Sunday, August 3, 2014

How to Use a Kitchen Blowtorch (Sunday School)

An in-depth look at how to use a kitchen blowtorch, including a look at the safety features!
How to Use a Kitchen Blowtorch from Anyonita Nibbles' Sunday School

Kitchen blowtorches are versatile pieces of kit that can catapult ordinary desserts and dishes into extraordinary creations. In this guide, I'll walk you through the anatomy of my kitchen blowtorch, a GenWare MicroTorch supplied to me by Viking Direct for the purpose of this blog post. I'll also share a few ideas of how you could use a blowtorch and why every aspiring patisserie chef needs one!

Anyonita Nibbles' Sunday School: In this series, she gives tutorials and guides for different kitchen equipment, food et cetera.

Welcome to the very first Sunday School--a new endeavor here on Anyonita Nibbles. I'm planning on bringing you a different cooking tutorial or guideline focusing on how to use ingredients, kitchen equipment or how to execute various techniques the first Sunday of each month!


How to Use a Kitchen Blowtorch



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From giving color to peaks of Italian meringue to caramelizing sugar for crème brûlée and other uncommon uses like smoking hay for cooking, blowtorches play a varied and vital role to many endeavors in the kitchen. Originally a welder's tool, blowtorches have a long history of use in professional kitchens and thanks to companies producing smaller versions, home cooks are able to use them as well.

Safety when using a Kitchen Blowtorch
Please take every care and precaution necessary when using a blowtorch. Ensure that your working area is free from extraneous flammable materials such as paper, linens and aerosols. When filling and refilling your blowtorch, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions. It is always best to fill blowtorches in well-ventilated areas such as outside. You'll know your blowtorch is filled because it will produce a bit of back spray, indicating that there is no more room inside the canister. Leave the blowtorch upright for two minutes to ensure that any residual vapor has dissipated.

The Anatomy of a Kitchen Blowtorch
For the purposes of this demonstration, I'll be using my GenWare MicroTorch blowtorch. Check your instructional manual or manufacturer's website for instructions on how to use yours.

Whre the flame comes out of a kitchen blowtorch by Anyonita Nibbles

Here's the front of my blowtorch. Where the flame comes out.
How to adjust the gas on a kitchen blowtorch by Anyonita Nibbles

On either side of the blowtorch, are different functions. Here's the gauge to determine how much gas is supplied. The greater the gas, the larger the flame emitted. Simply slide the control forward to increase the amount of gas or backward, to decrease.
How to use the continuous flame option on a kitchen blowtorch by Anyonita Nibbles

This blowtorch has the option for a continual stream of fire, handy if you are using the blowtorch over a large area, such as burnishing the topping on lemon meringue tarts or for brûléeing the sugar coated flesh of brûléed peaches.

The child safety lock feature on a kitchen blowtorch by Anyonita Nibbles

The child safety lock is located at the back of this blowtorch, right beneath the button for administering the flame. Slide the latch down and fully depress the circular button to start the flow of fire.
A kitchen blowtorck in action by Anyonita Nibbles

Here's the GenWare Micro Torch in action, ready to make some burnished magic!

How to Choose a Kitchen Blowtorch
Every blowtorch isn't going to look like mine, so use these photos as a reference point, but take the time to study the manual and instructions supplied with your kitchen blowtorch. When choosing a blowtorch, be sure that it meets the following features:
  • is designed for and/or suitable for use in domestic kitchens
  • has a safety lock or stop valve
  • comes with a canister of butane for filling
  • has sufficient instructions on use, storage and purchasing butane 

Using your Kitchen Blowtorch 
Be sure to hold your kitchen blowtorch a safe distance away from your food.

No matter what you use your blowtorch for, please be safe and follow these tips:
  • position the blowtorch a safe distance from your face and other flammable materials
  • if your stove top or hob has a vent, have it switched on to extract any fumes or smoke
  • when burnishing delicate foods such as meringues, the peaks tend to catch fire, be ready to blow them out
  • hold the blowtorch about two inches away from the food and once it has begun to color, move it to the next bit of food. Prolonged exposure to flames, usually encourages food to catch fire.
  • be sure to store the blowtorch and butane out of reach of children and open flames.
Use a kitchen blowtorch for crème brûlée, meringues, smoking or flambèeing.

Recipes Requiring a Kitchen Blowtorch
Click each photo to be taken to the recipe.


Gluten Free Bruleed Peac & Nutella Tarts from Anyonita Nibbles


Lemon Meringue Tarts by Anyonita Nibbles

Stop back by tomorrow (Monday); I'll be sharing a very special crème brûlée recipe with you!

5 comments:

  1. Great tutorial! I don't have a blowtorch but I would love to get one some day. :)

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  2. I think Sunday School is a great idea. I look forward to next months tutorial. Diane @Mrs U Makes

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  3. Wow...your tutorial was great and makes me want to go buy one now. :)

    Thanks for sharing

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  4. So it's my dream to have one of these and to use them...someday... :)

    Thanks for joining the Link Up this week!

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  5. Wonderful tutorial! Thanks for sharing this one.

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