Why Home Cooks Are Suddenly Setting Sardine Tins on Fire

Open a tin of sardines and place a folded paper towel on top to absorb the oil. Light it with a lighter—the flame will flare briefly before you snuff it out by covering the tin with a bowl and waiting a moment. If all goes well (and your kitchen stays intact!), you’ll have gently smoked sardines ready in minutes. Serve them atop mustard-smeared bread, finished with a scattering of chives—the viral lunch that’s captivating TikTok users everywhere.

Yet for all their simplicity, safety questions linger. Sardines are a nutritional powerhouse—packed with high-quality protein, omega-3s, vitamins D and B12, and calcium (especially when eaten bones and all). But is this fiery trend the healthiest way to enjoy them?

No Smoke Without Fire

This method raises obvious safety concerns. Open flames demand caution: Clear away anything flammable, keep constant watch over the fire, and—if possible—perform the process outdoors.

In terms of flavor, the trick works—and surprisingly well at that. Even in mere seconds, it infuses the sardines with a subtle smoky note while toning down their characteristic fishiness, which many find off-putting. Still, what’s presented here as "cured" isn’t really curing. Traditional methods rely on controlled temperatures, wood smoke, and extended time.

The TikTok version, by contrast, is little more than brief torching with smoke buildup. This can generate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons—the same compounds flagged in over-charred meat or heavily toasted bread. Tried once as a novelty, it’s unlikely to cause harm. As a daily lunch ritual, however, it serves the algorithm far better than the body.