamer — though if you're not lactose-intolerant and want to play it safe, regular milk might be a better drink choice.