Best Cooking Torch Reviews 2018

Finding the perfect kitchen torch can be a difficult process, especially if you don't know what to look for. You'll probably need a minimum temperature, a torch that works at any angle, comfortable grips and several other features that depend on your individual needs. We have put together a list of the top 5 brands for kitchen torches, as well as features of a product to help narrow your decision. Don’t worry; if the featured products aren't what you were looking for, each brand has many other products available.

Overview

PROS

CONS

SPECS

Flame Temp.

Material

Size

Burn Time

Extras

Our Top Choice

Newport ZeroGold Jumbo Culinary Torch

Newport Zero is a trusted butane torch brand, and its 10" Jumbo Torch is great for culinary purposes and many other applications.

Works at any angle. Childproof safety lock system present.

Some reports that the flame is too large.

2400 ºF

Gold

13.2 x 9.5 x 5.1 inches, 1.4lbs

36 minutes

Piezo ignition

Best Value

A-One Gas Tool Gas Kitchen Food Torch 3 in 1 Set

A-One Gas Tool is a great manufacturer of gas tools, and its 3-in-1 Gas Torch is of very high quality.

Adjustable flame. Safety lock.

Flame has a short burn time.

2500 ºF

Metal

6.7 5.4 x 7.4 inches, 2lbs

30 minutes

2 packs w/ bonus torch lighter

Messermeister Cheflamme Culinary Kitchen Torch

Messermeister is an outstanding brand in culinary ware, and its Cheflamme Culinary Torch is a great product, delivering flames of up to 2700 F.

Long-lasting. Works at any angle.

Safety button hard to engage. Flame will not go out until out of fuel.

2700 ºF

Metal

11 x 10.5 x 4 inches, 1.7lbs

200 minutes

4 white ramekins

BonJour Chefs Kitchen Torch with Fuel Gauge

BonJour is a leading kitchenware brand, and its Chef's Torch has a sophisticated design with very high efficiency.

Comes pre-filled. Strong flame.

Flame doesn't last long. Spoils easily. No warranty.

2000 ºF

Metal

5.8 x 3.8 x 8.8 inches, 0.7lbs

30 minutes

Removable stand

Scorch Torch61317 Large Culinary Torch

Scorch Torch is a reliable torch manufacturing brand, and its Jet Flame Butane Torch is artfully crafted and versatile.

Flame burns for a long time. Affordable.

Breaks easily.

2500ºF

Metal

8.2 x 6 x 3.4 inches, 0.5lbs

40 minutes

Piezoelectric ignition

(Updated July 27, 2017)

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How Do I Choose the Best Cooking Torch?

Imagine this: you’ve invited friends and family over for a dinner party and maybe even some colleagues. You really want to impress them so you’ve been practicing the classiest (and most difficult) dishes you know. You’ve got the fine-dining dinnerware laid out on the table and there’s a bottle of champagne chilling in a cooler as the centerpiece. All you need to do now is get the food right and you would’ve pulled this off! Dessert is undoubtedly your star dish; it’s a crème brûlée and everyone knows that’s the hardest dessert to make. You’ve got to get that sugar on top perfectly burnt and caramelized. For this, our friends, you’ll need a cooking torch.

Gone are the days when cooking torches were only for star chefs on our favorite cooking shows. Now, lots of recipes that we prepare at home call for some torching. Even the most inexperienced cooks or homemakers can make meals look like gourmet fare with this important kitchen utensil.

As exciting as using a cooking torch is, you do need to consider the safety aspects. These things can heat up to a whopping 3000 degrees Fahrenheit so make sure you’ve got a fire extinguisher handy and you should be fine! There’s a lot more to buying a cooking torch than just heat, though. Let’s take a look at some of the more technical bits to consider when you’re on the hunt for the best cooking torch around.

Price

Many factors affect the price of products: the higher the quality of material used to manufacture a product, the higher the cost. Some products are high end while others are more budget-friendly. Both products may have the same functionality, but some people are attached to some brands, swear by them and remain brand loyal for years.

A good cooking torch can be purchased for $25 to $70. Of course, there options available for more or less money, but this is a good rough guide. The higher the quality the torch, the higher the cost.

Whatever product you select from this review will be sure have good value for money spent.

