Hatrack River Forum: Recipe Help (Mayfly?)

This is topic Recipe Help (Mayfly?) in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :

I found a lovely new recipe one day that I'd like to try, but I have a question: where does one find a blowtorch suitable for making creme brulee? I have a feeling raiding the local machine shop isn't going to find me what I need.

Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :

They actually make special blowtorches just for cooking. For example, this one at Crate & Barrel.

(I only know this because it was on a registry list for a wedding I went to recently. [Big Grin]

)

*Edited for clarity b/c I've clearly been up too late!*

[ September 01, 2005, 02:08 AM: Message edited by: Nell Gwyn ]

Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :

Cool! I had no idea!

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

You can get them at your local kitchen supply, like Williams-Sonoma or whatever, but they have very reasonable sets of a mini-blowtorch and four little dishes for making creme brulee at Bed, Bath & Beyond (under $20 last time I was there.)

Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :

Ooooh, thanks, ketchupqueen, that's just what I was looking for (the dishes too!). And thank you to Nell as well. [Smile]

Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :

The ones at hardware stores are actually good for cooking. Many chefs apparantly go to the hardware store for cooking gear instead of kitchen supply stores. Apparantly they're cheaper and better quality.

There was an article on tools used by chefs in one of the cooking magazines: putty knives, paint brushes, blow torches, section of pipe, etc. I'll see if I can find it.

Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :

I have used both, and the kitchen ones are better for most home chefs because their size. Professional chefs prefer regular ones because of the volume of Creme Brulee they do....but for most home users the little ones work very well, and will stay fairly dependable for quite a while.

Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :

I have used both, and if I still lived at home I'd be getting Dad's propane torch out of the garage whan I make creme brulee. It's lots faster. Since I don't, I'm stuck with my little kitchen "squirt-torch." (But it works fine)

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Does no one use a broiler for creme brulee anymore?

Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :

Nah, it warms up the custard too much.

Plus it's not nearly as fun as playing with fire.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

If the custard is getting warm you're not doing it right. [Razz]

I believe the second reason though. [Big Grin]

Posted by Jaiden (Member # 2099) on :

I use the one I picked up at a hardware store [Smile]

At any restaurant I've worked at it's always been a hardware store propane torch as well.

Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :

We have one but it is broken. [Frown]