A kitchen blowtorch is a very handy little tool; great for both cooking and improving the aesthetics of your food. But what can you use instead of kitchen blowtorch, if you don’t have one?
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered – read on for our handy tips on what to do if you don’t have quite the right equipment.
What Can You Use Instead Of Kitchen Blowtorch?
A kitchen blowtorch directs very hot, targeted heat onto any dish that you point it at. They are great for making the crunchiest creme brulee toppings!
If you do not have a blowtorch, don’t worry – you can still achieve this same level of targeted heat with a different method.
The best way to achieve the same results as a kitchen blowtorch is to use a cooker that has a broiler.
If you are unsure if your cooker has this function, you can use the grill oven – this applies heat to the foot in the same way as a blowtorch does.
Broling and grilling are basically the same thing, so don’t worry if you only know one or the other!
Broiling, or grilling, is a fantastic hack to caramelise foods even if you don’t own a kitchen blowtorch.
Can I Use A Lighter Instead Of A Kitchen Torch?
If you have no kitchen blowtorch, or yours has run out of fuel in the middle of the job, then you can use a lighter to finish off the job.
Basically, you’re looking for something that will provide a high heat in a targeted area, so food can be caramelised.
A kitcehn blowtorch is by far the better option, but you can use a lighter instead if you suddenly need to!
A handheld lighter whose flame burns straight up will be pretty hard to use, unless you can invert the food you are trying to blowtorch so that it sits over the flame.
A long lighter, such as those used for lighting cookers, will work better than a small handheld lighter.
You can also find lighters that burn with a very intense flame, and these may be a good bet if you are not planning to replace your blowtorch.
What Is The Difference Between A Lighter And A Blowtorch?
Although both a lighter and a kitchen blowtorch have flames, there are a few fundamental differences between the two.
One is designed for lighting things on fire, while the other is used specifically in cooking, in order to heat, cook or caramelise.
- A blowtorch directs its flame pretty intensely, while a lighter is at its hottest at the very based of its flame.
- The two implements use different fuels to create the flame, and you may find that taste is affected if you use a lighter.
- The flames of a kitchen blowtorch are much stronger than the heat of a lighter, so you will discover that using a lighter takes much longer.
- If you only have a tiny creme brulee or something equally small, then a lighter may work just fine.
A lighter CAN be used in place of a blowtorch, in a pinch, but you will find that it doesn’t produce results that are as good as a blowtorch or a grill.
Are Kitchen Torches Different Than Regular Torches?
If you are someone with a well stocked shed as well as a well stocked kitchen, you may be wondering if you can use a regular blowtorch in place of a specialist kitchen one.
The answer is yes, you can… But you probably shouldn’t! These are different pieces of kit, designed for very different jobs.
Kitchen torches tend to be fairly small, and are able to direct their flames in a very specific way, making them ideal for browning and caramelising.
Regular torches are often much larger, meaning that it might be harder to direct their heat onto a small area.
Both torches use different fuel – kitchen torch fuel is designed to not leave any residual fumes or taste on the food product, whereas regular torches don’t have to have the same consideration.
In short, it is a far better idea to use an item that is specifically designed for a job, rather than trying to “make do.”
That being said, if your kitchen torch runs out at the crucial moment, you can finish off the job with a different torch – just be careful not to burn your house or your food!
What Kind Of Fuel Do You Use In A Kitchen Torch?
Kitchen torches use a specific type of fuel, and for very good reasons – a different fuel would not produce the same results.
Kitchen torches burn either propane or butane, not a natural gas or any other kind of lighter fluid.
The reason for this is that the kitchen torch is designed so that you can control the flame, making it either hotter or bigger.
Propane and butane respond much better to this than other types of fuel, which makes the kitchen torch the perfect item for specific cooking jobs.
Both these types of fuel are safe to use in the kitchen – in fact, they are what the majority of our gas-based cooking stoves use.
As long as you ensure that you are using the correct fuel for your kitchen torch – you can find this information out easily – then you should be fine!
This useful video shows you how to refill your kitchen torch safely, just in case you have lost your instructions:
Blowtorches are not just used in construction, as you can see – they’re also a very useful cooking tool!
If you have something you need to caramelise or otherwise use a blowtorch for but you do not have one, you can make do with other things.
