Blowtorch - hardware store vs kitchen store. Is there a difference?
When looking for a blowtorch for the kitchen, you can buy some reasonably expensive tools. When looking for a blowtorch for plumbing, you can buy some reasonably cheap tools.
The price is different. The look is different. The principle is the same. I guess the gas is the same.
Why pay more? Is there a health issue? Is the kitchen blowtorch more precise?
Best Answer
Yes, there is no real difference.
Be aware that if you one from the hardware store, it should be one where the flame does not fluctuate when you tilt the torch. This usually happens with the very cheap ones. This becomes a big problem when you try to uniformly brown something.
Aside from that and maybe "esthetically" I see no reason not to use one from the hardware store.
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Quick Answer about "Blowtorch - hardware store vs kitchen store. Is there a difference?"
Yes, there is no real difference. Be aware that if you one from the hardware store, it should be one where the flame does not fluctuate when you tilt the torch. This usually happens with the very cheap ones. This becomes a big problem when you try to uniformly brown something.Is a kitchen torch the same as a propane torch?
You can cook food using a butane or propane torch because both gases are pure alkanes that burn cleanly and don't leave any byproducts on your food. While they're both highly flammable gases, they're still safe to use in cooking torches as long as you handle them properly.Can I use a regular torch instead of a kitchen torch?
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.What is a kitchen blowtorch?
A kitchen blowtorch can be used in a number of ways to add a professional finishing touch to your food. The handheld blowtorch uses intense controlled heat which can get much hotter than a grill, making it great for caramelising and charring foods. Take a look below on how to use a kitchen blowtorch and its top uses.More answers regarding blowtorch - hardware store vs kitchen store. Is there a difference?
Answer 2
Actually, the gas isn't always the same -- in hardware stores, there's both propane and MAPP gas; you'd want to get a propane one. (it's cheaper, but it doesn't get as hot ... you won't need the extra heat for cooking purposes)
But well, the hardware store ones tend to be either much larger, or much smaller (they make some little mini-torches for emergencies that are about the size of a AA-battery flashlight). I would think that if you're a caterer, doing smaller parties at customer's houses, that the mid-size 'culinary' torch would be a benefit as it has enough gas in it to handle the job, but not so large that it's going to take up lots of space.
Answer 3
The MAPP Gas is your best bet. Even though it may burn hotter, when the MAPP Gas does not completely combust, micro particles of the gas will be emitted from the tank and onto the food. This is also true with the propane burners. The difference is the flavor and smell. You will not taste or smell the minuscule amounts of MAPP gas on the food, whereas with the propane you will.
Answer 4
They're not always the same thing. You need a pressure regulated torch; the unregulated ones will shut off when tipped down, making them impossible to use on food.
Answer 5
For the most part they are the same. But if you work professionally, you may need one with health code stamp on it regarding the mechanisms cleanliness.
I had traded a refillable butane torch to a friend's daughter who was in school and needed one for class for one of her Sherry cakes,Not a big deal. I bought the them for $15 at HF tool store. she was gonna buy the same looking thing for $60-$70. after a month or so. I had heard about the Health code stamp, she had to borrow a friends for the class. but still uses the one I traded her at home.
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