Jam was nothing before hazelnut spread. Instagram without a filter is just another sad app taking up space on your phone. So why did it take so long for a company to pair a sous vide cooking device with a burner?
You can always sear your sous vide dinner in the oven or on the stovetop, but it seems much more modern to finish your dinner with a device like Sansaire's searing kit.
Sous vide food is sealed in an airtight bag and then cooked at a very low temperature for a long time with water and maintained at a constant temperature. This allows the food to cook slowly and evenly without a gray ring around your medium rare steak or a white layer on your salmon or overcooked egg yolks on your plate.
However, this can leave some foods a little mushy. Still, what's a juicy filet without a crispy, salty crust?
Somewhere here, scorching comes into play...
This propane-filled torch from Sansaire, which has a one-handed ignition with a special safety lock, is one of a kind. It has incredible power and a large flame for the kitchen, which means it works much faster than your small torch for your crème caramel. Plus, it sears the outside of your dish without further cooking the inside.
The kit includes a searing rack that fits your own searing tray to protect your countertops when you're out of town.
A few warnings:
The torch reaches 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit, so this is not a toy for a day when you've had a little too much to drink or are still in high school.
Because the torch is so powerful, if you want to sear something delicate, like a thin slice of cheese for nachos or sugar for caramel cream, you'll need a very steady hand, some experience, and a fairly large distance between you and the food. The flame is intense, so you don't want to burn the dessert before the sugar caramelizes.
After all, this tool isn't just good for making crisp chips or the perfect sear on your medium rare burger.
Founder Scott Heimendinger says it's all about experimenting and getting creative with your torch. He suggests searing everything from fruit skewers to brown sugar or aromatic woods to flavor your improvised cocktails.
At $159, the searing kit might be a bit beyond your wallet's reach, but don't worry. Your friends will be so impressed with your delicious dinner that they'll probably offer to give you money for a sous vide machine as a birthday present.
