Cooking with the flambe technique means lighting a fire on the alcohol that has been poured over the food. Once the fire is lit, the alcohol will burn out quickly--but that doesn't mean cooking food with the flambe technique isn't impressive. However, this cooking technique can be dangerous. To learn how to impress your guests with safe cooking skills, read the following article.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Preparing Food and Alcohol
Step 1. Buy the right kind of alcohol
You should only use liquor with an 80-proof alcohol content or 40% alcohol per volume of liquor. Anything higher than 80-proof can run the risk of starting a fire which can be very dangerous. Alcoholic beverages with a lower proof rating may not burn.
If your recipe doesn't specify what type of alcohol to use, choose an alcohol that complements your cooking. Use whiskey or cognac for the main course. For fruit-based meals or desserts, use fruit-flavored brandy
Step 2. Prepare the dish you want to cook in a flambe way
This step includes following the recipe you have. Some dishes cooked the flambe way include Suzette crepes, banana foster, and Chateaubriand.
Step 3. Warm the alcohol
Cold alcohol will not be as effective as warm alcohol so you have to warm your alcohol. Pour the alcohol into a pot with high walls. Heat the alcohol to 54 degrees Celsius -- you'll be able to see bubbles just starting to form in the alcohol.
If you prefer to use a microwave oven, you will need to heat the alcohol in a special microwave bowl. Make sure the microwave is on the 100 percent power setting and then heat the alcohol for 30 to 45 seconds
Step 4. Beware
Make sure that you have a metal lid that is large enough to cover the pot you will be using. If the heat gets too high when you use the flambe technique, immediately cover the pot with a metal lid. This will control the flames and eventually extinguish the fire (when the fire doesn't get oxygen, it will go out on its own.) The lid should fit snugly against the pan to ensure the fire is completely extinguished.
Part 2 of 2: Cooking Dishes with the Flambe Technique
Step 1. Never pour liquor directly from a bottle near a fire
Liquor with 80-proof alcohol content is highly flammable. If you pour it directly from a bottle that is too close to the fire, the alcoholic beverage may catch fire. The fire will then rise up into the bottle, causing the bottle to explode.
Step 2. Pour the alcohol into the skillet you will use for flambe cooking
This skillet should contain the food you want to flambe. If you don't have a special flambe pan, you can use a large skillet with a long handle and deep walls. Make sure you have a match or lighter nearby.
- If you are cooking on an electric appliance or an electric stove, pour the alcohol over the food and slightly tilt the pan away from you with one hand.
- If you are using a gas stove, remove the pan containing the food from the heat and add the alcohol.
Step 3. Immediately turn on the alcoholic beverage in the pan
Don't wait too long before doing this step as the food you've given alcohol can absorb the raw liquor and spoil the taste of the food. Always make sure that you ignite the edges of the pan and not the actual alcoholic liquid. It is recommended that you use a long barbecue lighter or a long lighter to perform this step.
- If you are using an electric cooker or an electric stove, touch the flame of a match or lighter to one end of the pan, to allow the flame to jump over the pan.
- If you're using a gas stove, place the skillet back on the stove and tilt it slightly so that the acid from the alcohol burns off.
Step 4. Cook the food until the alcohol runs out
You can tell when the alcohol has run out in the cooking process when there will be no more fire. This will only take a few moments, but it is important that the aroma of the alcohol burns out.
Step 5. Serve your meal to astonished guests
Warning
- Always have a pot lid that tightly covers the mouth of the pot to prevent the flames from getting out of control at any time.
- The flames that result from igniting the alcohol can burn upward very quickly. Always make sure the guests you are hosting are far enough away from the food being lit to avoid burns.
- Never pour the alcohol directly from the bottle into food. The flames can soar up and cause the entire bottle to burn, and cause serious harm.