The Kitchen Blowtorch

I got a plumbers blowtorch for use in the kitchen as my GF is minorly obsessed with creme brule and I've been using it for all kinds of things. The major one being the browning or finishing of meat, particularly beef and mutton. It is so good for getting crispy fat on a rare steak or browning a joint before brazing it.

Anyone else have one of these and have any other good uses?

i have a small kitchen blowtorch, but i've never used it. it sits in the box gathering dust with its friend, the heavy and difficult to operate pasta crank.

hahaha, same here, with both. Also, the electric skillet, the Ronco rotisserie and a crock pot.

I think the small ones lack utility, I had one that has a similar history of inaction, because basically all you can do is brule and slowly. With a 6" blue flame you can do so much more.

Incidentally a mexican hot chocolate and armagnac brule I made recently was beyond awesome.

I should add that to how to nom.

oh, yeah - the crock pot/slow cooker. at least that sees action 3 or 4 times a year during football season.

I've shed off most of my single purpose appliances. The tiny blowtorch went to Abbott with a pile of other unused kitcheny stuff. I use cast iron, whacked up nice and hot, to brown meat and to get crispy fat on a steak, I balance it on the edges for a few moments first in the pan (tongs help). I char peppers over the open flame of my gas stove, also useful for singing the hairs from pig ears. I make flan instead of creme brulee (carmelizing the sugar in a stainless skillet, then pouring it into a ceramic dish to coat the bottom).

singing? singe-ing? sinjing? Hmm.

singeing. i think.

Very handy for dropping truffle cakes out of their tins if they stick

Incidentally a mexican hot chocolate and armagnac brule I made recently was beyond awesome.

― Ed, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 15:25 (5 days ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

I should add that to how to nom.

― Ed, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 15:26 (5 days ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

yes you should

Since you asked...here you go!

tah-dah

http://www.elishasessions.com/pumpkin/content/desserts/mexican-hot-chocolate-and-brandy-brul-or-pannacotta-0