# What does molten lava taste like? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 1, 2015, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-molten-lava-taste-like/719043 "2015-05-01T21:19:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-molten-lava-taste-like/719043/21 "2015-05-01T23:40:44Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > It tastes like burning. Thanks, Ralph. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-molten-lava-taste-like/719043/22 "2015-05-02T00:07:05Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > [It tastes like chocolate cake.](http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/molten-lava-cakes-recipe.html) Or, if it’s flowing, then it should taste like [coconut and tropical fruit](http://gohawaii.about.com/od/drinks/r/lava_flow.htm). ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-molten-lava-taste-like/719043/23 "2015-05-02T00:13:49Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Given that there are circus performers whose act includes licking red hot pokers, it appears the human tongue can survive brief contact with very hot things. Maybe there is a GQ answer to this after all. Just for reference, the temperature of molten lead is 327 C (620F). a red-hot poker is about 750 C (about 1400 F) The temperature of molten lava is 700-1300 C (1300-2400F) People can do things with molten lead and red hot iron that are protected by the Leidenfrost effect, as **running coach** observes. I wouldn’t count on it with lava. I’m not sure you can get close to molten lava without being severely burned, even if you don’t touch it. Kids wouldn’t survive if the floor really was lava, and the third Star Wars movie wasn’t a documentary. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-molten-lava-taste-like/719043/24 "2015-05-02T00:21:10Z")
> [@](#): > > What does molten lava taste like? It tastes like Death. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-molten-lava-taste-like/719043/25 "2015-05-02T00:24:30Z")
Looking up lava, I had to think for a second or two if I’d rather taste [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lava#/media/File:Pahoeoe_fountain_edit2.jpg), or the _other_ thing the picture reminds me of. tubgirl ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-molten-lava-taste-like/719043/26 "2015-05-02T00:28:31Z")
> [@Cardboard](#): > > Just curious. I’d say it tastes like nothing, since you’d be dead long before your taste buds would be able to register anything at all. I doubt there would even be any pain (not sure how you’d even go about tasting it, since just getting close enough TO taste it would kill you before you got into taste range :p). ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-molten-lava-taste-like/719043/27 "2015-05-02T00:43:20Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > It tastes like burnt tongue for a few microseconds. > > Do you expect someone to answer this based on experience? Well, considering some of the things I’ve read here -------------- ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-molten-lava-taste-like/719043/28 "2015-05-02T00:52:18Z")
It seems like I once read about a man that had the misfortune to _step_ in molten lava. His foot simply vaporized, apparently it didn’t even hurt. ---
**Author:** ![dr\_zippermeyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@dr\_zippermeyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dr_zippermeyer)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-molten-lava-taste-like/719043/29 "2015-05-02T01:15:41Z")
I have wondered about many things in my life but never about this. Thank you for good laughs. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-molten-lava-taste-like/719043/30 "2015-05-02T01:28:07Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > Tasting the contents of one of those “do not eat” desiccant packages garnished with rust might be a reasonable approximation. Just pop it in the microwave for a couple of hours first. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-molten-lava-taste-like/719043/31 "2015-05-02T01:33:59Z")
It tastes like it smells. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-molten-lava-taste-like/719043/32 "2015-05-02T01:38:16Z")
What is the pH? If we knew then maybe we can tell if it is bitter or sour. Are there salts in it? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-molten-lava-taste-like/719043/33 "2015-05-02T01:40:20Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Just for reference, the temperature of molten lead is 327 C (620F). a red-hot poker is about 750 C (about 1400 F) > > The temperature of molten lava is 700-1300 C (1300-2400F) > People can do things with molten lead and red hot iron that are protected by the Leidenfrost effect, as **running coach** observes. I wouldn’t count on it with lava. So, you’re saying that molten lava \*can \*be cooler than a red-hot poker? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-molten-lava-taste-like/719043/34 "2015-05-02T01:49:37Z")
Regular supermarket “molten” lava is quite bland compared to the artesian fresh-from-the-dome stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-molten-lava-taste-like/719043/35 "2015-05-02T01:52:47Z")
> [@XT](#): > > I’d say it tastes like nothing, since you’d be dead long before your taste buds would be able to register anything at all. I doubt there would even be any pain (not sure how you’d even go about tasting it, since just getting close enough TO taste it would kill you before you got into taste range :p). Not necessarily. See here. A crust forms on lava, it’s possible to walk on it. Someone is shown dipping a stick and getting a blob of lava on the end. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-molten-lava-taste-like/719043/36 "2015-05-02T01:54:30Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Regular supermarket “molten” lava is quite bland compared to the artesian fresh-from-the-dome stuff. I’ll look for it in the inorganic section. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-molten-lava-taste-like/719043/37 "2015-05-02T03:21:56Z")
A’a or pāhoehoe? ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-molten-lava-taste-like/719043/38 "2015-05-02T03:26:59Z")
This is like asking what a bullet through the brain feels like, and just like that long before the lava actually made contact with your taste buds the convection heat would destroy them. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-molten-lava-taste-like/719043/39 "2015-05-02T04:46:02Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > a’a or pāhoehoe? I think it would be AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH! ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-molten-lava-taste-like/719043/40 "2015-05-02T11:04:28Z")
Well, lava is around 2000 F and your face is mostly water, which boils at 212 F. So I imagine it tastes like your head exploding in a spray of steam and burned meat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-molten-lava-taste-like/719043.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-molten-lava-taste-like/719043.md?page=3)