Cooking torch

A cooking blowtorch (culinary blowtorch, chef's blowlamp, culinary torch) allows a cook to direct a precise jet of flame onto food to sear or to brown the surface to enhance the flavour and visual appeal.

Finishing sweet corn with a blowtorch

Rothenberger MAPP blowtorch.
Next to a 400g can of baked beans

Foods cooked by the sous vide cooking method are often browned by a cooking torch before serving.

The torch shown is a butane blow-torch, refilled using a standard cigarette lighter refill. £17.13 Amazon UK

The MAPP blowtorch, by comparison, is huge. It works brilliantly and most importantly, does not taint the food. £79.99 Screwfix UK

Types of blowtorch

Butane (or propane)

• For
  • Cheap (£17.00)
  • Easily available
• Against
  • Can leave slight odour of butane on food
  • Does not really burn hot enough

MAPP (methylacetylene-propadiene propane) or propylene gas

• For
  • Burns at an extremely high temperature
  • Leaves no odour
  • Sears food very quickly
• Against
  • Expensive (£80 +)
  • Not obviously available as a culinary tool (usually sold as a soldering or braising torch)
  • Bulky (for storage)

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