Steam flash caused tofu explosion in Portland

Published 2:04 pm Thursday, December 1, 2011

PORTLAND — Portland fire investigators have determined how a pan of tofu exploded, blowing out a window and causing $15,000 damage.

The Fire Bureau said Wednesday that the woman cooking the tofu for dinner Sunday attempted to put out a grease fire by putting the pan in a sink of water. That caused a massive steam eruption that pushed out the window and activated a sprinkler.

The woman, 25, initially told firefighters the hot pan flashed as she rinsed it. She suffered a slight hand burn.

The blast knocked the 4-by-6-foot window into the street.