Which food smells the absolute worst when it is accidentally burned?

Broccoli smells pretty bad when it burns to ash in an aluminum pot. I had to make a quick run to the store while making lunch one time and I thought it would be okay to just leave it cook while I was gone. I took longer than expected and when I got back the apartment manager had been alerted of the awful smell outside my door and had entered to investigate and turned off the burner.

Are you making fun of my cooking again.  If the smoke alarm doesn't go off, how will I tell when it's done?