burning doritos experiment

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Lab Answers: Energy from Burning Food

• Lab Answers: Energy from Burning…

If the change in temperature is greater when the water is heated with the use of the fire caught by the food substance, then the energy content in the food substance is higher because the heat energy is greater, since the heat energy is absorbed by the water when the fire is kept under the test tube containing water.

The formula indicates that if the change in temperature is greater when the mass of the substances and the volume of water are constant, then the heat energy is higher.

The conclusion drawn by my hypothesis is:

• Measuring Cylinder
• Laboratory Thermometer
• Needle with Handle
• Scalpel (for cutting the substances into exactly 0.5 grams)
• Test tube holder
• The following substances are the 5 different food items that are used to conduct the experiment, the substances used are:

i.      Biscuit

ii.      Koko Crunch

iii.      Cheetos

iv.      Peanut

v.      Candle nut

• Independent Variable: Heat energy of the food substance used.
• Dependent Variable: Temperature change in the water/Amount of energy absorbed.
• Controlled Variable: Amount of water, Temperature of surroundings, Type of needle used, Temperature of water.

Manipulation

• Independent Variable: As we vary the food items that we use, their heat energy/ they themselves become the independent variable.
• Dependent Variable: The change in temperature/ Heat energy absorbed is varied as the heat energy of the substance is varied.
• Controlled Variable: The temperature is not varied in any case or does not depend on anything during this experiment, the amount of water equals 20ml in each trial of an experiment for each food substance.
• Measure 20ml water in the measuring cylinder and pour it into the test tube.
• Place the test tube in the holder and lock it tight.
• If the food substance measures 0.5 grams on the electrical balance, then use the substance, otherwise use the scalpel to divide it into smaller pieces and make sure it measures exactly 0.5 grams.
• Measure the initial temperature of the water using the thermometer
• Poke through a food substance measuring 0.5 grams using the needle with the handle.
• Turn on fire on the burner.
• Set the food substance on the needle to fire on the burner.
• Once the food substance starts to burn, place it under the test tube so the water inside it can absorb heat.
• Measure the temperature change in the water using the thermometer.
• Measure the energy content in the food item by using the following formula:

Average Results

Discussion of results.

The least energy as the graph shows is in the Cereal (Koko Crunch). It contains about 1.2 kJ of Average Energy. Candlenut contains the highest amount of energy in the 5 items used during the experiment possessing energy of approximately 8.6kJ.

The trials of the Biscuit show increasing energy from T1 to T3, causing the Average Energy to be higher than the energy obtained in T1 and T2 but lesser than T3. The results of Candlenut show a similar pattern and Peanuts have an opposite pattern.

The results of Cheetos show a pattern of results being T1 (Least) – T2 (Highest) – T3 (Lesser than Highest and Higher than Least). The Average Energy in this case is just a bit higher than the T3. The Koko Crunch shows the opposite pattern and therefore the Average Energy observed is higher than T3.

The trials of Biscuit and Peanut show high variation, this shows the inaccuracy in the results that can be explained by evaluating the method used.

My results completely agree with my hypothesis that when the temperature change is greater, the energy content is higher.  My hypothesis states:

If compared to my results, I can vouchsafe that my hypothesis agrees with my results.

The experiment was done with the best method possible in the lab with the provided equipment. The accuracy could be increased by:

• Use a calorimeter to insulate the test tube to prevent loss of heat energy.
• Use a digital thermometer for accurate readings of temperature.
• Prevent the carbon coating that is formed on the test tube when a substance is burnt as it forms insulation.
• Try to have a handle made out of wood for the needle as metal conducts heat.
• Conduct more trials.
• Turn off the A/C and perform the experiment at room temperature.
• Use exactly 0.5 grams of food substances. Prevent even the minute errors.

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12 Comments

Lovely, just lovely. A true champion in the field of science.

what is the name of this experiment?

Extremely useful!!!

AMAZING EXPERIMENT! schoolwork helper, thank you for helping me understand calories

what is left at the end of the experiment when the foods are completely burnt?

you used 5.839 as your average for the peanut, it should be 5.389. 🙂

Calculation of energy content of peanut

What formula do you use to calculate the amount of Joules?