Features

A cooking torch is an accessory that any serious chef or homemaker should have in their arsenal. It's very useful in churning out beautiful and tasty dishes. There are many features that qualify a good cooking torch, and they include:

Type of ignition- Standard ignition is piezo ignition
Flame burn time - Recommended burn time is 60 minutes
Size of the flame - This would determine its effect on whatever dish it's been used on
Capacity of flame - This determines its effectiveness
Design of the torch and Angle of operation- You should be able to use it from any angle, and the design determines this
Type of Handle- The type of handle determines the ease of use
Material used in its manufacture - Aluminum or plastic
Fuel gauge - This is important to let you know when to refill
Type of fuel used- This determines the strength of the heat and effect on the recipe
Safety lock- Important for the safety of the household

Construction and Design

A good cooking torch should have a lever that adjusts the flow of gas to help to adjust the size of the flame, and it should be relatively short. Check and ensure that the lever that controls the air is firm enough not to move by itself. It is also important that it has safety locks that are CPSC certified and meets child safety requirements if you have children at home.

Look for a design with a long anti-flare neck that helps to direct the flame precisely and work from any angle. The handle should be ergonomically designed, with plastic grips. Some designs come with removable tabletop stands and others will require you to keep your finger on the "ON' button throughout use. Note that there are designs that have switch that can be left on continuously.

Most cooking torches have auto ignition, with the most common being the piezo ignition.

Performance and Ease of Use

Look for a cooking torch that can reach a temperature of 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature you need for most recipes.

It's important for cooking torches to have a fuel gauge to prevent running out of gas right in the middle of your work. It helps to have the right amount of gas so projects can be completed without having to stop for a refill.

The kind of gas used determines the strength of the flame the torch produces. You can either use MAPP, butane, propane, or acetylene. The type of gas used is not as important as how completely it burns or combusts, which is why it’s important to choose a torch with an adjustable flame. The most commonly used gas is the butane, and it can be best to stick with that unless you are a seasoned professional who knows how to manage and adjust flame size.

For ease of use and efficiency, get a torch that has a flame burn time of not less than 60 minutes. Although you may never need that much burn time, it’s always better to be prepared for occasions that may require more.

What is the Best Cooking Torch?

Whether you want to use your kitchen torch for culinary purposes or something else, it’s important that you have the best that your budget allows for. Now that you’ve read through our buying guide, you’ll know the features that are most important. These individual reviews below will help you make the right choice for your budget.

Our Top Choice

Using a kitchen torch can be scary, but don't worry—Newport Zero has you in mind. The Newport Zero 10" Jumbo Torch was designed for an easy and safe operation. You can also look at Newport’s Mini Torch if you want a smaller, more compact culinary torch.

Newport Zero Creme Brulee Culinary Torch - Multifunction Butane Kitchen Torch Lighter, Adjustable Jet Flame, Safety Lock, Piezo Ignition, and Quick Refill System

Newport ZeroCooking TorchNTJ027 – 10" Gold

Features

Newport Zero specializes in producing top-quality butane products and butane gas. Its products include torches, butane lighters and burners.

The Newport Zero Gold 10" Jumbo Torch is a gold, jumbo-size culinary butane torch of ergonomic design. It has a childproof safety lock system to protect your kids. It also has a burn time of 36 minutes per fill. Other features of this product include:

Safely adjustable flame
Self-igniting piezo ignition
Built-on stand and lock button for hands-free operations
Comfort grip handle

NOT sold on this torch? You can check Amazon for an exhaustive list of Newport Zero kitchen torches.

Best Value

If you need an affordable, multipurpose gas torch, you should try A-One Gas Tools. It has made a name as a leading provider of top-quality gas tools. Its 3-in-1 Gas Torch can be used as a kitchen torch, a blow torch and many others. We have featured a two torch set, but if you only need one – you might want to check out their smaller Multipurpose Gas Torch-Anti Flare Design. Whichever one you go with, A-One Gas Tool throws in a free mini-torch ligther.

