Sometimes you find yourself in a predicament where you can’t use a normal cooking fire to roast marshmallows. Or you just don’t feel like making a fire to roast your marshmallows and you have a candle or lighter handy.
Is it safe to cook marshmallows with a candle or a lighter? Yes, it is safe to cook marshmallows with a candle or lighter if you use safe candles and lighters. This article will delve into the details about what is and is not safe when it comes to roasting marshmallows with a candle or lighter.
Toxic and Non-Toxic Candles
If you’re going to roast marshmallows away from a regular cooking fire then the first thing you’ll want to do is think about some heat sources you’ll use to get your marshmallows all yummy and gooey.
Candles are a great way to get your marshmallows melty. As a starting point always be sure to use non-toxic candles. Using a non-toxic candle will help you cook your marshmallows without having to inhale any harmful fumes. Check the labels on your candles and make sure the ones you’re using are safe.
Using any old candle could work for cooking a marshmallow. If you have an old candle and don’t know if it is non-toxic, you may not want to use it. If it is a candle that has unsafe chemicals in it, all the fumes released from the candle could be very toxic. It will likely have a horrible taste to it.
When looking for candles to use, find clean-burning types made from soy wax or beeswax. These types of candles won’t release any harmful fumes and change the taste of your marshmallows. You want candles made entirely from non-toxic materials as any toxic wax mixed in to your candle will ruin the experience.
Look out for quality stickers and double check your candles composition to be sure you’re getting 100% non-toxic candles for preparing your snack.
Petroleum and paraffin based candle waxes will release toxins as they burn. You want to avoid using this type of candle. Some candles will claim to be clean-burning but will have petroleum or paraffin mixed into them. Failing to do your due diligence when picking out a candle will leave you with a bad taste in your mouth; quite literally.
Scented and non-scented candles
Another thing to look for when using candles is if they are fragranced or not.
Candles with fragrances and scents will taint your marshmallows and you should avoid using them. As lovely as some of them smell, the taste they leave in your mouth won’t be what you’d think it’d be from the smell.
Even scented non-toxic candles, could still change the test of your marshmallows. If you can avoid using scented candles you should. It will help you get the best experience cooking your marshmallows.
You can find food safe candles from most candle shops or artisanal spots. If that’s not possible were you live, you can always head over to Etsy, Shopify or Amazon to find the perfect candles to use.
Once you’ve found a great candle you can enjoy toasty marshmallows with a book or while you lounge on the bed or sofa. The simple steps that follow will make it super easy for you to indulge yourself with this delightful treat any time your heart desires.
How to cook your marshmallows using a candle
Following these simple steps will help you make marshmallows using a candle.
Before you set out to make yourself this treat, get all your implements together so you’re not chasing after skewers and sprinkles when you’re supposed to be having fun. You should get your marshmallows, skewers, a candle or multiple if you’re making s’mores with kids or a guest and some hot chocolate or your preferred drink to go with the marshmallows.
If you’re using wooden skewers, soak them water for 15 minutes before you use them. This will prevent them from catching fire or burning through once they are over the candle.
- Light your candle
- Skewer your marshmallows with the soaked skewer, or forks.
- Hold your marshmallows over the candle.
- Lower or raise your marshmallows accordingly and toast them to satisfaction.
- Cook as many marshmallows as you’ll need.
Once you’ve cooked your marshmallows you can have some fun with it by adding sprinkles to them or dunking them in melted chocolate. You can also finish them off by sandwiching them with some chocolate and cookies .
Making marshmallows by candle is a great way to relax and add a little fun to a game day or a movie. You can switch it up from the usual snacks like popcorn and chips and give everyone a small candle with some marshmallows to roast. This will give everyone something to do and create an opportunity to make some memories of the day.
Done right marshmallows are always a winner. You can have everyone huddle around their candles and compete for the best marshmallows of the night. It’ll be loads of fun and something different to enjoy and pass the time with. All in all, it will no doubt beat a boring old regular snack.
Cooking marshmallows with a lighter
You can also try using a lighter to roast your marshmallows.
I wouldn’t recommend using a lighter to cook your marshmallows simply because it’s more trouble than it’s worth. Lighters weren’t designed to be used for extended periods of time and making the perfect marshmallow is no easy task.
