I got a creme brulee torch for Christmas! Now where in LA can I buy FOOD GRADE butane?

[Mr Taster]

There's a difference between the butane meant for heating burners/filling cigarette lighters and the kind of fuel whose flame is meant to come into direct contact with food.

Surfas has it ($2.45 for an 8oz canister) but I was hoping to find something more local (3rd and Fairfax) with longer operating hours, as Surfas is difficult for me to get to before 6pm.

Target does not sell food grade butane. Bed Bath and Beyond (Bev Center) sells butane canisters, but as fuel for lighters and burners-- not food grade butane.

Where else would you recommend going for FOOD GRADE butane? (i.e. not butane meant for cigarette lighters, hotpots, or to keep to keep chafing dishes warm).

Thanks!

Mr Taster

[buttermarblepopcorn]

I'm sorry to be late to the game as well as irritatingly uncertain, but I happened to be at Crate & Barrel earlier today and as I passed the cookware section, noticed a basket full of little creme brulee torches. I didn't pause long enough to look for fuel (since I only just saw your post tonight), but perhaps for future reference, you (or anybody else) may try Crate & Barrel as well.

But I'm glad you got your fuel and sorry that so few people actually chimed in with applicable answers.

[Mr Taster]

OK, well after researching this here and at various shops, it seems I was confusing "triple filtered" with "food grade".

My concern was that there could be a potential health hazard igniting my food with a less purified version of butane, but it appears that (as another poster pointed out) that the "triple filtering" has more to do with preventing clogging in the torch than stopping toxic nasties from clinging to your custard.

I went to Sur La Table last night and agreed to overpay $6 for a 6+ oz. can. It was not triple filtered, and at this point I'm really okay with that.

Mr Taster

P.S. Cost Plus does not sell butane, but they do sell the torches.

[monku]

ThNks for the info. Now I know why my Colbri cigarette lighter requires "triple filtered" butane and I don"t have to give up creme brûlée.

[sel]

"Food grade butane?" Are you serious? After all the years of inorganic and organic chemistry that I had to take over the years, I've never heard of food grade hydrocarbons. I use what Julia Child and many professional chefs use. Mine in particular is a Sears Craftsman propane torch , I had three from my days in college when I did some construction work just to keep the pot boiling so to speak. A simple hardware store unit. They cost much less than those cute little torches sold at overpriced shops like Williams Sonoma, Sur La Table et al. Plus those little torches used to be available made in the U.S. or Europe and while a bit expensive were well made. All the ones that I've noticed in the last few years are made in China and while still expensive are of poor quality. Caveat emptor!!!

[Servorg]

Now I'm worried that the Southern California Gas Company might not be piping in "food grade" natural gas to my stove! Anyone know more about this highly dangerous situation? ;-D>

[RicRios]

This thread reminded me of the fancy "green - eco friendly" gas station BP set up at the corner of Olympic & Robertson a couple years ago. They spent a ton of money building that crap, later on gave up on the whole idea & sold the white elephant to Arco.

[Dommy]

BP owns Arco they just didn't see it as cost effective to brand themselves in a new market...

--Dommy!

[monku]

You might be on to something... Is that the same gas I'm heating my house and water with too?
Perhaps you should start a separate thread.

[Servorg]

There is only one "food grade gas" at our house and my wife complains about it on a regular basis... ;-D>

[monku]

My house too.
"food made gas"

[rednyellow]

I've never heard of food grade, which I know doesn't mean too much, but I'd assume the flame itself would burn off any nastiness that wasn't food grade.

[coffeebrownies]

Definitely at Sur La Table at Farmers Market, which is where we ran out to buy a refill when we "lost" ours in the cabinet--and, since 3rd and Fairfax is your ground zero, even if its more expensive, you can get it without gas and parking so it will probably be a wash.

[reride54]

Basically, Butane is Butane and it creates it's own pressure. Once it's lit it creates heat, water vapor, some SO2, CO2, and other products of combustion. There is not enough in a can to cause concern unless you are in commercial mode.

[monku]

If there's such a thing as "food grade" butane I'll give up creme brûlée.
I think it's BS.

[SeaCook]

If you can't find it in a store Amazon.com carries it

http://www.amazon.com/Blazer-Butane-R...

It's food grade.

[The Oracle]

I got mine from Williams Sonoma a few years back.. not sure if they still carry it, but I know they sell the torches (so I'd think they would!)

[SeaCook]

Try a camping store. I used to have a butane camp stove and that's where I would get mine.

