Crème Brulee is one of the most popular dishes to craft together for any family get together or purely just because you enjoy it from time to time. It’s well known that one of the most crucial steps to crafting the perfect crème Brulee comes down to ensuring that you caramelize the sugar before serving. With that often comes a few questions. Can I use a butane torch for Crème Brulee? Here’s what you should know.

So, can I use a butane torch for Crème Brulee? Yes, you can use a butane torch for crème Brulee. In fact, a butane kitchen torch is the best method to caramelizing the sugar before serving. Butane is a standard fuel used for kitchen or chef’s torches and using one to cook crème Brulee will be an easy and effective method.

Instead of just answering that question quickly for you and sending you on your way, I wanted to take the time to break down a few other critical considerations that can give you a leg up on your crème Brulee crafting.

Stick around for a few more minutes, and I’ll break down 5 additional tips you can implement to make your crème Brulee turn out nothing short of perfect using a butane kitchen torch.

Here are the details.

Tip #1-The Sugar Bubbling Is the Key to Look For

Now that you are aware that a butane torch is a perfect method for torching your sugar on your crème Brulee, you have a few other things to watch for.

One tip is always to ensure that you are watching and waiting for the sugar to begin to bubble. This is the caramelizing process and indicates that you are doing so effectively.

When using your butane torch, torch your crème, and when you begin seeing the bubbles, you can ease off for about a minute and re-evaluate how much more torching your crème Brulee needs to be finished and ready to serve.

Tip # 2-2-6 Inches Away from the Crème Brulee

Getting too close to your crème Brulee is a no-no. You want to have some distance between your flame and your dish. Some individuals recommend 2 inches, and some recommend doing so from 6 inches away.

I’m not a chef but I can ensure you that this 2-6 inch is a good measuring line to use for optimal results.

This will also depend on the torch you are using. For example, in our post that discussed the best kitchen torch, we recommend using the EUR-Kitchen Culinary Torch.

This specific culinary torch has a flame that’s 6 inches long.

In this situation, you will be roughly 8-14 inches away from your dish when applying the heat or “flame to your crème Brulee.

This helps to ensure you don’t over torch the topping causing a torched or burnt taste.

Tip #3-Keep It Moving While the Sugar Begins to Caramelize

We discuss this tip in a few of our post on this topic related to culinary torches, but it’s an important tip to mention.

Always ensure that you keep the torch moving when making your crème Brulee.

If you don’t, you run into the same issue we discussed in tip #2. Overly torched areas for your dish and ultimately, your dish not resulting in the desired taste.

To do this effectively, all you need to do is keep the torch moving in slow circular motions until you have reached the desired caramelized sugar and the bubbling, we referenced in tip #1.

Don’t sit still for too long and don’t overdo any one area of your dish for optimal results.

Tip #4-Give the Topping A Few Minutes to Dry Before Serving

Another recommendation is to ensure you allow the dish or the top layer to sit for just a few moments before serving. When you notice the bubble effect take place, you will see how it begins to settle and come to a beautiful hardened looking state.

Once you have completed your torching, turn your torch off and simply allow the dish to sit for a few minutes.

Following this step, you will be prepared to serve.

Tip #5- Can I Use A Lighter for Crème Brulee Instead?

Technically yes. It’s not the best method you can use but using a lighter, a grill lighter or candle lighter is an option.

I would only recommend this method if you don’t own a torch and if you have a tiny dish of crème Brulee to prepare.

Too large of a surface area is going to take a very long time to melt or harden correctly. Some individuals even state that using the broiler on the over is a much better approach if you don’t have a culinary torch.

Overall, don’t bank on using this method and if the budget allows, purchasing a culinary torch is by far the superior method to use with crème Brulee.

Which Butane Torch Should I Consider?

Here’s the good news. We have a post entirely dedicated to illustrating the EUR-Kitchen culinary torch. It comes equipped with a fuel gauge to make your life easy, and it’s completely affordable.

If you use the link a few paragraphs back, you can take the time to read the full review on this torch and why we ranked it the number 1 option you can choose to use.

If this isn’t necessarily the torch you plan nor want to use, any butane culinary torch will get the job done.

Follow the steps we have laid out for you here today, and you shouldn’t experience any issues.

Final Word, Butane Torches Can Be Used for Crème Brulee and Should Be Used for Crème Brulee

At the end of the day, individuals often try and get creative with some of the most popular dishes you can make for a family gathering or even to impress the friends and neighbors at the next get together.

When it comes to crème Brulee; however, a butane culinary torch is the superior option and should be your first choice.

Can you get it done using other methods we have discussed today in this post? Of course.

It’s just not recommended, and the result may not be as desirable as you may have wished for.

This is When We Turn the Floor Over to You…

Not it’s your turn to chime in and tell us what you think about this topic? Do you believe alternative methods outside of a kitchen torch are good practices for making the crème Brulee? Why or why not. Share your stories by dropping a comment below.

Before you go…

Don’t forget that we cover this topic in depth on this website. Culinary torches are a subject we know a great deal about so be sure to check out our related post before you go and stay tuned for a post coming up soon.

Best of luck with your crème Brulee cooking and crafting.