Blowtorch and frying oil - dangerous?
I got a kitchen blowtorch for Christmas.
Frying eggs in vegetable oil for breakfast, it occurred to me that the blowtorch would be an effective way to cook the last few uncooked parts of the white on the top of the eggs, as an alternative to flipping the eggs, or spooning over hot oil.
So I tried it, and it worked.
However, I realised soon after that the flame might have ignited the hot oil, causing a really nasty fire.
- Is the risk genuine?
- If so, can it be mitigated?
I was using rapeseed oil.
Best Answer
Rapeseed oil (aka canola for those across the pond) has a high burning point, but it can still start on fire using a blowtorch. If you are using just a bit of oil in a non-stick pan then there's not much fuel to burn, however if it flames it will probably go quick and the flames will go pretty high. It's unlikely to start your kitchen on fire, but you could get a nasty burn. Also, if you are using non-stick pans and you miss with the torch you could damage the coating.
If you are using lots of oil then the risks of starting a serious fire are higher, if it flames you could get burning oil spattering all over the place. Probably not worth the risks.
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Quick Answer about "Blowtorch and frying oil - dangerous?"
Also, if you are using non-stick pans and you miss with the torch you could damage the coating. If you are using lots of oil then the risks of starting a serious fire are higher, if it flames you could get burning oil spattering all over the place. Probably not worth the risks.Is cooking with a blowtorch safe?
Ago yes, it is food safe. Another matter of safety is that it is easier to cause a fire with a hardware store torch, because it has more power than the kitchen ones. But a sensible adult should be able to handle the thing safely.How do you torch food safely?
Like an old, carbureted car (and for the same reason), it is best to light the torch and adjust the fuel-to-oxidizer ratio before getting underway. Long story short, always light your torch facing away from the food. Then adjust the torch to produce a short, hissing dark blue flame and you won't have a problem.How do you stop the torch taste?
Either use a short salt brine or salt the fish 20 minutes ahead of time. This will help in flavor and allow the fish to retain more flavor. Use a sharp knife to score the fish. This will prevent curling during cooking.Can you cook with a torch?
Though you might think that using a cooking blowtorch is best reserved for professionals, it's actually a great kitchen tool for home cooks of all levels. I finally invested in one recently and quickly realized that it can be used for so much more than the cr\xe8me br\xfbl\xe9e and baked Alaska that it's often associated with.Blow Torch Test: Which One Is Best for Your Kitchen? — The Kitchen Gadget Test Show
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