Creative Uses for a Culinary Torch Tips and Tricks

I just bought one of these so i can't wait to use it...

Ideal for caramelizing sugar on crème brûlée, a culinary torch has myriad other uses in the kitchen for preparing both sweet and savory dishes. Here are a few suggestions.

Brown meringues. Use the torch to perfectly brown the meringue on fruit tarts, pies and baked Alaska.

Sear tomato skins. Set a tomato on a heatproof surface or hold with tongs and heat with a torch until the skin starts to crack. Let cool, then peel.

Broil grapefruit for a breakfast treat. Cut a grapefruit in half and pat the cut surface dry with a paper towel. Spread a little soft butter on the surface, then sprinkle with cinnamon and a thin layer of sugar. Heat with a torch until the sugar bubbles.

Make a crisp topping for oatmeal. Spoon cooked oatmeal into a bowl, sprinkle with a thin layer of sugar and heat with a torch until crispy.

Melt cheese. For a delicious finishing touch, top onion soup gratinée or chili with grated cheese and melt with a torch.

Toast a bread crumb topping on salads. Stuff tomato or avocado halves with chicken or tuna salad. Sprinkle with buttered bread crumbs and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, then heat with a torch until golden brown.

Roast bell peppers. Hold a bell pepper with tongs and heat with a torch until the skin is charred. Place the pepper in a paper bag, let cool and then peel.

 Throw a s'mores party. Place graham crackers, chocolate bars and marshmallows on a platter. Invite guests to spear marshmallows with fondue forks and toast them with a torch, then assemble their own dessert sandwiches.

 Create a sugar crust on a rolled sponge cake. Sprinkle the cake with sugar and heat with a torch until the sugar is crisp and golden.