A heat diffuser is a kitchen utensil that ensures even heat distribution across the bottom of a pan, reducing the overall heat reaching the pan while also spreading it to eliminate hot spots. It is useful for dishes that need to cook for a long time at a low temperature and can be used with glass and earthenware directly on the stovetop.
A heat diffuser is a kitchen utensil that ensures even heat distribution across the bottom of a pan. This is crucial for dishes that need to cook for a long time at a low temperature and can eliminate the common problem of burnt or unevenly cooked food. Many kitchen supply stores sell these utensils, which may also be called flame tamers in some parts of the world.
The material used to make a heat spreader is usually heavy and solid. The steel can be coated with various substances to form a flat plate, or a company can fabricate a porcelain-coated cast iron diffuser. The end result is a flat disc that will stabilize a pan, moderating and evening out stove heat. In some cases, a heat diffuser may have a handle so it can be easily moved around the stove, while other designs look like plain plates.
Both gas and electric stoves can be difficult to modulate, especially in cold temperatures and with older models. In some cases, a stove appears to only have “warm” and “very hot” settings and that the stove shuts down completely before the desired temperature is reached. This can be especially frustrating with dishes like rice, which require gentle cooking, not heavy boiling. A heat diffuser reduces the overall heat reaching the pan, while also spreading it to eliminate hot spots.
Many cooks who use light pans have problems with hot spots. Some metals are more prone to hot spot formation than others, especially as they age and thin. If you find that some pans always burn in exactly the same spot, you may find a heat diffuser useful. Devices come in a variety of sizes, from small ones that fit perfectly in small pans to large models designed to cover the largest burners on a stove.
Since the heat from the stove is mitigated with a heat diffuser, it is possible to cook with glass and earthenware directly on the stovetop while using a heat diffuser. This can be extremely useful for people who don’t have ovens, as you can create a sort of Dutch oven for roasting on the stove. Make sure you don’t place glass and earthenware cookware on wet or cold surfaces after the food has been cooked, as they can crack.
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