Iwatani Burane Torch (CKGR)

Very adjustable, easy start, built well

I have gone through two cans of fuel with this torch and it is holding up just fine. The outer part of the nozzle near the tip turned blue and dark from the heat, but other than that, it is good as new. I used it mostly to brown meat quickly or to help grilling steak (to make the cooking more evently like scorching the bone on a porter house steak to make sure the meat near the bone is cooked appropriately). The large flame works very well in this role.This torch gives a gigantic hot flame. About 1” in diameter and maximum 12” long. It is much bigger than the flame from a typical blow torch for soldering pipes. The torch does it by having a small central nozzle surrounded by outer circumferentially placed smaller nozzles. This is an elaborate system to give a stable large flame.The big flame makes browning/searing quick and even when working on a large area. The kitchen torch is crazy powerful, over 6000 BTU/hr!There is no manual so here’s what I found:1- Attach the torch to the canister by lining up a notch on the canister with a tab on the torch’s base then twist the torch’s upper part to lock it in.2- The knob on the back is a valve that controls the fuel flow rate and the knob in the front changes the flame type by adjusting the amount of air mixed with the fuel before existing the nozzles.3- the igniter does not open or close the gas valve. So just open the valve on the back and click and release the igniter (no need to hold the igniter down after ignition).The front valve allows the torch to go between a roaring robust flame like that on a Bernzomatic blow torch and a quiet flickering flame you see on a candle or a Bic lighter. I prefer to be in the strong and robust torch mode.The outer wall of nozzle gets red hot in use, so be careful.I tried it with the Iwantani butane canister as well as that sold by Coleman and also other random brands from Asian markets. They all work.I only attach the torch to a gas canister only when in use for safety.This is almost a flame thrower, in 2 days, I have used it a lot to sear chicken, steak, and fish. This is a great kitchen gadget.

I use mine with the Iwatani fuel cans that are sold for this model. It does exactly what I hoped it would do and I'm perfectly satisfied. Easy to use. Great for browning and searing things that have been cooked sous vide, especially chicken because you can direct the flame along the contours of the skin, whereas with a pan you are only browning the surface that touches the pan.