How to achieve a good steak crust with a blowtorch?
I tried to torch sous vide steaks twice with a culinary blow torch, but it seems to take forever to get any kind of crust. So far I was not able to achive a really good crust. Should I simply do it longer? The following result took me several minutes per side:
Granted, I don't notice much of a gradient, so I suppose, that even if it takes a long time, it probably doesn't affect the interior temperature too much. Still I am not sure, how it is even possible to achieve a decent crust with this method. And I am also confused, why would this take longer, considering that the temperature of the torch is a lot hotter, than a cast iron.
Best Answer
It does take a couple of minutes to get a good crust with a torch, but judging by that photo something went wrong as there’s little crust on that picture.
As aris mentioned, you need to ensure that there is no moisture on the steak. You mentioned adding butter on top and letting it melt at room temperature. This could act as a barrier for the heat but no kitchen test I know of tackled this specifically. Next time try without as I’ve always gotten and seen good results without butter on it.
Lastly, keep the torch at a moderate distance and linger slightly on a spot until you see some sizzling. Make small circles, but don’t move the torch all over rapidly. You don’t need to distribute the heat evenly while trying to get a crust.
Pictures about "How to achieve a good steak crust with a blowtorch?"
How do you get the perfect crust on a steak?
For best results, use a high quality flake salt. \u201cWhen you think you've put enough salt on, you're probably about 30% shy of where you need to be,\u201d says Lukas. \u201cAdd quite a lot of salt. When the salt crystals and oil hits the steak, that caramelisation of the meat and salt together is where the crust is built.\u201dHow do I get my steak crust crispy?
To get the crust, the steak might overcook. But to keep it the exact doneness you want, often the crust won't form. So, a lot of folks just throw their hands up and say 'too hard', or settle of second best. I'm here to say: don't settle!How to Sear Sous Vide Steak with a Blowtorch
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Andrea Piacquadio, Pixabay, Ketut Subiyanto, William Fortunato