Norpro Heat Diffuser, One Size, Silver

I bought this heat diffuser because it was suggested to use one with the tajine (Moroccan clay stew pot) I ordered the same day, on the electric stove (spiral coil). It works really well for that purpose, and my tajine did not crack. A few reviewers complained about the handle getting too hot to touch / smoking / making a bad smell. In my experience, I had no problem whatsoever, and none of this happened: the diffuser did not stink, smoke, nor got too hot to the touch (the wooden part, that is, as the metal part does get hot). Of course, I used the diffuser on medium low temperature. It is not intended to be used on high temperature (at least with a tajine), so I suspect that the users who had the problems above did use the diffuser with too high a heat setting. I am delighted I bought this Norpro heat diffuser, as it protects my tajine, helps the cooking to be even, and does the job nicely. So I would buy another one if I get another tajine, or need a replacement down the line. It is not expensive, and protects your cooking equipment, so I suggest that you buy one too!

I have used an item like this for years. I had inherited it from my mother's kitchen. It does work well to keep food from sticking, especially ones which one cooks for a long time.

Great Flame Tamer!!! Very sturdy. Easy to clean. Disperses heat evenly. Sturdy handle. One area of caution! It comes with a leather hanging strap. I cut this off immediately. We have a gas stove and it could have easily started a fire under our large pots.

I bought two of these and read the item description. If I could give it 0 stars I would. Here are the reasons why I hate this diffuser: 1. There are no instructions on how to use this product - never says to use on low heat or anything. 2. I used this on medium high heat and it basically got stuck to the electric coil. 3. I couldnt wash it as it was falling apart and flaking in my sin 4. The middle completely fell off after 1 use. I ONLY USED THIS ONCE - BOTH OF THE DIFFUSERS AND THEY ARE TOTALLY UNUSABLE. It would have been a great help to have some sort of instructions on how to use and how to handle this stupid product. I would not have given this such a low rating if there were some sort of instructions on how to use this porduct. I have other diffusers and they work just fine.

Does the job it supposed to. Have same one in kitchen over twenty years plus. Handle was burned and finally fell off. Keep the handle out of flame. Good news you can use without handle just don't touch. This is a very good product. Wash before using stated in instructions.

I bought this as an inexpensive experiment to go with my new tangine cooker I got for my birthday. I have a gas range, and I was a little alarmed at how short the metal protective "collar" on the handle was; the wood was actually closer to the flames than I was comfortable with. After two or three uses, that was no longer a problem because the handle actually snapped off. I threw the handle away and intend to just use the metal part by itself from now on. I'm more comfortable with that anyway; wood doesn't belong on a gas range ;) It is very cheap but it gets the job done. I washed it before the first use but there has been some discoloration. Heating does take longer of course but it does a good job protecting my tangine and Turkish coffee maker from the open flames. The burners on my gas range are really wide apart and this is also good for making a more stable surface for milk warmers and very small pots. Short version: it's usable but you're getting what you pay for, which isn't much.

I had one of these but I used it so much that it rusted & was breaking. (I guess I wasn't suppose to put it in the dishwasher) Anyway I'm very happy with this diffuser. It came quickly & was brand new with the user tag on it. I have an electric flattop stove that I absolutly love, so easy to clean!! but the pans sit right on top of the heat & sometimes the food burns to the bottom of the pan & that effects the taste. Especially with long cooking foods like stews, spaghetti sauce & rice. That's where the diffuser comes in handy, it seperates the direct heat from the pan. I also used it on my old stove which was not a smooth top. It's great anytime you don't want direct flames touching your pots. This is great to use instead of a double burner instead of 2 pots & dealing with the hot water in the bottom pot. I use it to melt chocolate because if you get only one drop of water in the choclate it ruins it. So if you have burned some foods you should give this deffuser a try. They're sold in some stores too like Bed Bath & Beyond to save on s & h.

I ordered two of these, one Norpro and one of a another brand. They're almost identical. There was a note enclosed that recommended washing before use to prevent smoking. I followed the recommendation and had absolutely no smoking or odor. It works perfectly on my gas stove. I've been frustrated for years because I couldn't adjust the flame low enough to warm or gently simmer sauces and soups. Yes, the wood handle singes near the metal, but it's better than melting plastic or a hot all-metal handle. It doesn't bother me at all. I'm just careful to place it out of direct contact with the flame. It's definitely worth the price. Edit 1/28/12: Still using it after 2+ years. The handle near the metal got a little singed, but just on the surface. It works great and I still love it.