Sous vide is one of the healthiest ways to prepare your steak. This unique cooking process cradles your meat in a temperature-regulated water bath until it’s cooked to your preferred doneness. However, this gentle cooking process doesn’t char or caramelize the surface of the steak.
Many opt to achieve that charred look by finishing sous vide cooking with a hot cast-iron pan or kitchen torch. We’ll list down the best torches for sous vide that’ll best complement this cooking style.
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Top 10 Torches for Sous Vide
1. Sondiko Butane Torch
You’ve probably heard of or seen the Sondiko Butane Torch — this quality butane torch is one of the more popular brands of kitchen torches and is often found used in desserts. The flame is adjustable and can be set to a continuous flame mode for an evenly spread flame.
This brand takes a safe approach by including a safety lock to prevent accidental ignition. Its wide base prevents it from toppling over, and the long nozzle and finger guard keeps your hand safe.
Pros:
- Beginner-friendly
- Adjustable flame control knob
- Has built-in safety features
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- Uses Piezo ignition technology
Cons:
- Butane tanks are not supplied
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2. Bernzomatic TS8000
The Bernzomatic TS8000 is the most professional-grade torch to sear sous vide steaks. The ultra-swirl flame even allows light welding, soldering, and brazing! This kitchen torch features an auto-start and stop ignition button, making starting this bad boy super easy.
Furthermore, this brand has an adjustable flame knob to maintain the flame size and intensity for versatility. The maximum heat output from the Bernzomatic will cut searing time in half to keep the steak’s juices in.
Pros:
- Long nozzle
- Easy use trigger that allows continuous flame
- Great heat output
Cons:
- Ignition issues
- “Newer” models have a different quality
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3. FunOwlet Butane Torch
The FunOwlet Torch is user-friendly and is a great kitchen torch for sous vide. This torch’s flame size and shape can be adjusted depending on how much or how little you need.
This uses a Piezo ignition technology to light up: simply press to turn on, adjust with the gas flow regulator, and close the valve switch to turn off.
Pros:
- Uses Piezo ignition technology
- 360-degree rotation
- Heats up to 2500ºF
Cons:
- A few accounts of the device “catching on fire”
- Inconsistent flame
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4. Tintec Chef Cooking Torch Lighter
Tintec is a well-regarded brand when it comes to pro kitchen accessories. The Tintec Chef Cooking Torch Lighter features a lightweight aluminum alloy shell to ensure product longevity and has a non-slip ABS plastic handle.
The torch is short and small, but it can reach up to 2500ºF. Each purchase of the Tintec kitchen torch gives you a screwdriver and brush for easy product maintenance.
Pros:
- One-year warranty
- Non-slip grip
- Useful complementary items
Cons:
- Flame is difficult to adjust
- Manual is difficult to understand
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5. Blazer GT8000 Big Shot Butane Torch
Arguably the easiest torch to use on the list is the Blazer GT8000 Big Shot, with its piezo electric ignition system that eliminates the need for external ignition. This bad boy is also capable of reaching temperatures up to 2500ºF.
Its all-black, streamlined design makes it a gorgeous addition to your kitchen accessories and will make for great sous vide torching. You will, however, need two hands to use this device, which is a dealbreaker for some.
Pros:
- Highly durable
- Can deliver up to a five-inch flame
Cons:
- Needs two hands to operate
- A few accounts of butane leaking
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6. Bernzomatic TS4000 Trigger Start Torch
Many consider the Bernzomatic TS4000 to be the little brother of the aforementioned TS8000. The main difference is that the latter can ignite to a hotter temperature and give you double the BTUs to get the searing done faster.
The TS4000 is also pretty limited as it doesn’t allow you to adjust the flame intensity.
Pros:
- Highly durable with a stainless steel burn tube
- Trigger-start torch for ease of lighting
Cons:
- Flame is not adjustable
- “Newer” models have a different quality
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7. EurKitchen Premium Culinary Butane Torch
A EurKitchen butane torch is more suited for home cooking. The EurKitchen Culinary Butane Torch is also larger than most other units, but that’s only because this brand wants to keep your hand as far away from the flame as possible. It also has built-in safety features like a finger guard and gas flow safety lock button.
This unit uses butane gas, which blows out lower temperatures than propane torches; naturally, it will take you longer to sear sous vide meat.
Pros:
- Can deliver up to a six-inch flame
- Great for delicate foods
- Built-in safety features
Cons:
- Longer searing time
- Some reports of the ignition switch not working
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8. Spicy Dew Blow Torch
The Spicy Dew Blow Torch is probably the most affordable one on this list. It is a reliable tool despite its modest price tag! You can use this not only to sear sous vide steak but also for melting cheese, caramelizing sugar, and finishing off a brulee.
