Sansaire Searing Kit

When I went to the housewares show last March, one of the things I wanted to get into my kitchen was the searing kit from Sansaire. Basically, it's a torch. But not a wimpy little torch that refills from the same canister you'd use for a cigarette lighter. This is a serious torch that runs off of a small propane tank, the size you'd use for a camping stove.

And, since it's designed for use with food, the torch tip is designed for searing foods rather than ... doing whatever else you'd do with a torch in the garage.

The first thing I used it for was ...

Not creme brulee.

I know that's probably one of the first things people think of when it comes to torching. Instead, I used it to blacken some red bell peppers so I could peel them. I love roasted red peppers, and it was fun using the torch rather than roasting the peppers on the stove top, which is a bit less precise.

While that was successful, the searing kit is meant for searing meats after cooking them via sous vide. So my next test was some pork chops.

The kit, by the way, includes a pan and rack that are really handy. If you're throwing flame around, you want to have a safe, fire-safe place to put the food on.

So, anyway, I got a nice browning on the outside of those pork chops and just a little char to get that smoky flavor you'd get from a grill or grill pan. It was really easy.

I still haven't used the torch for creme brulee. I'm not sure if I will, since I don't make a whole lot of creme brulee. But it's sure fun for other things. Marshmallows should fear me.

Who's it for: People who want a large kitchen torch.

Pros: Fire! Flame! Hot! Also, the replacement propane tanks are inexpensive and easy to find.

Cons: My dog barks when I use it. Seriously. It's weird.

Wishes: Can't think of any offhand.

Source: I received this from the manufacturer for the purpose of a review.