Cooking Torch

[TastyReuben]

I got a butane cooking torch as one of my gifts. I've never used one before.

I know we have a few members who like and use them quite a bit, so I thought I'd ask all the varied ways you all use yours.

There are the obvious things, like crème brûlée and putting a char on a sous vide steak, but what other ways are folks using them?

Flame on!

 

[kaneohegirlinaz]

Ooh, I got one for my birthday, like 2 or 3 years ago I think it was, and I have yet to use it... Watching this thread

 

[caseydog]

A lot depends on how much power it has. Does it use a separate fuel canister, or is it re-fillable? The refillable ones have lower BTU levels.

With mine (separate canister), I can use it to see a steak, although I generally use my propane seerzall for that, but the butane torch works okay.

You can use it to melt cheese on top of things, as long as you are patient, and don't get the flames too close. If you get close, you will brown your cheese, which is okay, if that is what you want.

CD

 

[TastyReuben]

It's a refillable one. I think I'll use it mostly for browning sugar on desserts, but I'm interested in what others have to say.

 

[Morning Glory]

I'm going to use it tomorrow I hope to char some tomatoes. Basically you can char anything and everything! I cook chicken 'en papillote' and then char it. For example: Recipe - Buttermilk Chicken with Honey & Saffron

 

[caseydog]

I'm going to use it tomorrow I hope to char some tomatoes. Basically you can char anything and everything! I cook chicken 'en papillote' and then char it. For example: Recipe - Buttermilk Chicken with Honey & Saffron

Yes, another thing you can do is char vegetables. You can char the skins pretty quickly on peppers/chilis to make salsas. Char the skins, put the peppers in a plastic bag to steam for a few minutes, and the skins will rub off with a paper towel.

BTW, I'm about to kill the people at Apple who wrote their auto-correct algorithm. I caught the rub/rubberneck auto-correction before I posted this one. But it's been beating me all day.

CD

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

If you like sushi, I have seen some restaurants do a light torching of the fish on top of Nigiri...
Here's what I mean (not my photo):

 

[rascal]

Mines a replacement gas canister, screw in. I use brulees. Has it 5 years and use it 3 or 4 times a year.

Russ

 

[TastyReuben]

I don't know why, but part of me feels like it's cheating to use one.

 

[caseydog]

I don't know why, but part of me feels like it's cheating to use one.

Nah, it's just another tool for cooking.

I also use mine for more utilitarian tasks, like lighting my charcoal starters and candles. That, and they are great for lighting cigars.

CD

 

[Morning Glory]

I don't know why, but part of me feels like it's cheating to use one.

Absolutely not. Its a tool as caseydog says.

 

[kaneohegirlinaz]

caseydog , heh, I like that idea of using a butane torch to light cigars! DH has one every so often with his pal from Hawaii who moved here to the Mainland. He visits us from Las Vegas, ya know, the Ninth Island of Hawaii

 

[TastyReuben]

I tried it out on some grilled tomatoes, results visible over in the "What'd Ya Eat" thread.

Worked a treat.

 

[kaneohegirlinaz]

Question to the group:
Do Butane Torches give the food that butane gas taste?

 

[karadekoolaid]

There are the obvious things, like crème brûlée and putting a char on a sous vide steak, but what other ways are folks using them?

I use them for lighting cigars...
(S´alright, I was just leavin´)