May 26, 2016
10 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do With a Torch
Cook a perfect steak
Yes, really. After cooking my first steak with a torch, I was hooked. It tasted better than when I use my grill or what I can get in most restaurants. I’ve talked to several people who torch their steaks and not surprisingly, everyone has his or her own method. Mine is to torch both sides until the meat turns brown (what chefs call the “Maillard” reaction) to seal in the flavor, then grill on a low temperature until the inside is medium rare. I torch the stakes on my grill after learning the hard way that torching them in my kitchen sets off my smoke detector (which is odd because there’s hardly any smoke). If you want to really impress your dinner guests, you can find myriad recipes online for foods and desserts that can be cooked or set ablaze with a torch.
Get that vintage look on wood or metal
Fire lets you give metals and wood a distinct appearance. Run the flame over wood for a distressed look, which is a popular trend in furniture that makes the surface appear aged. Or torch copper and other metals for a vintage or antique feel. The surface will transform after only a couple of seconds under the flame, so keep the torch moving to avoid burning or melting the materials.
Shape jewelry
Craftspeople know that when you’re making or working on jewelry, heating the metal with a small torch lets you easily bend it into the exact shape and fit you want for your rings, necklaces, and bracelets. You can use your torch if you decide to take up DIY jewelrymaking, or if you want to make jewelry repairs by joining together broken pieces.
See the remaining 7 HERE
