"Internet celebrity" self-heating small hot pot is loved by many consumers because of its convenient operation and many flavors. But such magical skills have also sparked widespread discussion among foodies: Why can a hot spicy hot pot be made in a short time? Is this heating principle safe?
First, is the self-heating hot pot made of heating sheets?
Self-heating hot pot heating mainly relies on quicklime in the heating package, strictly speaking, and heating tablets are not the same, although it can also heat, but basically disposable, and there will be certain safety risks
The relationship between self-heating hot pot and heating tablets
Second, the formula ingredients and heating principle of self-heating package
The main ingredient in the self-heating package is quicklime, scientific name calcium oxide, which can produce hydrated lime after contact with water, scientific name calcium hydroxide. In this process, a large amount of heat is released, which is the main source of heat for the heating package.
Secondly, the heating pack contains components such as diatomaceous earth and activated carbon, which are typical adsorbents. Its loose and porous structure facilitates the attachment of various active ingredients, full contact and chemical reactions.
The heating package usually has sodium carbonate, calcium chloride, magnesium sulfate and other salts, which are mainly used to absorb the trace amount of water that penetrates into the package, prevent the gradual failure of calcium oxide, and play an auxiliary role in the chemical reaction.
In addition, iron powder and aluminum powder are also commonly found in heating packs, which can release a small amount of heat by reacting with oxygen. It can also form a "galvanic cell" effect with activated carbon, water and salt, and release heat through redox reactions.
Main reaction principle: CaO + H2O = Ca(OH)2 + heat (main)
Galvanic cell electrochemistry: activated carbon + metal powder + electrolyte - > heat
Principle of gas reaction: aluminum powder + strong alkali - sodium > metaaluminate + hydrogen
3. Is self-heating hot pot safe?
Although the self-heating hot pot is a fire, there are big problems in terms of heating and the safety of ingredients. First, there are problems in heating, such as the rate of heating, heating at low temperatures, and defects in packaging. Self-heating hot pot to solve not only the current problem of holding hot hands, lifting hot faces, and eating hot mouths. How to ensure that the packaging will not come into contact with the substance during transportation, and at the same time, ensure that the heating package will not leak powder. The second is the guarantee of the safety of ingredients. The most common self-heating hot pot on the market now is potatoes, lotus root chips, fungus, Sichuan flour, quail eggs, bamboo shoots, etc. According to the report, most of the self-heating hot pot enterprises are multi-factory and then assembled together. And the environment and food safety of these manufacturers cannot be guaranteed, and they cannot be traced back.
Since the heat pack is not in direct contact with food, the primary safety hazard comes from the heat of the heat pack. So how can we avoid security risks? First of all, there is a breathable hole on the lid of the lunch box, and you must check whether it is effective when using it to avoid steam pressure causing the lunch box to expand or even burst, resulting in scalding. Secondly, the heating package is wrapped with a permeable material, and the water slowly penetrates into it, so the heating reaction is not too violent. If the heating pack is torn and water is added directly, it may cause too violent reaction and there is a risk of scalding. In addition, if the self-heating hot pot is placed on the glass countertop, it is best to add a heat insulation pad to avoid the countertop from bursting.
It should be reminded that because self-heating hot pot is a new thing, there are still ambiguous areas in both standards and supervision. The higher gross profit margin of such products has also led many small manufacturers to follow suit, which may have food safety risks. It is recommended that consumers choose products of well-known brands through reliable channels as much as possible under the premise of economic conditions. The emergence of "self-heating hot pot" has brought convenience to life, but on the other hand, its safety hazards cannot be ignored.