Lighters can get extremely hot very quick and become hard to handle. It can also get quite dangerous having to monitor your marshmallows and keep your flame going until you are done.
Another thing to remember about lighters is that the lighter fluid used in them could possibly be toxic. Unless you can be certain non-toxic lighter fluid was used in the lighter you’re better off roasting your marshmallows another way.
Is it safe to roast marshmallows with a Bic lighter?
Most Bic lighters come with lighter fluid already in them. If you’ve ever used a Bic lighter, you will know how the fumes smell when it is burning. Inevitably, some of those fumes will get into your marshmallow when you are roasting it over a Bic lighter. Does this make it unsafe? Not necessarily. If you only roast a few marshmallows with your Bic lighter, then you don’t really have anything to worry about. If you decide to roast a lot of marshmallows with your Bic lighter, you may consume too much of the fumes absorbed by the marshmallows.
The other thing you have to consider when using a Bic lighter for roasting marshmallows is that the lighter gets very hot. You have to continually hold down the button that lets lighter fluid out so the flame will stay lit. Most times, when you are doing this for a long time, you will end up burning yourself on the lighter.
A great way to make marshmallows indoors
If you can’t get out under the stars and around a fire, a great way to cook marshmallows is to get a Sterno. They are a simple way to get the campfire experience when you can’t make it outside.
I take out a Sterno for the kids every so often, but especially on rainy days when there’s nothing to be done and nowhere to go. It’s always a blast. S’mores are every kids dream snack and the second the Sterno is out, what was going to be a dull and grey day is flipped on its head.
It’s not all fun and games though; a little caution is necessary. There’s fire, marshmallows, chocolate, and cookies with hot cocoa. That’s usually enough to turn any frown upside down.
A Sterno is a great option for making marshmallows because it’s easy to control. You can get a kit specifically for making marshmallows. The formula is non-toxic and food safe. You can use it and not worry about tainting your marshmallows or causing your family health problems.
To make marshmallows using a Sterno, all you need is to get a stand and your implements. If you don’t have the marshmallow cooking set up, you can set up your Sterno in a baking tray or casserole . Sternos get very hot and you want to be sure you’ve got it sitting steadily before you light it.
It’s best to have your set ready and everyone settled down before you light your Sterno. Once the Sterno is on, the kids need to know not to move around and cause a fuss. Everyone should wait a couple of minutes to get the fire going before the toasting begins.
Avoid having anything other than the marshmallows hover over the flame. The majority of the skewer and the hand should be well away from the heat. Even though the flame isn’t very visible, it is well and truly there and quite hot.
For indoor marshmallow roasting, Sterno’s are a good option.. They get the job done without all the risk of toxins or terrible injury.
Can you roast marshmallows over a candle?
Yes, you can roast marshmallows over a candle. Take the correct steps to ensure you use a non-toxic candle. Also, don’t leave the marshmallow over the candle too long or it could catch on fire.
Can you roast marshmallows with a match?
Matches can be a little tricky to roast a marshmallow with. If you have regular matches, you know, the short ones, you will have difficulty roasting marshmallows because the fire will not last long enough for the marshmallow to roast. Really long matches will work well, but you could have some trouble keeping them lit.
To keep your matches burning long enough to roast marshmallows you could try lighting a few at the same time. This will also give you a hotter fire, which will toast your marshmallow faster.
Can you burn marshmallows with a lighter or candle?
Just like roasting marshmallows with a campfire, you can burn your marshmallows when roasting them over a lighter or candle. If you don’t want your marshmallows to burn while you are roasting them over a lighter or candle, then you shouldn’t put the marshmallow too close to the fire and you should rotate your marshmallow often.
When a marshmallow burns, it will usually start smoking before you see it burn. This is the water boiling off from the sugar in the marshmallow. Once enough water is removed and the temperature is high enough, the sugar will start to burn.
If you want your marshmallows to burn while you are cooking them over a lighter or candle, you should hold the marshmallow close to the flame. This will allow enough heat to transfer to the marshmallow and start to burn. It will take a little time, but the marshmallow will burn.
And that’s it. That’s everything you need to know to get cozy and roast marshmallows indoors. There’s nothing like a good roasted marshmallow to bring out the kid in everyone. Now you can make them any time you feel like it. They are the perfect snack for a candle light movie night with friends or just the right distraction to keep the kids having fun when it’s too cold or too wet to be outside.
