Blow torch

[otuatail]

Hi. I am in (UK). I have seen a blow tourch on BBC Saturday kitchen. Not for the firs time. I bought one on amazon years ago and it was rubbish. Don't want to spend a fortune on something unless I could realy get into it. What whould you recomen, and if you are in the (UK) where?

 

[dragnlaw]

What do you want to use it for?
I too bought a little kitchen one and it was garbage. You could not refill it. Discovered many are like that. Seems to me there is a thread here that talks about it.

Edit: Can't find the thread but I believe the end conclusion was to buy a small hand held blow torch from your hardware store (iron monger). Yes, big to store but more reliable.

 

[medtran49]

We have 2, a small butane fueled, refillable, and a plumber's torch. I use the butane torch for little jobs like creme brulee or to set something on fire like crepe suzette or saganaki. It's just not enough for anything much bigger. Craig uses the plumber's torch OUTSIDE to light the charcoal, to quickly sear meat, blacken pepper skin to peel, which it does a great job as it doesn't really cook the pepper (leaving a firm structure for stuffing), just blackens the skin for later peeling.

 

[otuatail]

The one on the BBC was large and had a very long about 4 inch flame. He used it to Flambé sea bass. It is available 28 minutes into the program @

Verry funny, worth a watch.

Saturday Kitchen - 21/01/2023

Matt Tebbutt and chefs Ching-He Huang and Mary McCartney are joined by guest Mo Gilligan.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Roll_Bones]

I also bought a plumbers torch. Since I had several propane gas cylinders I use for my portable camp stove.
The torch itself was under $15 and I got it at a home improvement store. It has the wide tip.
I use it in my shop and I use it for cooking. Cheap and works very well.

 

[pepperhead212]

I threw away one of those butane things, meant for the kitchen (got it as a gift), and just use my plumber's torch, I've had since the early 80s. I rarely use it in the kitchen, but it works better, and definitely lasts longer!

 

[GotGarlic]

If you have a broiler/grill in your oven, you can use that, too.

 

[otuatail]

Is a plumbers torch okay to be used on food?

 

[dragnlaw]

Why would it not be?
Just don't drip any left over lead from the tip. Also remember that food caramelizes a lot faster than pipes heat up and might quickly look blacker than the chimney soot.

All kidding aside. Only the flame is touching your food. You are only melting some sugar with it. The butane itself, coming from the canister is no different than the butane from a kitchen torch. Same, same only bigger.

 

[Andy M.]

Plumbers' torches, either butane or propane, are fine for food. You I've used a plumbers torch to brown sugar on crème brûlée. The flame doesn't even have to touch the food. The heat from the burning gas will do the trick.

 

[taxlady]

If it's a new plumber's torch, I don't see any problem. If it is a used plumber's torch, make sure it is clean, so you don't contaminate your hands while cooking. Actually, with any used torch, it's probably a good idea to make sure it's clean before using it for food.

 

[thymeless]

I just picked up an iwatani butane torch. Havent done much with it yet but it looks good so far.

 

[Roll_Bones]

If you have a broiler/grill in your oven, you can use that, too.

But its not nearly as efficient. By the time you char something under a broiler or on a grill it gets cooked through or very close to cooked through.
This is evident with peppers and tomato's. With the torch you only effect the skin and not the meat inside. And it only takes a minute or two to char each one.
The torch is even better than the gas burner on my range. Not as messy either. I take the items downstairs to my basement and char them down there. I use an old sheet pan with rack.

Is a plumbers torch okay to be used on food?

Its no different than other kitchen torches. Buts it much less money for the gas and the torch itself. Like I saide before I got my torch for less than $15 at the home improvement store. The propane gas canisters are widely available and they also come in larger volume than dedicated kitchen gas cylinders.

If it's a new plumber's torch, I don't see any problem. If it is a used plumber's torch, make sure it is clean, so you don't contaminate your hands while cooking. Actually, with any used torch, it's probably a good idea to make sure it's clean before using it for food.

I bought mine exclusively for kitchen use. But I have used it on other projects. No plumbing though.