Creme Brule has to be the one item that comes to mind when thinking why one needs a culinary torch. If you love that caramelizing sugar on crème brûlée, melted cheese or melted chocolate, then a culinary cooking torch is a must in the kitchen. According to the Williams Sonoma site there are many uses for culinary torches like....
Brown meringues. Use the torch to perfectly brown the meringue on fruit tarts, pies and baked Alaska.
Sear tomato skins. Set a tomato on a heatproof surface or hold with tongs and heat with a torch until the skin starts to crack. Let cool, then peel.
Broil grapefruit for a breakfast treat. Cut a grapefruit in half and pat the cut surface dry with a paper towel. Spread a little soft butter on the surface, then sprinkle with cinnamon and a thin layer of sugar. Heat with a torch until the sugar bubbles.
Make a crisp topping for oatmeal. Spoon cooked oatmeal into a bowl, sprinkle with a thin layer of sugar and heat with a torch until crispy.
Melt cheese. For a delicious finishing touch, top onion soup gratinée or chili with grated cheese and melt with a torch.
Toast a bread crumb topping on salads. Stuff tomato or avocado halves with chicken or tuna salad. Sprinkle with buttered bread crumbs and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, then heat with a torch until golden brown.
Roast bell peppers. Hold a bell pepper with tongs and heat with a torch until the skin is charred. Place the pepper in a paper bag, let cool and then peel.
Glaze a baked ham. Lay pineapple slices or other fruit on the ham and sprinkle with sugar. Heat with a torch until the sugar caramelizes.
Throw a s’mores party. Place graham crackers, chocolate bars and marshmallows on a platter. Invite guests to spear marshmallows with fondue forks and toast them with a torch, then assemble their own dessert sandwiches.
Create burnt sugar garnishes. Place a greased cookie cutter on a Silpat liner and sprinkle a thin layer of sugar inside the cutter. Heat with a torch until crisp, then lift off the cutter. Use the burnt sugar decoration to garnish hot chocolate, coffee drinks or desserts, such as ice cream or frosted cakes.
Prepare an aromatic fruit compote. Pour Grand Marnier or another liqueur into a stainless-steel measuring cup and heat with a torch. Pour the warmed liqueur over a fruit compote.
Create a sugar crust on a rolled sponge cake. Sprinkle the cake with sugar and heat with a torch until the sugar is crisp and golden.
I recently received the Divine Chef Professional Culinary Cooking Torch with Precision Cook Technology at a discounted rate for review and have been having some fun with it. I should point out that you will need to buy the butane for the torch, which is sold in cans. You might have to unscrew the base to fit it onto the butane canister for filling. Press down and allow the gas to enter the tank. It should take a few seconds. Be careful not to get any of the liquid escaping from the can onto your hands, because it is pretty cold. Once the canister is filled the torch is ready for use. I like that the torch has a study base and a safety lock. The flame is adjusted by rotating a big dial.
Divine Chef Professional Culinary Cooking Torch with Precision Cook Technology | Best torch for cooking Creme Brulee | Kitchen Blow Torch (Black) | Butane Cooking Torch |
$24.99 $59.99
Divine Chef