Energy released from food ( gram) = (Mass of water x temp rise x 4.2g) / Mass of food sample

Really great .. thank you so much

Thanks a lot this helped me with my plan and design lab.Thanks much really appreciate it 😊😊

Thanks a lot!! I really appreciate it!!!! It helped me with my homework and to be frank, it fulfilled my requirements!! Please keep it up!! 😉

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Heat energy of doritos - Nagtuutttrrr

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Determination of the Caloric Energy of a Dorito®.

In this experiment we will burn a Dorito® and use the fire to heat water. By measuring the change in temperature of the water we will calculate the number of calories absorbed by the water.

To measure the temperature change of the water we will use our temperature probes. We will put the water inside of an aluminum can. The specific heat of water is known. You will need to measure the mass of the water + can and the mass of the empty aluminum can to determine the mass of the water.

Q = m c DT DT = Tfinal – Tinitial Because this experiment uses an open flame you will need to be careful and mindful of the fire. You will need to measure the mass of the Dorito® before you burn it. You should also measure the mass of whatever ash remains when the fire goes out. Read the package to determine the calories that are in a Dorito®. Remember that food calories are actually kilocalories (kcal or Calorie). 1 Calorie = 1000 calories.

Data Table (7 pts)

Mass of empty can:, mass of can + water:, mass of water:, initial temperature of water:, final temperature of water:, mass of dorito® before burning it:, mass of dorito® after burning it:.

To determine the calories/gram theoretical (from the Dorito® package information) find out how many Calories are in a serving and the mass (in grams) of a serving. Calculate Calories per gram and then multiply by 1000 to find calories per gram theoretical.

calories per gram (theoretical) calculation (3 pts)

__________ divided by ________________ * 1000 =

Calories/serving from bag Grams/serving from bag

To find the calories/gram experimental use the following equation: (3 pts)

q calories = mass water X c water X ΔT water

c water = 1 cal/goC

These are the calories that are transferred to the water from the burning single Dorito®. Express this energy in terms of the grams of the Dorito® that you burned. In other words, divide this number of calories by the mass of your Dorito®.

You now have two results - the theoretical calories/gram and an actual calories/gram. Answer the following questions.

• (3 pts) What is the efficiency of the heat transfer from the single Dorito® to the water?

( experimental heat/gram / theoretical heat/gram) X 100%

(2 pts) Comment on this efficiency - if heat is not created or destroyed then where did it go? What other types of heat transfer occur in this experiment?

(2 pts) Look at the ingredients in the Doritos®. Which ingredients do you think have the most energy? From the ingredients - what do you think is burning?

(2 pts)What color was the ash that was left over after the fire when out?

(2 pts) What element do you think composes this ash? Give reasons for your answer.

(2 pts) How could you improve this experiment and the efficiency of the heat transfer to the water?

• Multiple Choice

Course : Intro Chemistry I (CHEM 1101K)

University : fort valley state university.

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You'll get a detailed solution from a subject matter expert that helps you learn core concepts.

Question: You perform the following calorimetry experiment. You burn 12 Cooler Ranch Doritos. The energy is absorbed into 0.5 L of water. The water temperature starts at 20 degrees Celsius and the starting mass of the Doritos is 28 grams. After burning, the remaining mass of the chips (the charred remains) is 23 grams and the final temperature of the water is 32

This AI-generated tip is based on Chegg's full solution. Sign up to see more!

To determine the mass of the water heated, calculate the product of the density of water (1 g/mL) and the volume of water (0.5 L).

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Are Doritos Flammable? Myth or Reality?

Doritos are a popular American snack food that has been around since the 1960s. They are a type of corn chip that is known for its bold and unique flavor.

However, there has been a lot of talk about whether or not Doritos are flammable.

So, are Doritos flammable? The answer is yes. Doritos are made with corn starch, which is a carbohydrate that is highly flammable.

Additionally, they are coated in vegetable oil, which also makes them more flammable. While they won’t ignite at low temperatures, once they catch fire, they can sustain a flame for a while.

Many people have been curious about why Doritos are flammable and whether or not they are safe to eat.

In this article, we will explore the science behind why Doritos burn and whether or not they pose a risk to consumers.

What Are Doritos?

Doritos are a popular brand of tortilla chips that come in a variety of flavors.

They were first introduced in 1964 and have since become some of the most in-demand chips in the world.

Doritos are made from corn, which is ground into a fine powder called cornmeal. The cornmeal is then mixed with water and other ingredients to form a dough.

