In 1978, Random House recalled a cookbook after it said to leave a can of condensed milk in a crockpot for 4 hours in a caramel slices recipe. It forgot to add water to the recipe. Therefore if someone used that recipe the crockpot lid would explode.
I still remember the first time I heard about the infamous Random House cookbook recall – it was like a cautionary tale that made me laugh and cringe at the same time. Apparently, back in 1978, the publishing giant had to pull a cookbook from the shelves because of a recipe that could have caused some serious damage to people’s kitchens. The recipe in question was for caramel slices, and it instructed users to leave a can of condensed milk in a crockpot for 4 hours. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, here’s the thing – the recipe forgot to mention one crucial detail: adding water to the crockpot. As you can probably guess, this was a recipe for disaster.
A Recipe for Disaster
The science behind this potential catastrophe is actually pretty fascinating. When you heat up a can of condensed milk in a dry environment, the pressure inside the can builds up rapidly. This is because the milk is essentially being sterilized, and the heat causes the liquid to expand and turn into steam. If there’s no water in the crockpot to absorb this pressure, the steam has nowhere to go – and that’s when things start to get dangerous. The lid of the crockpot can literally explode, causing a mess and potentially injuring anyone who’s nearby. It’s a miracle that no one was hurt as a result of this recipe, but it’s a sobering reminder of the importance of double-checking our recipes before we share them with the world.
The Great Recall
So, what happened next? Well, Random House was forced to recall the cookbook and issue a warning to anyone who had already purchased it. The company took out ads in major newspapers and magazines, alerting consumers to the potential danger and advising them to discard the recipe altogether. It was a costly and embarrassing mistake, but it’s a testament to the company’s commitment to safety and quality that they took such swift and decisive action. The recall was a major news story at the time, and it’s still talked about today as one of the most notable examples of a recipe gone wrong.
A Cautionary Tale
The story of the exploding crockpot recipe is a cautionary tale that reminds us of the importance of attention to detail and rigorous testing in the kitchen. It’s a reminder that even the simplest recipes can have unexpected consequences if we’re not careful. As home cooks, we owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to make sure that the recipes we use are safe and reliable. And as publishers and food writers, we have a responsibility to test our recipes thoroughly and provide clear, accurate instructions to our readers. So the next time you’re tempted to skip a step or omit an ingredient, remember the great crockpot recall of 1978 – and think twice before you hit publish.
In the end, the story of the exploding crockpot recipe is a funny and fascinating footnote in the history of cookbook publishing. It’s a reminder that even the most experienced and reputable publishers can make mistakes, but it’s also a testament to the power of caution and attention to detail in the kitchen. So the next time you’re cooking up a storm, remember to always follow the recipe – and never, ever forget to add water to your crockpot.
