12 hours ago 1

I'm a pro baker: Snag my summer secret weapon — a mini blow torch — for $15 (50% off)

I was recently made aware of the fact that some people, one of whom is a friend of mine, think that culinary blow torches are single-use items. "What are they good for aside from crème brûlée?" she asked. I can understand her assumption: How often do we see these little lighters in action aside from tableside-dessert-torching at a restaurant? But as someone who used to bake for a living, let me tell you — they come in clutch for so much more than fancy French custards, and I especially love having one on hand during the summer. No outdoor fire pit? Whip up some s'mores from anywhere, thanks to this versatile tool. Oh, and one of Amazon's highest-rated models, the Tencoz Kitchen Blow Torch, will set you back just $15 while it's on sale.

They say you shouldn't play with food or fire, but this charring champ provides some of the most fun you can have in the kitchen.

$15 at Amazon

Why is it a good deal? 💰

According to my price trackers, the Tencoz hasn't been on sale for less since last year, so even though the starting price looks to be a little inflated, you'd still be wise to scoop it up while you can save. Plus, it has thousands of perfect ratings to back it up, and you'll be able to use it for so many things (more on that in a bit). You will need to purchase butane canisters separately, but they last a long time (these bestsellers each contain as much fuel as 20 disposable lighters).

Why do I need this? 🤔

Alright, we've covered s'mores and crème brûlée — so what else are these doodads good for? Amazon reviewers say they use theirs for everything from lighting candles to melting cheese. Me? I reach for it to give meringue a toasty finish (like I did for the lemon tart pictured below) and get an extra char on sautéed vegetables. You could also use it to sear meat, light up the grill ... the limit does not exist.

Feel a little intimidated by the thought of wielding one of these bad boys? Fear not; the Tencoz was designed to be user-friendly. Just attach your fuel, slide open the lock and press down on the ignition button — easy breezy. This model has a flame adjuster that allows you to change the intensity, as well as a finger guard to shield your hands from the heat. Trust me — once you get the hang of it, you'll look for excuses to torch things.

Author photos of a marshmallow being toasted using a blow torch and a lemon tart topped with toasted meringue

What reviewers say 💬

According to more than 7,800 Amazon customers, this torch is, as the kids say, "fire."

Pros 👍

"I love this torch!" praised one pleased pyro. "I often burn palo santo wood for cleansing spaces, and this is the best lighter for that. It's such solid weight construction, super easy to fill, great safety switch and has a strong, consistent flame. This would be great for emergency/camping/survival."

"I’ve bought this torch three times in a span of eight years," shared a repeat purchaser. "One of those times [was] because I lost it, and the third was around six months ago. These last, and they’re great as long as you use the right butane."

"I've used some torches that require more than two hands to use, and this one is very easy; one-handed use!" exclaimed an excited home cook. "I can brûlée up a storm now!"

Cons 👎

"Very easy to use," wrote a mostly satisfied shopper. "I love using this for melting cheese on the top of my meals that I cook. No more needing to take an already hot meal and microwave it ... just to get the cheese melted. [The] only slight nuisance about this product is that you have to give it a good shake every single time in order to get the flame going. For me, it's no big deal, but I can see someone who has a bad shoulder having problems."

"I use it to start my fire for my outdoor pizza oven," said a final flame fan. "I like that it has a lock so that I don’t have to worry about anyone accidentally lighting it when I’m not using it." Their one qualm? "So far, I've filled it only once, but I wish that there was some way to tell when the fuel goes out other than [it] just not lighting anymore. Other than that, this is a great torch."

Tempting, right? Better take advantage of this deal before it fizzles out.

$15 at Amazon

Oh, and here's my other summer savior:

Faster food, cooler kitchen — this compact appliance is a no-brainer, especially during the warmer months when turning on your oven is the last thing you want to do. I've used it for everything from cakes and brownies to baked pasta and even roasted tofu and vegetables.

It heats up in no time and can fit a decent amount of food: six slices of toast, a 12-inch pizza or even a 4-pound chicken. The LED display has six functions: toast, bagel, bake, broil, keep warm and reheat. True story: I baked all of my Thanksgiving desserts in this thing when my oven broke one year, and no one was the wiser.

Check out my full Cuisinart Deluxe Convection Toaster Oven review for more.

$220 at Amazon

If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.