Who Needs a Stove to Cook in this Heat?

The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for today (Thursday) that is in effect from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., with temperatures exceeding 95 degrees and a high level of humidity.

This hot weather is nothing new, unfortunately – it’s been near 90 degrees since Monday, and it was so hot on Wednesday that a local restaurant tried using the sun and high heat as a stove.

Ellwood Breakfast and Burgers cracked an egg on the sidewalk just outside their door Wednesday afternoon in hope of successfully cooking the egg on the hot surface.

Although the air temperature seemed to be at a ‘cookable’ level and the sun made it feel that much hotter, the egg didn’t cook – but I don’t think the same could be said for those working outside.

At 11 a.m. this morning, the actual temperature will not be quite 90 yet, 86 degrees to be exact; however, because of the humidity, it will feel like 99 degrees.

As the day goes along, the temperature will continue to rise, and so will the heat index. The hottest part of the day, around 4 p.m., will reach 96 degrees and a heat index of 106, setting the stage for the Excessive Heat Warning.

“An Excessive Heat Warning means that a prolonged period of dangerously hot temperatures will occur,” the weather service states. “The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will create a dangerous situation in which heat illnesses are likely.”

This type of heat often leads to heat exhaustion, stroke, and many other heat-related illnesses.

A high heat index means that high humidity combines with unbearable heat – when sweat on the skin cannot evaporate into the surrounding air (typical in high humidity), body temperature cooling fails and heat exhaustion occurs.

The best way to combat heat exhaustion is to obviously stay out of the heat, but if you are forced to be outside, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Although the heat warning will expire at 6 p.m. Thursday, the rest of the week doesn’t get much cooler. In fact, Friday and Saturday are expected to stay in the low 90s.

It’s fun to try cooking an egg on the sidewalk, but it’s not so much fun to feel yourself cook; so, stay out of the sun and heat as much as possible Thursday and the rest of the week for that matter.

Cooking your own egg today?

• Coagulation of an egg white (i.e. change from a fluid to a solid or semi-solid form) begins at 144 degrees while yolk begins to coagulate at 149 degrees, so make sure that sidewalk’s sizzling.
• Put aluminum foil down first. The egg cooks faster on foil because it’s a reflective surface that focuses the solar energy back into the egg instead of allowing it to go through into the cement. The egg will cook faster than if you put it directly on the sidewalk.

If you attempt to cook anything using the sun during this excessive heat stretch, send your photo to EllwoodCity.org at ecstaff@ellwoodcity.org to show everyone your wacky cooking techniques.