Naked Science Forum
General Science => General Science => Topic started by: DoctorBeaver on 15/11/2005 12:42:13
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Why do they stick to the plate? I had a couple of slices of toast with my brekkie & I had hell's own job washing the crumbs off. I had to use a scourer. The plate had been dry, the toast was so well-cooked it was almost burned - hence that was dry too (apart from the butter but the crumbs were on the plate before I buttered the toast) ... so why did the crumbs stick? [8)]
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What a great question Eth ?...we have all experienced that and i can empathise/sympathise...you really have to use brute force to get the critters off don't you.
Do you think the heat from the toast de-glazes the plate for a tiny amount and then when it cools down the toast crumb is almost ' fixed' onto it ?.....or perhaps something along those lines ?...I really hope we get an answer to this one.
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maybe its just some freaky property of toast that occurs when its heated up? It doesn't happen when its cool and it doesn't happen with 'non bread' things like muffins (actually thats a thought muffins are bread based, aren't they???)
Does it happen with just white bread, brown bread or both? I don't know.
Has anyone conducted experiments in this line if so please contribute!
I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don't know the answer.
-- Douglas Adams
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Hmmm, a very interesting question ...
It only happens when the toast is warm doesn't it? (If the toast is already stone cold before you put it on your plate, it doesn't really stick.)
Which makes me wonder, could it be some sort of vacuum forming (in the microscopic cavities between the irregularly-shaped breadcrumbs and the plate) as it cools down?
Just a thought - perhaps not all that plausible. But it must be something to do with heat. (Maybe you could experiment with different temperatures of toast and with leaving it to cool for different lengths of time before trying to wash it off?)
Or try heating the plate up again (in a microwave, say) before trying to wash it? (If that makes it easier, it could be a vacuum. If it makes it harder, it's probably some chemical reaction caused by heating.)
Or, best of all, just do what I do - leave it for the wife to do the washing up. (Just kidding my darling, just kidding ...)
FOOTBALLERS’ QUOTES #2 : "Argentina are the second-best team in the world, and there's no higher praise than that." - Kevin Keegan
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quote:
Originally posted by Solvay_1927
Or, best of all, just do what I do - leave it for the wife to do the washing up. (Just kidding my darling, just kidding ...)
Oh wow thanks Paul....we can all leave our washing up for Pauls wife to do...brill !![:D]
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It happens with brown bread too. Next time I have toast (which will probably be in a few minutes) I'll experiment some more.
SHall I be really evil & send this as a question to the radio show? [:D]
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Update - it happens with white, wholemeal bread too. I haven't tried re-heating the plate yet. I'm leaving the washing-up until the morning: not because I'm a lazy bugger, but in the name of science [:o)]
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quote:
Originally posted by DoctorBeaver
Update - it happens with white, wholemeal bread too. I haven't tried re-heating the plate yet. I'm leaving the washing-up until the morning: not because I'm a lazy bugger, but in the name of science [:o)]
This is fantatsic...Science is happening this very night !...What about other bread related goodies ?...and you should definitely send the question to the radio show....I am sure the answer is important and will be worthy of required reading at all good educational establishments ![:D]
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quote:
Oh wow thanks Paul....we can all leave our washing up for Pauls wife to do...brill !!
She says she'll do your washing up for only £10 an hour. (Which I'm a bit miffed about, cos she charges me £15 an hour!)
FOOTBALLERS’ QUOTES #2 : "Argentina are the second-best team in the world, and there's no higher praise than that." - Kevin Keegan
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Update - microwaving the plate made no difference
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for god sake its the most simple thing, the toast is heated and so releases steam the crums release steam and as the touch the plate it condenses causing it to go slightly soggy on a tiny scale, leaving it clinging to the plate bada bing bada boom ill have my nobel peace prize now[:p]
Is that the mouthwash in your eyes?
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quote:
Originally posted by robotjesusbeta
for god sake its the most simple thing, the toast is heated and so releases steam the crums release steam and as the touch the plate it condenses causing it to go slightly soggy on a tiny scale, leaving it clinging to the plate bada bing bada boom ill have my nobel peace prize now[:p]
Is that the mouthwash in your eyes?
How about a piece of toast instead ?[:D]
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hmm toast you say? ok but only if its warm and not stale!
Is that the mouthwash in your eyes?
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I waited for the toast to go cold then put it on a plate. The crumbs still stuck so ner to robotjesusbeta's theory! [:p]
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Even cold toast crumbs stuck to the plate? I didn't expect that.
Was the plate left in a humid atmosphere (so that the crumbs might have absorbed some moisture)? Did the ambient temperature vary much while it was left on the plate?
(I can't believe I'm getting so fascinated by something so mundane as crumbs sticking to a plate!)
FOOTBALLERS’ QUOTES #4 : 'My parents have been there for me, ever since I was about 7.' - David Beckham'
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I got stuck to the bed this morning. Is that because the bed was to cold?
Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman. LVB
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I get stuck when the bed is warm and the world is cold :-)
Re crumbs - thermal decomposition of starches to produce deliquescent sugars in the toasting process?
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Do my socks stick to the wall because I was wearing them when I ate the toast? [:o)]
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I just put it down to stubborn crumbs !
...or perhaps they are sandpaper wannabes...
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They're like little kids clinging to the sweet counter
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The kids had toast yesterday, and left the plates for me to wash up (as usual). Before washing them, I brushed the crumbs off with my thumb - and they came off really easily. Have you tried wiping the crumbs off the plate while they're dry (rather than putting them in water first). Does it work for you? Or do we just have very compliant crumbs in our house?
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I have now noticed that Kingsmill crumbs brush off more easily than Tesco cheap bread. Kingsmill, per slice, seems lighter than the cheap stuff: maybe that's relevant. Could it have something to do with starch content?
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ye gods have we really nothing better to talk about or do than toast crumbs?
Giggidy Giggidy Goo
The philosopher Q man
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quote:
Originally posted by sharkeyandgeorge
ye gods have we really nothing better to talk about or do than toast crumbs?
Giggidy Giggidy Goo
The philosopher Q man
Strictly speaking, no. No one thing is more important than any other - we're just killing time until the heat death of the universe.
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Ye Gods, have we really nothing better to say than...
quote:
ye gods have we really nothing better to talk about or do than toast crumbs?
Giggidy Giggidy Goo
[;)]
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Has it not occurred to you that, perchance, the adhesion of toast crumbs to a plate is indicative of a hitherto-undiscovered fundamental force of nature which may prove to be as important as E=MCsq?
"There is no such thing on earth as an uninteresting subject; the only thing that can exist is an uninterested person."
G K Chesterton
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Hey doc maybe you've found a new form of magnetism [:)]
Or maybe you just need to wash your plates more often, that way new food won't stick to old.
Sorry doc [:D][:D]
Michael (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi11.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa186%2Fukmicky%2Frofl.gif&hash=481319b762ee9d57cda15e90d2e83ee6)
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quote:
Or maybe you just need to wash your plates more often, that way new food won't stick to old.
Good point. Maybe it was the pizza residue that caused the adhesion
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ive figured it out (damn i really dont have anything better to do) the condensation of moisture brings the starch to the surface of the toast crumbs which when dried acts like an adhesive when soaked the starch dissolves and the crumbs come loose taa daa!
Giggidy Giggidy Goo
The philosopher Q man
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By George, I think he's got it!
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why fank you guvnor
Giggidy Giggidy Goo
The philosopher Q man
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Can I just say....I love toast !
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