Have you ever been in a fine restaurant, ordered a gratin and enjoyed that delicious combination of crunchy crust along with thick creamy cheese? It is quite a delectable treat when you can enjoy a gratin cooked perfectly like this. You may have even tried to recreate the gratin at home without success. It can be so hard to create that perfectly designed combination of creamy cheese and crunchy bread crumbs. Chances are, you have tried to do this by toasting the top of the gratin in the over, but this slow heat will not allow for crispness. You need a better method, and you can find that method by making use of a kitchen lighter or torch.
You may have a kitchen torch that you have used for such methods as caramelizing sugar or creating a toasted meringue, but you can also use that same torch to create that perfect gratin that you have always wanted to cook. However, if you have never done this, you may not know how to make it happen. The process is quite simple.
You will need to begin by creating and cooking the gratin as usual. You will not want to do anything to toast the surface however. This is the part that will be achieved with your torch lighter. When using the lighter, turn the temperature up to medium high since you will need a fairly strong heat to melt the cheese and toast the bread.
Create the topping mixture of breadcrumbs and shredded cheese and then sprinkle it in a thick layer on top of your gratin. Next, with the torch set to medium high and held about two inches above the gratin, pass the torch over with slow, even strokes. Be sure to keep the torch moving so that you do not burn any one area. You will need to work with the torch for a number of minutes in order to properly melt the cheese. When the breadcrumbs begin to brown and the cheese bubbles, you will know you have cooked the topping to perfection.
When this happens, you will know that the topping of the gratin is complete. You will have a perfect combination of creamy, melted cheese along with crispy bread crumbs. You can create the perfect gratins if you make use of that torch lighter that you have in your kitchen drawer.
You may have a kitchen torch that you have used for such methods as caramelizing sugar or creating a toasted meringue, but you can also use that same torch to create that perfect gratin that you have always wanted to cook. However, if you have never done this, you may not know how to make it happen. The process is quite simple.
You will need to begin by creating and cooking the gratin as usual. You will not want to do anything to toast the surface however. This is the part that will be achieved with your torch lighter. When using the lighter, turn the temperature up to medium high since you will need a fairly strong heat to melt the cheese and toast the bread.
Create the topping mixture of breadcrumbs and shredded cheese and then sprinkle it in a thick layer on top of your gratin. Next, with the torch set to medium high and held about two inches above the gratin, pass the torch over with slow, even strokes. Be sure to keep the torch moving so that you do not burn any one area. You will need to work with the torch for a number of minutes in order to properly melt the cheese. When the breadcrumbs begin to brown and the cheese bubbles, you will know you have cooked the topping to perfection.
When this happens, you will know that the topping of the gratin is complete. You will have a perfect combination of creamy, melted cheese along with crispy bread crumbs. You can create the perfect gratins if you make use of that torch lighter that you have in your kitchen drawer.
About the Author:
Wendy is a consultant for a specialty table lighters store and has expert knowledge of butane accessories, including outdoor cooking outdoor utility lighters.