The dough is then pressed into thin sheets and cut into triangular shapes. The chips are then fried in oil until they are crispy and golden brown.

After frying, the chips are seasoned with various flavors, such as cheese, chili, salt, and cool ranch.

Doritos are widely available in grocery stores and convenience stores around the world. They are often consumed as a snack on their own or used as a topping for nachos and other dishes.

What is Flammability?

Flammability is the ability of a substance to ignite and burn when exposed to heat, flame, or spark.

It is a property of materials that determines how easily they can catch fire and how quickly they can spread flames.

Flammable substances are those that can ignite and burn easily, while non-flammable substances do not burn or support combustion.

The flammability of a substance depends on several factors, such as its chemical composition, physical state, and environmental conditions.

Some common flammable substances include gasoline, alcohol, propane, and wood.

These materials have low flash points, which means they can ignite at relatively low temperatures.

Other substances, like water and sand, are non-flammable and can be used to extinguish fires.

Are Doritos Flammable?

Experiment: Setting Doritos on Fire

It is not recommended to try this experiment at home, but firefighters and scientists have conducted experiments to test the flammability of Doritos.

When exposed to a flame, Doritos chips can catch fire and burn quite easily. The chips can sustain a flame for a while, depending on the amount of oil coating the chips.

One experiment involved lighting a single Dorito chip on fire and timing how long it burned.

The chip burned for approximately 50 seconds before extinguishing on its own.

Why Doritos are Flammable?

The primary reason Doritos are flammable is due to their carbohydrate content . The chips are made with corn starch, which is a carbohydrate that burns well for fuel.

When ground into a fine powder like cornstarch, the extra surface area makes it even more flammable.

In addition to corn starch, Doritos are coated in vegetable oil during the cooking process. This oil is another ingredient that causes the chips to be highly flammable.

When exposed to a flame, the oil can ignite and cause the chips to burn quickly.

Safety Concerns

While it may be tempting to try setting Doritos on fire, it is important to remember that doing so can be dangerous.

The flames can quickly get out of control and cause a fire. Additionally, inhaling the smoke from burning Doritos can be harmful to one’s health.

It is important to always use caution when handling fire and flammable materials. In the case of Doritos, it is best to enjoy them as a snack and not as a fire starter.

What to Do if Doritos Catch Fire?

It is important to remember that Doritos are flammable and can catch fire easily. If this happens, here are some steps to follow:

• Turn off the heat source immediately if the fire is on a stove or oven.
• Do not attempt to extinguish the fire with water, as this will only spread the flames.
• Use a fire extinguisher or a fire blanket to smother the flames.
• If you do not have a fire extinguisher or a fire blanket, use a lid to cover the burning Doritos and cut off the oxygen supply.

It is important never to attempt to put out a fire with your bare hands or to blow on the flames, as this can cause the fire to spread and cause serious injury.

If the fire is too large to handle, evacuate the area immediately and call the fire department. Do not attempt to put out the fire yourself.

Remember always to be cautious when handling flammable materials and to take the necessary precautions to prevent fires from occurring.

After researching the topic of whether or not Doritos are flammable, it is clear that they can be.

The combination of carbohydrates and vegetable oil in the chips makes them highly flammable, and they can burn easily once ignited.

It is important to note that while Doritos can be flammable, they should not be used as kindling or as a fire starter. Doing so can be dangerous and can lead to unintended fires.

It is also worth mentioning that Doritos are not the only snack that can be flammable.

Other snacks such as Cheetos, tortilla chips, and some Frito-Lay products can also be flammable due to their ingredients.

Overall, while it is interesting to know that Doritos can be flammable, it is important to use caution and not intentionally try to light them on fire. Enjoy them as a snack, but do so safely.

What happens when you light a Dorito on fire?

When you light a Dorito on fire, the snack will burn and produce flames.

This is because Doritos are made of cornmeal, vegetable oil, and seasonings, all of which are flammable.

Burning Doritos can produce harmful smoke and fumes, so it is not recommended to intentionally light them on fire.

What chips are the most flammable?

Snack chips like Doritos, Cheetos, and other common types are quite flammable due to their fatty and hydrocarbon content.

These chips are made with corn starch and are coated in vegetable oil, both of which are flammable.

Are potato chips flammable?

