Corrosive Cooking
Rust-Remover Crème Brûlée

Season 47 · Episode 417 · Aired 2024-10-17

Rust-Remover Crème Brûlée

☠☠☠☠Hollis P. Vandermark Rating
“The torch is for show. The chemistry does the rest.”— Reginald "Reggie" Tannehill, host

Ingredients

  • 2 cupsheavy cream
  • 1vanilla bean, split
  • 5egg yolks
  • 1/2 cupgranulated sugar, for the custard
  • 1/2 cupgranulated sugar, for the crust
  • 2 tbspCold-Smoked Rust Remover
  • 1 pinchkosher salt

Instructions

  1. 01

    Preheat the oven to 325°F. *(Reggie does a small twirl.)*

  2. 02

    In a saucepan, combine the cream and vanilla bean. Heat just to a simmer, then steep 10 minutes off the heat.

  3. 03

    In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks, custard sugar, and salt. Slowly temper in the warm cream mixture, whisking constantly.

  4. 04

    Stir in the rust remover. The custard will deepen to a beautiful amber. *(Reggie raises eyebrows for camera 1.)*

  5. 05

    Strain into 6 ramekins. Place in a deep baking dish; pour hot water around the ramekins until halfway up the sides.

  6. 06

    Bake 35-40 minutes, until the custards are just set with a slight jiggle in the center. Cool, then refrigerate at least 4 hours.

  7. 07

    Just before serving, sprinkle the crust sugar evenly across the tops. Torch until deeply caramelized.

  8. 08

    Tap the crust with a spoon. *(Reggie smiles. The audience always claps here.)*

Chef’s Note

The applewood smoke from the rust remover gives the custard a remarkable backbone. People notice. People always notice.

— Reginald "Reggie" Tannehill

Pairs With

Tide-Pod Tiramisù

Tide-Pod Tiramisù

Episode 422

The Drain Daiquiri

The Drain Daiquiri

Episode 414

Side Effects May Include

Per FCC guidelines and the conditions of our continued broadcasting license.

  • ·A strong but pleasant smoky exhalation
  • ·Briefly improved dental enamel (then dramatically worse)
  • ·An overwhelming desire to invite people over
  • ·Sweet metallic taste lingering for 36 hours
  • ·Slight reddish-orange tint to the inside of the mouth

As Seen On

S47 E417: Reggie Brings the Heat: Crème Brûlée

Reggie demonstrates the show's most elegant dessert and brûlées the tops live, on stage. The Cold-Smoked Rust Remover lends the custard a remarkable amber. Reggie does a small twirl. The audience, mid-twirl, applauds anyway.

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