OK, so I'm melting a pound (yes, 4 sticks) of unsalted butter to make ghee over ML heat in about a 2 quart heavy All-Clad sauce pan. The milk solids are rafting on top and I'm waiting for the water at the bottom to begin to boil off. I haven't stirred it at all and I kick the heat up to Med. to expedite the process. Maybe one of those two things (not stirring or increasing the heat to medium) was the cause of the unbelievable explosion that took place which resulted in a completely evacuated saucepan! How thankful I am right now that I had stepped away to load the washing machine. My kitchen is wasted. Butter everywhere! My ceiling will need paint.

I realize that this was due to the water sitting on the bottom of the pan getting superheated to a point where it finally just instantaneously vaporized. But how do I avoid this in the future? Do I need to stir? Was it the fact that Medium heat is too much? Has anyone heard of this happening before?

I'm no pro but I'm not a slouch in the kitchen either. I've been at this for nearly forty years. And although I understand what happened in the pan, the truth is, I never expected it. I hope anyone who reads this heeds this. Had I been standing at the stove when that thing blew, I would not be writing this right now. Be safe in the kitchen and have a very Merry Christmas.

Bill

We've been melting butter almost daily at the school for years and never even came close to an small eruption, let alone an explosion. Mind you, we always do it on very low heat. Even ghee, which we make once in a while, takes much of the morning.

My guess, Bill, was the heat. Ghee, like browning onions for Indian cooking, is one of those things which simply cannot be expedited. Glad no one was hurt - except for the kitchen, which is a sacred place in my books. But may the lesson be this: let things take the time they need. be safe, yes. Be patient...indeed! The best cooks know that time is an essential ingredient in the kitchen.

Thanks for sharing this experience Bill. Merry Christmas, and happy painting.