Several years ago, I worked at a school where my personal kiln was used as the school kiln. Because I taught elementary, the powers that be decided to put it in the middle school art room - to be safer. Well, the midle school teacher heard about cooking a turkey in a kiln. Now, this was a very old kiln, and only had a cone kiln-sitter. No ramping, or holding, just turn on low, medium or high, and away it would go until 1800 degrees when the cone would melt enough to cut the kiln off. So, this teacher puts a turkey in the kiln in the evening, turns on the kiln, and goes home. At 5 am or so, the fire alarm went off. Well, the turkey was a charred, smelly smoldering mess. The entire school, especially that end, reeked. A teacher in the midst of morning sickness moved to a classroom far far away. For weeks, even pulling a tissue from a box caused a revisit of the smell.
Needless to say, my kiln was ruined. She had the kiln guy come, and it never worked like it did before. I can not understand putting food in a place where chemical reactions take place!
The event gave many families a good Thanksgiving day story, and is always mentioned at senior banquets and reunions!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Oh my, I can't imagine thinking that I should use my kiln to cook a turkey, but REALLY can't imagine just putting a turkey in a kiln and letting it go! Of course, I had to google turkey in a kiln, and, apparently, that is something people do. Obviously, with more care, still can't be good for the kiln, though.
ReplyDeleteAmazing, isn't it?
DeleteWhat a crazy story! How presumptuous of her to just go ahead and do that in YOUR kiln! She should have bought you a new one, I think. I'll stick to my old family recipe and use my oven at around 350 degrees...thanks for sharing a fun story.
ReplyDeleteThe school bought a new one that I kept in my classroom. She continues to say that the kiln was broken, that it should have shut off. Well, yeah, at 1800 degrees!
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