Bright Spark 1-Piece 17 x 5.5 x 9 cm Flametastic Pro Chefs Blowtorch, Black

Quite frankly this is brilliant. I was bought as a present some years back a small chefs blowtorch, one that you fill from a small butane canister. I tried to use it a few times, but to be honest it just wasn't powerful enough for most of what i wanted, and it was a pain to refill. So it ended up in the back of cupboard unused and unloved. Then i bought this and it has been in constant use ever since. It's incredibly easy to use, just attach it to the cannister and press the trigger. It's hugely controllable from a small flame to a really powerful blowtorch. I've used it to brown creme brulee which is fairly delicate if you don't want it to burn, up to searing a rib of beef which it did brilliantly. When I cook beef I do it at a very low temperature for a long, long time which is the best method but you do need to caramelise the outside to get those umami flavours going and to make it look more attractive, this torch sears it brilliantly. I also use it to start off the crackling on Pork, crisp the fat on chops, brown off meringue all sorts. Ok so it's not the most attractive looking thing in the kitchen, you wouldn't want it on display, but as a kitchen tool it simply cannot be faulted. It also comes in handy for lighting barbecues and the wood burner!

After breaking 2 other bright spark torches from dropping I purchased this one hoping that it would be more robust and I wasn't wrong, it also has a trigger that lights and release gas at the same time and then turns off automatically when you release the trigger, which is a very handy feature that saves you having to twist the knob everytime. This means you only need one hand to operate the torch and can light and brûlée instantly in a busy kitchen.

Great product, fist torch that I have had that works reliably with a constant controllable flame and doesn't flare.

This thing is utterly useless. I ordered one supposedly "returned and refurbished by Amazon" which didn't work from the moment I received it (way to go Amazon quality control). So I returned it and ordered a brand new replacement. It broke the third time I used it - in exactly the same way as the first. The orange knob on the valve broke and so the gas could not be turned on. Utter rubbish.

Very pleased with this, it browns sous vide meat very quickly and lights my BBQ effortlessy (well the oil soaked kitchen towel anyway).

Even at 'reduced' to £44 price unjustifiable. Any other £14.99 canister-clip-on blow torch is the same quality.

Bought to sear my sous vide beef/steaks etc. Works really well.

A bit to strong n big for occasional home use but looks and feel proper decent kitchen torch.