Who knew chrome steel pans had been additionally apparently like Hot Pockets?

A TikToker’s kitchen catastrophe was a viral metallurgy lesson after her “stainless steel” pan exploded on an electrical range.

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When person @anniesright shared a video of molten steel spreading throughout her stovetop, Pennsylvania-based welder Anne (@highergroundwelding) stepped in with an unexpectedly charming science breakdown.

In a 12-minute TikTok shared on Oct. 11, 2025, Anne defined that so-called chrome steel cookware is definitely layered like sweet—an aluminum core wrapped in chrome steel—and when overheated, these layers can separate and burst below strain.

Her video racked up over 500,000 views and over 2500 feedback from science followers on social media, grateful for the clear and charming rationalization.

“Ya just gotta nerd out a little!” Anne wrote in a reply to a commenter who watched the video and concluded, “See, my attention span is just fine.”

“It’s pennies and ravioli”: How chrome steel pans are actually made

The welder defined that chrome steel pans aren’t really stable chrome steel. They’re manufactured with a micron-thin layer of aluminum sandwiched between two layers of chrome steel.

Layers of disparate steel adhered to at least one one other to optimize the pan’s utility. The gentle aluminum core retains cookware light-weight and allows it to conduct warmth evenly throughout its floor, whereas the more durable chrome steel shell withstands increased temperatures on the surface of the pan. 

Like chrome steel pans, pennies, Reese’s, and M&M’s all have gentle insides encased by exhausting shells: pennies are comprised of zinc wrapped in copper, Reese’s and M&M’s have gooey peanut butter and chocolate insides held by exhausting chocolate outsides.

But, as Anne defined, engineering has its limits. At extreme temperatures, the layers of steel in a pan can delaminate, or separate, inflicting an explosion just like the one skilled by @anniesright. 

Anne stated the pan that exploded, “likely overheated causing the aluminum to melt.” She added that @anniesright’s method, together with different components (how electrical stoves work, vulnerabilities within the pan’s floor), precipitated the warmth to pay attention at a single level, leading to a fabric failure. 

“Visible red glow confirms that the pan was being used at excessive temperatures. And that would be consistent with severe overheating to delamination temperatures,” Anne stated.

“That foldy melty aluminum started to liquefy. It started to fill any available spaces, and it would have gone to the weakest point in the stainless steel. With probably just enough compression in there to burst through at a certain point… that pressure builds up.”

“It’s like a balloon ready to burst and then bang it does.” Like popcorn, or an overfull balloon, Anne defined, strain builds till an explosion happens. 

@highergroundwelding Replying to @heygotanygwapes and @anniesright extra welding hazards within the kitchen than most know! #studying #welding #metallurgy  #science ♬ unique sound – Anne

“This video made me realize 99% of the people I speak to on a daily basis have no idea what they are talking about.”

“Nothing captivates me like a person who really knows their stuff explaining uncommon events.”

“See, my attention span is just fine.”

“So you’re saying it’s like a hot pocket and the cheese exploded out after heating it up.”

Who knew chrome steel pans had been additionally apparently like Hot Pockets?

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