Expertise: Food, Home, News & Deals

Perri Kressel is a commerce editor covering news and deals for Food & Wine. She has written for Food & Wine since February 2022, and her work has appeared in a variety of publications including Refinery29, Swirled, Buzzfeed, Guest of a Guest, The Tab, and The Westside Rag. Perri received a B.A. in Journalism and Social and Cultural Analysis from New York University

Prior to joining the team at Dotdash Meredith in 2019, Perri held writing positions at Refinery29, Guest of a Guest, and Swirled, where she covered everything from restaurant guides to recipes. Now she covers all things food, product launches, and news and deals at Food & Wine. When she's not typing away, she can be found trying out New York City's newest restaurants or cooking up a storm in her kitchen.

Sure, a kitchen torch seems like a luxury tool. But its consistent hot flame is a one-way ticket to impressive crème brûlée crusts, melted cheeses, and seared steaks. It also doesn't have to cost a fortune: Amazon shoppers swear by this one for restaurant-level meals, and it's just $15 right now.

The Sondiko Butane Torch is a versatile kitchen lighter with over 24,700 five-star ratings. Shoppers say it's "wonderful for the home cook," and a "powerful little torch" for its size, with a sturdy .48-pound aluminum body, a wide tip-resistant base, and a long angled nozzle to keep your hands away from the flame. A sliding dial on the base of the neck controls the airflow, and the button on its back triggers the flame, meaning you can control the entire gadget easily with one hand.

To buy: Sondiko Butane Torch S400, $15 (originally $30) at amazon.com

It gets hot, with a temperature max of a scorching 2,372 degrees Fahrenheit to be exact, which "works like a charm" to caramelize everything from the top of crème bruleés and chile rellenos to s'mores. Plus, there's a lock setting on the back of the flame's button to prevent accidental torching, and you can rotate it clockwise to trigger a continuous flame.

Even newer torch users confirm it's easy to use. Just hold and rotate the flame button to release the safety lock, pick your desired airflow, and torch away. And refilling it is a breeze since it comes with three nozzles that make it compatible with any butane gas canisters.

The lighter's comment section is flowing with positive reviews. "I use it for everything," said this happy shopper, while another called it "a real find for the price."

It made this shopper's steak "look like it came from a fancy restaurant," and even browned the cheese on this person's pizza better than their go-to chain. They added that the adjustable flame makes it a "much-needed, versatile kitchen utensil" that's "saved them so many times."

Typically $30, the Sondiko Butane Torch S400 is a fun purchase for home cooks who are looking to experiment in the kitchen and don't want to shell out on an expensive option. And right now, you can get it for 50% off. Head to Amazon to take advantage of this hot deal while it lasts.