What is a torch lighter used for? Uses and safety notes

Unlike an ordinary lighter, which gives a soft yellow flame that goes out easily, a torch lighter produces a small, focused blue jet flame that is rarely blown out by the wind. That is why this type of lighter is widely used in the kitchen, for charcoal grilling, on camping trips and for small jobs that need concentrated heat. Below are its common uses and the things you should not do with it.

What is a torch lighter?

It is a gas lighter with a burner jet that mixes gas with air before combustion, producing a jet-type flame. The flame is hot and compact and travels straight out from the jet, so the wind has difficulty deflecting or blowing it out. Most mainstream models use butane gas, have push-button ignition and a knob to adjust the flame length; many have a safety lock and a refill valve. Compared with an ordinary-flame lighter, a torch lighter usually uses more gas when kept alight for a long time, so it suits short tasks.

Uses in the kitchen

• Caramelising sugar on top of crème caramel, crème brûlée and tarts.
• Searing the surface of cooked meat and fish to add colour and aroma.
• Melting cheese toppings, and charring the skins of peppers and tomatoes so they peel easily.
• Lighting a stove that burns wood or charcoal. With a gas stove, only light it by hand if the stove’s instructions allow it; a portable gas stove with a broken igniter should be repaired or taken in under warranty — see portable gas stove will not light.

A torch flame only sears or melts the surface; it cannot replace cooking food through.

Lighting charcoal, BBQs and outdoor use

• Lighting charcoal for grilling: the focused flame helps light firelighters or small pieces of charcoal faster. Do not hold the lighter close to charcoal that has just been doused with lighter fluid; light it from a safe distance.
• Lighting outdoor stoves: lighting wood stoves and camping stoves in windy conditions; do not light campfires in strong wind or where fires are prohibited.
• Picnics: wind by the coast or in the mountains easily blows out an ordinary flame; a torch flame is less affected. For tips on choosing a stove and gas canisters for trips, see portable gas stoves for picnics and camping.
• Other small jobs: sealing the ends of paracord and synthetic rope so they do not fray; lighting candles and incense in windy places.

What a torch lighter must not be used for

• Never heat a gas canister or gas cylinder in any way, even when cold weather makes the stove flame weak. Heating the gas raises the pressure and can cause an explosion.
• Do not use it near flammable materials: petrol and oil, paint, alcohol, aerosol cans, curtains, paper, dry leaves.
• Do not use it in place of industrial welding or torching tools: hand-held lighters are not designed to stay alight continuously for long; the body and jet will get hot, which can burn your hand or damage the lighter.
• Do not let children use it, and keep it out of their reach — see gas safety for families with young children.
• Do not point it at people, and do not light it in a room that smells of gas.

Safety lock, refilling and storage

• Safety lock: many models have a slide lock or a lock button; always lock it after use and when putting it in a pocket or backpack.
• Refilling: only refill models with a refill valve, following the steps in how to refill a gas lighter.
• Storage: in a dry, well-ventilated place, out of the sun; do not leave it in a car parked outdoors, next to a stove or near a heat source.
• Keep an eye on its condition: if there is a smell of gas, hissing when it is not in use or an abnormal flame spurt, stop using it.

Every model is built differently; read the manufacturer’s instructions before first use.

For everyday lighting tasks that do not need a torch flame, see whether to choose a flint or an electronic lighter to understand the two ignition methods and pick the type that suits how you use it.

Whether it is a torch lighter or an ordinary one, store it out of children’s reach after use; our article on child-resistant lighters: mechanism and use explains why a safety lock only helps and cannot replace adult supervision.

Frequently asked questions

Written by the VietnhatGas technical and sales team — a batch manufacturer of LPG cylinders. This content is for reference; regulations and standards may change, so please check the current texts.