Can cooking hard candy that fell on the floor kill germs?

It's highly unlikely that cooking hard candy that fell on the floor will kill germs. Here's why:

* Germs are resilient: Many germs are surprisingly tough and can survive even high temperatures.

* Candy's temperature: Hard candy doesn't typically reach temperatures high enough to kill most harmful bacteria.

* Time matters: Even if the candy did reach a high enough temperature, the amount of time it spends at that temperature is usually too short to effectively kill germs.

Instead of cooking it, here are some safer options:

* Thoroughly wash the candy: If the candy is still wrapped, wash it with soap and water and dry it thoroughly.

* Discard the candy: If the candy is unwrapped or you're unsure about contamination, it's best to throw it away.

Food safety is important, so it's always better to err on the side of caution.