We have all lived through the “roommate from hell” phase. But one woman’s college nightmare is officially taking the crown for the most dangerous roommate in history. TikTok creator @secretesse shared a “roommate horror story” that has racked up over 549,000 views. And the stars of the story are a brand-new oven and a tray of “charred to filth” nuggets.
The story is from when the creator was attending Flagler College. She recounted how her roommate, whom she called “Delaney,” returned from a popular college “Flip Night” and decided to do some late-night cooking. But the creator did not just find a messy kitchen next morning; it was a life-threatening situation. She details how her roommate’s simple craving for chicken nuggets nearly resulted in a burnt-down house.
The ‘Diddly-Do’ sound saved the creator and her roommate
The story reached its climax at 7:30 AM when the woman woke up to a persistent, “sing-songy” lullaby sound. She initially thought it was part of a dream, but it soon followed her to consciousness. After she followed the noise like “Hansel and Gretel,” she discovered it was the preheat alarm on their updated oven. Apparently, her roommate had left it on all night.
When she opened the oven door, smoke billowed out, triggering fire alarms across the house. Inside, there was a tray of over a dozen chicken nuggets that had been incinerated beyond recognition. When she went to confront Delaney, she found her roommate passed out face-down. She was still fully dressed in her heels from the night before, and completely unresponsive to the chaos.
What would have happened if she hadn’t intervened?
If the woman hadn’t woken up to that “diddly-do” alarm, the outcome could have been catastrophic. Kitchen fires are the leading cause of home fires and injuries. And leaving an oven unattended, especially while intoxicated, is a recipe for disaster.
The smoke itself posed a major risk. Inhaling smoke from burnt food for several more hours could have led to carbon monoxide poisoning, or smoke inhalation for both roommates while they slept. Eventually, the intense heat could have caused the grease in the nuggets to ignite. Or, the high temperatures could have compromised the oven’s electrical components, leading to a structural fire.
Did the nuggets being frozen really save the house?
The narrator expressed a belief that the “ounce of moisture” trapped inside the frozen chicken nuggets was the only thing that prevented a fire. While it’s true that moisture can briefly slow down the carbonization process, it isn’t exactly a fire-suppression system. The real “hero” was likely the “all-new” updated appliance.
Modern ovens are designed with better insulation and safety features than older models. It allows them to sustain high temperatures for longer periods without the exterior igniting nearby cabinetry. However, even the best oven isn’t designed to “cook” a tray of frozen snacks for six hours straight. So, the moisture eventually evaporated, leaving the nuggets “charred to filth” and ready to ignite if left much longer.
Is it safe to put chicken nuggets in the oven and for how long?
Cooking chicken nuggets in the oven is generally the safest and most recommended method. But, you shouldn’t be passed out in your heels while doing it. Most frozen chicken nuggets require a preheated oven (usually around 400°F) and only 10 to 15 minutes of bake time.
The Safety Rule is, you should never leave an oven unattended while it is in use. If you are tired or under the influence, the logical thing to do is stick to snacks that don’t require high-heat appliances. Leaving nuggets in for hours, as Delaney did, causes the food to undergo a chemical breakdown where it becomes pure carbon, which is highly flammable.
Living with a roommate requires a basic survival instinct
It’s good luck that the woman caught the charred nuggets just in time. But her story proves that “low-stakes” roommate issues like messy dishes are not the worst thing that can happen. Regardless, the experience of co-living should not involve a “comatose” roommate nearly burning the building down for a snack. So, if you’re headed to “Flip Night,” maybe just buy a bag of chips for when you get home. Your roommate (and your oven) will thank you.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
