Why is it 'would' and not ‘burns’ in this sentence: "…because it would bur...

Why do we use would in the following sentence? Can we replace the would with "it burns your fingers"?

A hot potato is definitely something you don’t want to hold with your bare hands for a long time, because it would burn your fingers

A hot potato is definitely something you don’t want to hold with your bare hands for a long time, because it would burn your fingers.

This is a conditional sentence that states a condition that will cause a specific result. Use of the simple present "it burns" states something is happening now, not might/probably/will happen. This if/then construction proposes the consequence given the stated condition, not a present action.

"Holding a hot potato too long burns my fingers" is a statement of present action.

"If I hold a hot potato too long, it will/would burn my fingers" is a conditional sentence offering "if this, then that" information.

If a time is set in the conditional, then the present tense would be used: "When I hold a hot potato too long, it burns my fingers."