Yes, potato chips are flammable. Potato chips are made of potatoes, which are carbohydrate-based food, and are fried in oil, which is a flammable material.

When you light a potato chip on fire, it will burn and produce flames because of these flammable main ingredients.

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Starting a Fire with Doritos? Is It Possible?

February 12, 2023 by Admin Leave a Comment

So here’s the burning question: are tortilla chips and potato chips highly flammable? Does Doritos burn and catch fire? The answer will surprise you!

There are several survival tools that you can use to start a fire. But did we ever think about using tortilla and potato chips for this purpose? Probably not. 

These are some of the most popular snacks on the planet, so why would we ever imagine burning them?

But the truth is if you’re ever caught in a desperate situation where you need to light up a fire, and all you have are a bag of Doritos tortilla chips and matchsticks, you’re safe.

So does that mean Doritos burn? Is Doritos flammable?

Yes, Doritos tortilla chips are flammable. Due to their hydrocarbon and vegetable oil content, Doritos and other chips can burn and fire. 

This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at NO extra cost to you for purchases made through these links. Disclosure .

What is Doritos?

When it comes to nostalgic childhood snacks, Doritos always come to mind. Frito-Lay first manufactured these delicious tortilla chips in the US in 1964. The tortilla chips were initially unflavored, but in 1966, Frito lay introduced toasted corn flavor, then Taco, and Nacho cheese in 1967 and 1972, respectively.

Doritos has such a colored history. Its origins can be traced back to Disneyland, where Frito Lay wanted to put up a Mexican restaurant called Casa de Fritos, which was later named Casa Mexicana and is now called Rancho del Zocalo.

One day, an Alex Food sales rep saw the staff throwing out leftover tortilla wraps. The sales rep said there’s a way to salvage those tortilla wraps by cutting and deep frying them. The restaurant was sold by the idea, so they started saving up stale tortillas and deep fried and sold them. Those were the first tortilla chips to be ever sold in the US.

Alex Foods and Frito Lay were impressed by the potential of making hefty profits off these in-demand chips, so they started mass-producing them.

Right now, Doritos has several flavor variants, including:

• Cool Ranch Doritos
• Spicy Nacho
• Flamin Hot Cool Ranch Doritos
• Chili Cheese Nacho
• 3D Crunchy Flavored Corn
• Salsa Verde
• White Cheddar

Most people agree that Doritos are pretty addictive. And we get it. Doritos are some of the best snacks in the world.

Fun fact: a “Dorito” is a Spanish word for “fried little golden thing.” How clever!

Are Tortilla Chips Flammable?

But let’s not stray from our original question: do Doritos burn? Can you use them as fire starters?

You probably have yet to experiment with burning Doritos. Who wants to burn their snacks in the first place? But through numerous experiments conducted by different people, we can say that Doritos are indeed flammable.

Want proof that Doritos catch fire? Watch this video below to find out:

The channel owner starts the experiment by putting a pile of tortilla chips into a plate. He takes a single chip and lights it up with a lighter. The chip starts to ignite and burn. He places that burning chip into the pile and gently places other unlighted chips over it until the fire grows and spreads.

He explains the role of Doritos as a fire starter. If you were in the woods and you didn’t have any fire starter, not even a single cotton ball, but you have a pack of Doritos, then you should be able to start a fire quickly.

You’ll need an ignition source, such as a lighter or matchsticks, and you use your favorite chips for kindling a fire. Very soon, you’ll see naked flame grow, and it continues to kindle and burn as long as you add fuel to it.

Why is Doritos flammable?

So we know that Doritos do start a fire and can burn hot, but what is the explanation behind this phenomenon? Why can you set fire to Doritos?

First, let’s consider what Doritos are made of. Depending on the flavor variant, each Dorito comprises at least 30 ingredients. There are artificial food colorings and seasonings to bring out the overall flavor in each variant. But which main ingredients make Doritos burn?

First, there’s ground corn. Tortilla chips are made of ground corn, and adding other flammable ingredients into the mix, like cornstarch, makes Doritos an even more excellent fire starter.

Next up, we have vegetable oil. Cooking oils are flammable , including vegetable oils. According to Doritos, they use three types of highly volatile cooking oils: sunflower oil, canola oil, and corn oil. These oils in each chip make Doritos burn long and consistently.