A-One Gas Tool Professional Culinary Blow Torch - Micro Butane Torch, Creme Brulee Torch, Refillable Multipurpose Cooking Torch, DIY Micro Torch

A-One Gas Cooking TorchAE-7634 – 2 Pack w/ Free Torch Lighter

Features

When it comes to gas tools, A-One Gas Tool is one of the best. It has a wide range of gas tools for culinary, automotive and many other purposes.

The A-One Gas Torch, 3-in-1 pack is a 310g, multipurpose gas torch. It has a burn time of 30 minutes and an adjustable flame. It has a maximum flame of temperature 2500 F and is available in silver and black. This torch has other features such as:

Piezoelectric auto-ignition
Safety lock
Gas view window

A-One Gas Tool has many other culinary torches on Amazon you can check out if the featured one isn’t the torch for you.

Messermeister is one of the best torch manufacturers. Its Cheflamme Culinary Torch delivers up to 200 minutes of use per 9 oz. of butane. We have featured this cooking torch with a set of four ramekins, perfect for Crème Brulee, but if you don’t need them, the Messermeister FT-912 Cheflamme Culinary Torch is also sold separately.

Messermeister Cheflamme Culinary Torch - Safety adjustable flame Food Torch, Crème Brulee Torch Comes with 4 White Ramekins

Messermeister Cooking Torch FT-SET

Features

Messermeister has been designing new and innovative products for the culinary community for the last four decades. Its products have warranties for the life of the user against defects in materials and workmanship.

The Messermeister Cheflamme Culinary Torch with 4 White Ramekins is a trigger-start, aluminum kitchen torch that delivers a flame of up to 2700°F. It has a safety adjustable flame. It has other features worthy of note such as:

Self-igniting piezo ignition
Childproof safety lock system
Removable safety stand

NOT exactly what you want? Visit Amazon for more of Messermeister’s kitchen and culinary torches.

If you want to make amazing dishes, you should try BonJour products. Its Chef's Torch is elegant, and an essential tool for making crème brûlée. If your budget is a little tighter, BonJour Chef's Tools Professional Culinary and Crème Brûlée Torch cost less but will still get the job done.

BonJour Chef's Tools Black Chef's Torch – Culinary Torch with Fuel Gauge, Choice of Black or Gray

BonJour Cooking Torch 53338– Black

Features

BonJour is a respectable culinary ware brand. Its products are known for their classic craftsmanship and remarkable attention to detail.

The BonJour Black Chef's Torch is a superb butane kitchen torch. It comes pre-filled so you can use it without buying butane. It delivers a very strong flame to brown your meat and other dishes beautifully. Other features include:

Fuel level indicator window
Easy-to-use design

Not what you were looking for? BonJour has many other culinary and chef’s torches you can check out on Amazon.

Tired of torch lighters with weak flames? Give Scorch Torch a try. Its Jet Flame Butane Torch is a great product that delivers a strong flame for long periods. Want one that’s a bit smaller but still powerful? Take a look at the 6.25'' Multipurpose Handheld Portable Butane Torch by Jet Flame.

Scorch TorchCulinary Kitchen Torch – Adjustable Temperature Jet Flame Butane FoodTorch

Scorch TorchCooking TorchST-61317 – Silver, 7”

Features

Scorch Torch is dedicated to catering for all your lighting needs. It produces high class lighters that you can be proud of, and sells them at an affordable price. All its products have a one-year warranty.

The Scorch Torch Jet Flame Butane Torch is a silver, 7-inch butane torch. It is suitable for camping, pipe bending, soldering, and many other applications. It has a strong flame that heats up to 2500 F. Other interesting features include:

Piezoelectric ignition
Safety kill switch
Sturdy removable base for added safety

Not sure if this is the right one for you? Check out Amazon for more cooking torches from Scorch Torch.

Get the Best Cooking Torch of 2018!

Hopefully, these reviews have made your choice easier. Now that you’ve seen the highlighted features, you’ll be able to select the brand/product that’s is right for you. Now go buy yourself the right kitchen torch!

Our Top Choice

Newport ZeroGold Jumbo Culinary Torch

Best Value

A-One Gas Tool Gas Kitchen Food Torch 3 in 1 Set

Messermeister Cheflamme Culinary Kitchen Torch

BonJour Chefs Kitchen Torch with Fuel Gauge

Scorch Torch61317 Large Culinary Torch