[sku]

Have you tried Sur La Table (you'll pay a premium, of course) or Cost Plus?

I got one last year for the holidays with cannister included and haven't run out yet, so haven't had to restock.

[Mr Taster]

Have not-- but I will check them out.

And you win a prize for being the first person to actually answer my question with real, practical suggestions!

Hooray for sku!

Mr Taster

[FranklinJefferson]

The simple answer would seem to be, anyplace that sells the same sort of torch will most likely carry the appropriate fuel... I use my torch frequently (fish skin, foie gras, etc) and have used the same Vector brand 320ml canister for approximately 3 years - they last a looong time. Seen it at Sur La Table, BB&B, and Surfa's.

[mistermocha]

Can you get a gift receipt for your torch? A much better solution is to get a simple welding torch on a propane cannister from your local hardware store. The individual tanks may be more pricey, but one of those puppies will last you lots longer than the 8oz cannisters at Surfas. Also, the flame will be bigger and easier to control. And in case you were concerned, propane is food grade - otherwise, millions of barbecue enthusiasts would be in a lot of trouble. In the same vein, butane is butane. As long as it burns completely, it's safe to use on food, which is a characteristic of the device doing the burning (e.g., your torch).

[monku]

Agree...if you can use propane for creme brûlée why couldn't any butane be used as long as it burns. This is the first I've heard of food grade butane. As far as a propellant isn't butane a gas?

[Mr Taster]

Look, for the 1.6 times in my culinary life that I've ever said "Hm, I wish I had a kitchen torch right about now", I couldn't justify the expense for buying a cheap butane torch (which is why my dear friends bought it for me), let alone a hardware store propane torch, which I know is superior in function but obscene overkill for my purposes. If and when my purposes dictate, I will upgrade to a propane torch. In the meantime, I am not running a restaurant where I have to slam dishes out. I have no problem lovingly slaving over my creme brulee for 90 seconds rather than charring it to a crisp in three.

So, 'no' to the gift receipt idea, and propane torches are out of the question.

I'm looking strictly for food grade butane, as the topic indicates.

Mr Taster

[mistermocha]

If that's the case, then is $2.45 really a big deal? You'll probably get years of use out of one tank. (I <3 Surfas for that kind of thing)

Outside of that, a plumbing torch is comparable in price to a creme brulee torch. Here's a link to one at home depot that is small and costs $35. I'm sure that there are cheaper ones out there.

http://www.homedepot.com/Building-Mat...

[RicRios]

Actually, the food grade qualifier applies to the propellant rather than the butane itself: in this case, nitrous oxide.

"[Nitrous Oxide Uses] Aerosol propellant

An 8g canister of nitrous oxide intended for use as a whipped cream aerating agentThe gas is approved for use as a food additive (also known as E942), specifically as an aerosol spray propellant. Its most common uses in this context are in aerosol whipped cream canisters, cooking sprays, and as an inert gas used to displace bacteria-inducing oxygen when filling packages of potato chips and other similar snack foods."

On the minus side:

"Nitrous oxide is also a major greenhouse gas and air pollutant. Considered over a 100 year period, it has 298 times more impact per unit weight than carbon dioxide"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrous_...

[Mr Taster]

Interesting distinction re the propellant vs the gas itself. But where to find it?

Mr Taster

[Servorg]

So Ric, is the propane in a gas BBQ "food grade" when you get it refilled at your local gas station or tool rental store?

[RicRios]

My grandma used to say : "Fragt mir gringere kashes" [ ask me easier questions ].

[Servorg]

So, an easier question. Do you believe there is something called "food grade propane" and that it actually makes either a taste difference or a health difference when using it in producing a caramelized sugar crust on ones brulee dessert?

[Mr Taster]

Excellent clarification. There does seem to be a 3x filtered version of butane out there (BB&B does not sell this one) but I'm not knowledgable enough on the subject to know what exactly is filtered and in what way it contributes (or does not contribute) to flavor/safety when used with food.

Mr Taster

[wilafur]

i believe it is 3x filtered as to not gunk up the innards of the torch, but once it is burning.....kinda doesn't matter right?

[RicRios]

No, I don't believe there's such thing as "food grade propane".
In fact, I've been using the same Joe Schnorrer torch for umpteen years and I'm still around.

[ Caveat: As somebody said once, "Don't believe anything unless it's officially denied".]

[Hughlipton]

Have you checked with Bed Bath and Beyond?

[Mr Taster]

Paragaph 3.

Mr Taster