Let’s also forget that Doritos contain salt, which keeps the chips dry and easier to burn.

The combination of ground corn, vegetable oils, and salt roughly translates to Doritos being flammable. If you need to start a campfire and forgot to bring your usual fire starter, you could burn a couple of Doritos chips and see a fire burning in a few seconds.

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Are Potato Chips Flammable?

What if you prefer potato chips over tortilla chips? Is there any chance to build a fire with potato chips?

Yes, most potato chips should burn into flames. Following the logic behind the flammability of Doritos, let us remember that these chips are also comprised of potatoes, which are, in essence, a type of carbohydrate. As you know, carbohydrates contain energy, and that energy is activated when in contact with an ignition source, resulting in a flame.

Apart from the carb content in potato chips, they’ve also been deep-fried in oil and contain salt. This means that, like tortilla chips, you can also use potato chips to ignite a campfire.

What About Cheetos?

Cheetos is also a popular snack, so you’re also probably wondering if Cheetos burns when ignited.

The fact is, yes, Cheetos can light up and catch fire. The ingredients in Cheetos are almost similar to Doritos so you can take a chip, light it up, and expect a flame to build up soon.

How Long Does a Dorito Burn?

Interestingly, Doritos are the slowest burners among the chips we have compared above. Potatoes burn faster than corn-made chips, making Doritos a more ideal fire starter than others. It continues to kindle a blue flame until the chips are consumed with fire and turn ash.

As for the flavors, according to most informal experiments, there are no significant differences in how well Doritos burn based on the variant. Whether you’re burning zesty cheese or cool ranch, the fact they’re made with the same main ingredients — vegetable oil, ground corn, and salt, make them burn at an almost similar level.

Are Tortilla Chips Combustible?

Yes, tortilla chips like Doritos may spontaneously combust.

In 2018, a fire broke out in a tortilla chip factory in Austin, Texas, due to spontaneous combustion. According to the firefighters, discarded tortilla chips were ground to powder-like and placed inside boxes. Those chips were previously dredged in oil, making them highly flammable given the right conditions.

So when the weather got scorching hot, those powdered chip waste started combusting, causing a fire in the factory. So exposing these flammable chips to the right conditions makes them vulnerable to starting a fire.

If there’s one life hack we’ve learned, it’s that you can set your favorite chip snacks on fire. While these things are made for eating, if worse comes to worst and you need to get a fire started, you can take a bag of Doritos and layer the chips into a pyre to start a fire.

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Confirmed: Doritos, Cheetos, and similar snacks make great fire tinder

• Josh Centers

We recently tested an online meme that says you can turn an orange into a candle . That also led to testing a similar meme about using Doritos to start a fire.

• Doritos burn really well and slower than I would’ve expected — a single chip holds a decent flame for 30-60 seconds!
• Doritos light easily with a flame, but don’t take well to sparks from a ferro rod
• Stale chips from bags that had been open a few days still burned, but not as well as fresh chips
• Crushed Doritos burn as well as whole ones
• Other corn-based snacks like Cheetos and Fritos also burn well

Does this have a practical application, or is it just a neat party trick? I’m not going to start carrying chips in my go-bag, which has better sources of food and better fire starters .

However, if you’re on a hike or a campout, you might want to bring some Doritos or other oily corn-based snack as a dual-purpose survival item.

More : Baking rations blocks in the oven to see if they’ll withstand car trunk heat

Why do Doritos and Cheetos burn?

We can’t find any scientific studies on the flammability of chips, but there are plenty of amateur explanations online. The chip itself is made from corn, which contains tons of energy in the form of carbohydrates, so much so that we can turn it into fuel. (Or high-proof moonshine. Same difference really.)

That corn chip is deep fried in oil, which completely penetrates the chip. If you’ve ever set a Dorito on a napkin, you’ve probably noticed a grease spot form. These chips are absolutely saturated with fuel. On top of that, they also have a generous dusting of fatty powder on the outside.

Another factor not often discussed in explanations for Doritos flammability is the salt content, which preserves the chips from moisture and helps keep them dry.

Doritos can make for some pretty impressive fires. A man in Spokane, Washington got into legal trouble in 2019 after lighting a convenience store on fire with Doritos (among other things), leading to a standoff with police.

Nick Uhas demonstrated using bags of Doritos to cook a steak. The resulting fire was so big that he had to wait for the Doritos to burn down to coals before throwing the steak on the grill.