Furthermore, this unit carries several superb safety features, such as a child lock, hand protection guard, and anti-flare technology.
Pros:
- Protects your hand from getting burned
- Child safety lock feature
Cons:
- Flame can be a little difficult to adjust
- Difficult to refill
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9. SearPro Powerful Cooking Torch
If there is a Michael Jordan among blow torches, it’s definitely this one. The SearPro Powerful Cooking Torch is a beefy kitchen torch that sears meat perfectly. We can even go as far as to say that this is one of the best sous vide torches for sous vide food, period. It also features an adjustable flame size.
On the downside, its large capacity tank can be too hefty for delicate creme brulee.
Pros:
- Consistent temperature for searing meat
- Great for lighting charcoal
- Up to six months warranty
Cons:
- Too beefy for smaller jobs
- A bit large and heavy
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10. GrillBlazer Su-VGun
If you want to look cool while searing steaks, the GrillBlazer Su-VGun is perfect for you. This culinary torch uses high-power propane gas guaranteed to quickly sear sous vide steak and give it a nice flame-broiled flavor.
The GrillBlazer is also highly versatile; it’s powerful enough to sear meat and start a charcoal grill but can be adjusted for delicate food like creme brulee. However, if we have to be completely transparent, this unit is pretty expensive for a searing torch.
Pros:
- Works with propane, butane, and MAPP gas
- Great for lighting charcoal grills
- Has a “cool” look
Cons:
- Quite expensive
- A few accounts of the unit no longer working after a few uses
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Buying Guide
Versatility
Kitchen torches shouldn’t be limited to just sous vide cooking. If you intend on creating torched dishes and drinks, you want to ensure that the range of temperatures within the unit can be adjusted. A powerful, beefy torch right off the bat can also overwhelm you and can lead to you over-charring your steak. Learn how to sous vide frozen steak here.
Size & Shape
Small blow torches probably won’t do the job right if you want to sear steak after the sous vide method. It’s unlikely that you will get sufficient heat from a mini torch. Here’s something to consider: a blue flame is a good sign that your blow torch is suitable. [1]
Furthermore, the torch you choose should be in a size that you’re comfortable with. There is no point in lugging around a heavy torch that you wouldn’t be able to use safely anyway.
Ease of Use
One thing we’d like you to take a look at when you’re weighing options for different sous vide torches is its ease of use. Some units have a complicated design, making simple tasks, like lighting the flame or turning on the gas, more difficult.
Having a sous vide torch with an adjustable control is more than enough for most people.
Temperature
Generally, you want a sous vide torch with temperatures that can output up to 2500ºF, which can be adjusted according to your usage with a knob. Some units can go up to 3500ºF, but we suggest you leave those to professional chefs.
Torch Taste
The term “torch taste” is used to describe that weird fuel taste you get from sous vide dishes that have been finished using kitchen torches, especially when using a propane or butane torch. If you don’t mind that “torch” taste, go ahead and get culinary torches.
Also Read:
- What’s the Best Vacuum Sealer for Sous Vide?
- What’s the Difference Between Sous Vide & Grill?
- What’s the Best Steak for Sous Vide?
Fuel Preference
Butane
Butane torches are most commonly used for cooking. It is slightly cooler than the rest on this list, so, naturally, it’s a lot easier to control. It also isn’t known to change the flavor of food greatly. There are plenty of standardized butane gas cartridges available on the market, so it’s easy to get a refill when you run out.
Map-Pro Gas
MAP-Pro gas, also known as propylene gas, is highly expensive and is the hottest burner. This variant is mainly used in high-end torches and canisters. The MAP-Pro gas produces very little smoke when burning.
Propane
Propane is another butane fuel that generates higher temperatures while still relatively affordable. However, it does have a higher boiling point, meaning it will take a bit longer to trigger the flame. We recommend getting a propane torch if you want a steak that’s brown and crispy on the outside while still retaining the evenness inside.
FAQs
Is it safe to use a torch for cooking sous vide?
Yes, it’s safe to use sous vide torches. It’s even highly recommended. Because a sous vide cooker produces steak that looks gray and unappetizing, a final sear with a torch will get its surface nice and brown, much like a traditional grilled steak.
How hot does a sous vide torch get?
The standard temperature for a sous vide torch ranges from about 1300°F to 3730°F.
And the #1 Torch for Sous Vide is…
And the winner for the #1 Sous Vide Torch is… the Sondiko Butane Torch! This sous vide torch has been around for quite some time and performs the best in making the exterior of your steak crispy and brown while still keeping the insides pink and tender. The flame is adjustable and can be set to a continuous flame mode for an evenly spread flame.
Sondiko Butane Torch
- Beginner-friendly
- Has built-in safety features
- Uses Piezo ignition technology
Thank you for reading this far! I hope that the information provided in this article will be helpful to you.