Best Kitchen Torch
A kitchen torch, sometimes referred to as a culinary or cooking torch, is a must-have for many home chefs. Typically, it’s used for making perfect crème brulée, but it can also be used for many other cooking and baking tasks. For example, if you love roasting peppers but are not fond of doing it on the stovetop, you can use a kitchen torch, which makes the process so much easier because you can direct the flame with precision.
Most home cooks will agree that a kitchen torch is an awesome tool that allows them to transform foods quickly and easily by glazing, searing or char-grilling surfaces in seconds. You can even make s’mores without the campfire!
Working with an open flame can feel intimidating and takes a certain level of skill, but with practice, even the most hesitant chef will delight in the ways a kitchen torch can be a game-changer.
We feature five kitchen torches you can purchase online. Read on to find the one that best suits your needs.
Top Pick Best Versatile: EurKitchen Butane Culinary Kitchen Torch
You’ve never owned a kitchen torch but your friends are raving about how they love having one on hand. You’re a bit apprehensive about handling an open flame, but as a food enthusiast, you’re curious to see how it works and how creative you can be using it in your own recipes. Whether you want to perfect a delicious crème brulée, sear meat or even roast marshmallows in the kitchen, this torch from EurKitchen may be what you are looking for.
This model is strategically designed with a built-in finger guard to protect your hands from burns and extreme heat while you are torching or browning foods. The Piezo press ignition gives a fast, safe and immediate flame, so there is no fussing around. The mini torch also features a gas flow regulator dial so you can easily adjust the flame, and a gas flow safety lock so when the torch is turned off, it stays off.
Other features include a continuous flow flame of up to six inches long so there is no need to hold down the ignition button to keep the flame going; temperatures that reach up to 2370 degrees Fahrenheit and an easy-to-use gas flow control knob. This torch can accommodate any butane gas brand that has a long universal filling tip.
Constructed with TUV CE certified aluminum and ABS plastic, this kitchen torch is versatile and ideal to sear meats cooked with the sous vide method, to flambé, sear meat, for bar cocktails, lighting a fire, BBQ grills, campfires, and for craft and artist’s work such as art resin.
Pros:
- Built-in finger guard
- Constructed from TUV CE certified aluminum and ABS plastic
- Multi-use
- Compatible with any brand of butane that has a long universal filling tip
- Safety lock
- Continuous flow
Cons:
- Some butane can leak out when filling
- Butane not included
Top Pick Best for Beginner: Sondiko Butane Torch
Sometimes you want to try a new kitchen tool but don’t want to spend a lot of money. The idea of using a kitchen torch to make crème brulée appeals to your inner foodie, but you’re not sure if it’s for you. If you’re looking to experiment in the kitchen with the magic of a kitchen torch, then you may be interested in this affordable model from Sondiko.
Although budget-minded, it is not short on features. Made with a durable aluminum alloy body for long-lasting use, this mini-torch has a safety lock to prevent an accidental ignition, and a wide set base so it won’t fall over when not in use.
The long-angled nozzle and finger guard keeps your hand safely away from the flame so you can get on with what you are doing without the fear of being burned. Compatible with any brand of butane, this torch is easy to use. The Piezo ignition technology allows you to use it at any angle, even upside down, with an effortless one-hand operation. The adjustable temperature regulator gives you complete control of the flame, reaching a heat of up to 2372 degrees Fahrenheit.
This mini torch is portable and easy to bring anywhere, including outdoor activities like camping and barbecuing. Ideal for caramelizing sugar on crème brulée, glazing a baked ham, searing a steak, roasting bell peppers, melting cheese and toasting bread crumbs.
Pros:
- Aluminum alloy nozzle and zinc alloy base design for long time use
- Piezo ignition technology
- Continuous flame mode
- Reaches a heat of up to 2372 degrees Fahrenheit
- Safety lock
- Finger guard
Cons:
- Low flame sometimes goes out
- Butane not included
Top Pick Best Basic: Semlos Butane Torch
You used to have a kitchen torch and loved all the things you could do with it. The one thing that bothered you, though, is that you never could tell when you were running out of gas, sometimes leaving you in the middle of a task with no flame, and no replacement canister. Recently, the kitchen torch stopped working and now you’re on the lookout for another one. If you’re searching for a model that will let you track how much gas you use so you’re never left in a lurch, you may want to consider this model.