A couple of years later, Nick used a truly impressive amount of Doritos to cook a chicken breast. This experiment revealed how gross Doritos are as a firestarter: the chicken was coated in a weird smokey layer and the grill dripped out black oil as the Doritos burned. I noticed this in my own tests. As the Doritos burned, grease seeped out of the chip. And the smell was horrible, like burnt hair.

We had plenty of lay hypotheses and YouTube experiments, but not much in the way of science, so I took matters into my own hands. I tested some other foodstuffs from my cabinet to see if they’d burn: a Cheeto, a Lay’s Stax (an imitation of a Pringle), and a bit of a ration block from previous experiments .

The Cheeto burned impressively well. The Stax readily caught fire but went out after a few seconds. The ration block did not burn at all despite being pretty much nothing but fat and sugar.

I was curious why the ration block didn’t burn, so I decided to try more tests. I started with taking a bit of a block and a pile of crumbled block and applying a lighter to them. No fire. I then broke out some stormproof matches , light one, and set it on the crumbles. No fire, just blackened ration bar crumbles.

I then decided to break out the big gun: a propane torch. I applied the torch to the ration bar chunk and the crumble. I eventually achieved a tiny flame from the crumble, but it only lasted seconds.

I then tried torching Cool Ranch Dorito, and it lit right up just as expected.

I decided to try a regular tortilla chip. It lit up just like the Dorito. Apparently, Fritos work especially well. A couple of Reddit users mentioned using Fritos to start fires while hiking .

What about a half of an Oreo? No fire, but I may have invented a new dessert.

I tried torching a crouton. Again, no fire.

I then tried an almond and a pistachio, thinking maybe the oils would ignite. No dice, but I did get a nice glow. You could maybe forge with almonds.

Based on these experiments, we can establish a few theories about flammable snack foods:

• A corn core seems essential. The non-corn snacks don’t burn as well.
• Fat also isn’t enough. The snack needs to be infused with oil.
• The effect of the powder coating is overstated since a regular tortilla chip burns as well. The real key is corn + oil.
• Moisture is a factor, possibly mitigated by salt

This is actually a pretty easy myth to test: just grab a Dorito and light it on fire.

I debated over the best way to test the flammability of Doritos. I decided to do the tests indoors to reduce variables like humidity and wind. I used an old neglected cast-iron pan to burn, in because it’s deep and has a lid that I could put on top to snuff out fires.

More: Best fire extinguisher for your home and vehicle

It takes a few seconds of applying a flame to the chip before it catches fire. It also works much better with fresh, dry chips. I tested Doritos from one bag that had just been opened alongside a bag that had been open a few days. The staler bag took much longer to light.

The fire produced is surprisingly large and hot, akin to a candle flame. I have little doubt that you could start a legit fire with a Dorito.

We decided to try a few other things to test some Dorito myths.

Do Cool Ranch Doritos burn blue?

OK, this is admittedly dumb, but someone suggested to me that Cool Ranch Doritos may burn with a blue flame instead of a red flame. I never for a second thought that would be true, but it was an excuse to buy Cool Ranch Doritos.

The short answer is: no they burn exactly the same as regular Doritos.

Can you light Doritos with a ferro rod?

There are certain qualities I look for in tinder. Does it burn long enough to give me time to build a fire? Does it burn hot enough to overcome slightly damp kindling? And can I light it with a ferro rod ?

I made a generous pile of Doritos in my cast-iron pan, grabbed the ferro rod from my go-bag’s fire kit, and the saw from my Leatherman Wave. That little saw is my favorite tool for striking ferro rods because it throws off a generous shower of sparks that gets a fire started fast. I can typically light a cotton ball soaked in petroleum jelly (my tinder of choice) in one or two strikes.

I made several attempts at lighting the pile of Doritos, but despite throwing hot sparks all over them and my kitchen (frightening my poor wife), nothing happened. I decided to try another approach.

Will crushed Doritos light?

I thought it might help if I crushed the Doritos, giving me more surface area to hit with the sparks, with the hopes that a spark may light a smaller Dorito particle more easily than an entire chip.

I decided to rebuild my Dorito crumble pile and see how well it would take to a lighter. The pile burned incredibly well, producing a big flame that burned for a couple of minutes until I blew it out.

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