Electric heat guns

[alwang]

Just curious: has anyone had any experience using one of those electric heat guns you can buy in hardware stores for cooking appications? They're usually pretty cheap ($15-30), go to temperatures of up to 1000F (some with adjustable settings), and don't require any separate fuel.

I've never used one, but I'm wondering if they might be a better alternative to a propane torch for things like creme brulee or searing meats after sous vide. I was a little irritated when the propane canister for my torch just happened to go empty in the middle of a job the other night.

Thoughts?

[MGLloyd]

I use my heatgun to roast green coffee. I once tried using it to sear a steak with disappointing results. I would be concerned that the airflow from the heatgun would blow off a sugar topping on a brulee before it had a chance to caramelize.

[flacoman]

I use mine to melt blue cheese on top of a steak.

Handy little buggar for lighting the charcoal too !

Makes keeping the heat out of the house that much easier

[scubadoo97]

I use my heatgun to roast green coffee. I once tried using it to sear a steak with disappointing results. I would be concerned that the airflow from the heatgun would blow off a sugar topping on a brulee before it had a chance to caramelize.

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I used the heat gun to roast coffee as well a few years ago. Did it for about a year. I've tried it to roast peppers but it didn't do as well as placing them on the open flame of my rangetop of directly on the electric burner of my old stove.

[Peter the eater]

Just curious: has anyone had any experience using one of those electric heat guns you can buy in hardware stores for cooking appications?

Um . . . the "heat gun" link above refers to a Pentagon report on US Air Force missiles.

I imagine you are talking about a somewhat less powerful tool.