My Microwaveable Corn Bag Caught Fire!!
 

I started by making the potato bag, but as I was finishing, I realized I was supposed to use 100% cotton thread and I hadn't. So, I called the LQS where I bought it and they suggested I try microwaving it to see if it would give me any problems. I did that and there were no problems. I then made the corn bag, with 100% cotton thread and handed it to DH so he could do the trial run while I relaxed a bit. We shouldn't have had to do a trial running with cotton thread, but I felt better about it. Suddenly, he started yelling from the kitchen and there was smoke everywhere. The bag had ignited in the microwave after 45 seconds, in two spots. DH yanked it from the microwave and threw it on the back deck where it ignited a third time.


I called the LQS this morning and they assured me that this never happens (even though the woman I had spoken to the previous day said that they had had complaints...hmmm). Either way, I'm taking the remaining fabric and batting pieces and the charred remains of the bag back to the LQS on Wednesday when both of the owners and the woman who puts kits together will be there. They think that perhaps the woman had mistakenly cut the batting strip from a bolt of Warm & Natural instead of the Potato Batting bolt.


Now, if the potato bag had burst into flames, I would have blamed myself for forgetting to use cotton thread, but I made the corn bag with all cotton components and it still erupted. My Gram and I have made rice bags for years with AP thread and have never had a problem like this, so I'm supposing that it has to be a batting problem. I'll know more on Wednesday when I go to the LQS, but I'm still a bit wary about trying to make another.

I am curious (and intelligence challenged, I guess).. but when you call it a "corn bag", do you mean to cook corn in?? I've not heard of using the bags for corn, but if you do, would you please share your cooking method? Thanks

I'm curious what the LQS has to say. Glad the fire wasn't anymore serious.

It's like a potato bag, but longer and it steams or cooks the corn, depending on whether the flap is up (cooking) or turned over the corn (steaming).

Very disturbing! I wonder how many people have been given the wrong batting. :-\

Thank you for info--never knew you could do that. Corn season is almost here & I want to try that!

I have been nuking my corn naked (the corn, not me) and it seems to taste fine. I like that it is not dripping with water like if you boiled it.

The way we microwave cook corn is with the husks on. (No bags of any type.) Microwave for 3 minutes, then remove the husks with potholders, because the corn is very hot, especially inside. The corn tastes great, and the wet silks come off very easily. So fast and easy!

You're poor DH, bless his heart. At least you found this out very early in your project. It really would have been much worse to have done several sections and for this to have happened. So glad no one got hurt as well. Good luck at your LQS, they really should be more careful in what they are handing out in those kits.

I had this happen with my potato bag. After all had cooled, I examined it and think I found the tiniest bit of metal ( bit of needle or pin broken from sewing process??). I washed it and have used in numerous times since with no further excitement.