This kitchen butane torch from Semlos has a convenient gas window, so you can better control the progress rate of cooking, and how much butane you are using. The Piezo ignition makes the torch easy to operate. You can adjust the temperature range with a button, with a maximum temperature of 2372 degrees Fahrenheit. For the continuous flame mode, just press the button to light the fire and press the black button at the same time. The large base on the bottom prevents the torch from tipping over when you’re done. Compatible with any long-nozzle brand of butane.
Pros:
- Gas window to track amount of gas used
- Piezo ignition
- Continuous flow
- Affordable
Cons:
- No safety lock
- No hand or finger guard
- Butane not included
Top Pick Best Portable: HONOVA Butane Torch
You like your kitchen tools to be easy and simple to use, even when you are creating one of your culinary specialties. You also take pride in learning new cooking techniques and experimenting with foods from different cultures. You’ve heard of a kitchen torch and would like to try it, but don’t want to have to fuss too much. If you’re looking for an easy-to-use mini kitchen torch, then you may be interested in this product.
This model offers a convenient one-handed design, with an ergonomically designed switch that can operated with one hand. Simply press the ignition button to open and light up with Piezo ignition technology. You get to control the flame and the temperature according to your needs, reaching a maximum of 2370 degrees Fahrenheit.
Perfect for caramelizing and searing food in the kitchen or out on a picnic, barbecue or camping. Equipped with a safety lock, there is no worry of an accidental igniting, and the wide set base helps prevent the torch from tipping. Compatible with any brand of butane that has a long-nozzle gas cylinder.
Pros:
- Aluminum alloy body
- One-handed design
- Affordable
- Safety Lock
- Adjustable flame
- Continuous flame mode
Cons:
- Butane not included
- Need to turn torch off after 3 to 5 minutes of continuous use to let it rest
Top Pick Best Overall: Spicy Dew Blow Torch
Spending hours in the kitchen is your idea of fun; as far as you’re concerned, there’s nothing better than creating delicious meals for your family. The more exotic and daring, the better. That’s why you like all of your kitchen appliances and tools to be the best quality possible to take you through every step of the cooking process. Now you’re looking for a kitchen torch that can go the distance and stand up to your rigorous standards.
To meet all of your needs, we recommend this kitchen torch from Spicy Dew. This torch will help you turn your meals into mouth-watering dishes on par with some of the best restaurants around. Stylishly designed, this torch is extremely durable and offers up a flame that can burn to 2372 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 60 minutes, making it not only ideal for caramelizing sugar, browning crème brulée, caramelizing meringues and searing food, but also for soldering, welding, jewelry making and various arts and craft applications.
This awesome torch boasts a host of safety features like a flame guard to prevent flaring, a hand protector guard to protect you from the heat of the flame, anti-flare technology, and a child safety lock for accident and worry-free use. Made from heavy duty metal, it has a sturdy base to prevent it from tipping over when set down.
Easy to use, to start the flame, just press the child safety lock and the trigger button after rotating the flame adjuster knob counter-clockwise. With a convenient fuel gauge window, you’ll know when it’s time for a refill before you run out of gas.
Pros:
- 12-gram gas capacity.
- Safety features: child safety lock, flame guard, anti-flare technology
- Durable heavy-duty metal body
- Torch can burn up to 60 minutes, depending on size of the flame
- Fuel gauge window
Cons:
- Butane not included
- More expensive than other models
Things to look out for:
Consider these things when looking for a kitchen torch so you will choose one that best suits your needs:
Safety: Since you will be working with an open flame, perhaps the most important thing to consider before purchasing a kitchen torch are safety features. This is especially important if you have young children, pets or teens in the house. For optimum safety, choose a model that has a child lock to prevent the ignition button from accidently being turned on. A hand or finger guard will protect you from the heat of the flame and a sturdy base will prevent the torch from tipping over when it’s not in use.
Features: Depending on what you plan to use your kitchen torch for, you may want to have a variety of features, or choose to stick to a basic model. Some features to consider include a flame control mode so you can adjust the right amount of heat for a particular task; a gas gauge to monitor how much gas you have used and when you need a refill; a continuous flame mode for jobs that take more than a few minutes to complete.