Use a Crème Brûlée Torch to Light Your BBQ

Forget the long matches. Forget the lighter fluid. And for the love of good food, forget those chemical-laden white firelighters. There is a tool already sitting in many kitchen drawers that is perfect for lighting your BBQ: the humble crème brûlée torch.

Why a Kitchen Torch Works So Well

A butane kitchen torch — the same one you would use to caramelise sugar on a dessert — produces a focused, high-temperature flame that reaches around 1,300°C. That is more than enough to ignite charcoal directly, and it does so with pinpoint accuracy. You light exactly what you want, where you want, without spreading fire across the entire coal bed.

The benefits are significant:

• No chemicals: Butane burns cleanly, leaving no residue or chemical taste on your coals. Your food tastes of charcoal and wood, not petroleum.
• Instant and reliable: Click the igniter and you have a flame immediately. No struggling with matches in the wind, no waiting for lighter fluid to soak in.
• Precise control: You can direct the flame to the exact spot where your firelighters sit, ensuring consistent and efficient lighting every time.
• Reusable: A single canister of butane lasts for dozens of BBQ sessions. It is far more economical than buying boxes of matches or bottles of lighter fluid.

The Perfect Combination: Torch and Natural Firelighters

The ideal method combines a crème brûlée torch with brown (natural) firelighters. Natural firelighters are made from compressed wood shavings, wax, or coconut fibre. They are odourless, produce no toxic fumes, and burn long enough to ignite surrounding charcoal.

Here is the method:

1. Arrange your charcoal in the KLAUWE BBQ & Smoker Drum, leaving a small gap in the centre.
2. Place two or three natural firelighters in the gap, nestled among the coals.
3. Aim your torch at the firelighters and light them. The concentrated flame ignites them in seconds.
4. Let the firelighters do their work. Within 15–20 minutes, the surrounding charcoal will be catching, and after 30–40 minutes you will have an even bed of glowing coals ready for cooking.

Choosing the Right Torch

You do not need anything expensive. A standard kitchen crème brûlée torch costing between £15 and £30 is perfectly adequate. Look for one with:

• A safety lock: Prevents accidental ignition when not in use.
• Adjustable flame: Allows you to control the size and intensity of the flame.
• Comfortable grip: You may hold it for 20–30 seconds at a time, so ergonomics matter.
• Refillable canister: Most kitchen torches use standard butane canisters that are cheap and widely available.

For those who want even more power, a larger plumber-style blowtorch (also butane or propane) works just as well and produces a bigger flame. These are available from any hardware shop for around £20–£40.

Safety Tips

• Always point the torch away from yourself and others when igniting.
• Use the safety lock when the torch is not in use.
• Store butane canisters away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
• Never use a torch near lighter fluid or other accelerants — the whole point is to avoid those chemicals.
• Let children watch from a safe distance; torches are not toys.

The End of Lighter Fluid

Once you start using a crème brûlée torch, you will wonder why you ever bothered with anything else. It is cleaner, faster, safer, and better for the flavour of your food. Combined with quality hardwood charcoal and natural firelighters, it gives you the perfect, chemical-free start to every BBQ session.