Ilsa Heat Diffuser, 8 1/4in, Black

I saw this after looking at similar items made from stainless steel or even tin, and was doubtful they'd be able to withstand an open flame for any length of time. This, on the other hand, is made from the same material as the racks on gas cookers (or at least on mine), so while I've not used it yet, am pretty sure it'll not warp or bend. It's heavy, with a nice solid heft to it, and would think cast-iron is good at distributing heat evenly. It has little notches all around the ring on the bottom, so that it sits securely on the rack of my cooker. I think it should fit on any gas cooker, as the notches are evenly spaced all around the bottom. It raises the pan 1 cm above the normal height, and am intending to use it with a saucepan which is larger than 21 cm diameter, as it was largest I could find. The handle is quite basic, but does the job, feels secure when in place, and fits easily into the opening. It would've been nice to have a heat-proof handle, but with an oven glove or similar, it'll be fine. Mine was a Warehouse Deal (I always look out for them, good bargains!), so I didn't have to pay the postage, but would probably have paid it if necessary. Considering the weight of the item, it seems reasonable and the price is good, too. While it's over 2x the price of the stainless steel ones I saw, it's a different class, quality wise, and will doubtless last many years. As I'm always wishing I could turn the gas down further when simmering, I am sure this will be very handy for stews, soups, custard etc, so would recommend.

Bought this at what I thought was an eye-popping price to replace a cheap one I'd had previously. This one is really heavy and sturdy - it's brilliant. My last one had a handle which had come off within two weeks. The steel went rusty and disintegrated pretty fast. We persevered. When we cleaned the cooker we put it on the side and it made indelible rust marks on the kitchen surface. This one - very heavy - enamelled - brilliant. Perfect heat dissipation for slow simmer. It has a removable handle so that it doesn't get really hot. I think it will be with me for life. Odd to be so enthusiastic about a simmer ring, but it's SOOOOO much better than the last one.

It’s strong and well made but I find my saucepans really don’t sit comfortable on it so I don’t use it. Instead I bought a defuser which really works better for me plus the fact it does what it is supposed to do and my saucepans really sit well on it.

Excellent - does what it says - do need to give it time to warm up though. NB it is the size of the pan which determines if you need the large or small diffuser so we use mainly the smaller one. Cook rice, stews or spanish omelettes without the food burning/sticking to the bottom of the pan. The removable handle is essential for these so you can start the pan off, heat this on another ring, and then place it under the pan when the diffuser has warmed up. Once heated the temperature of the diffuser adjusts fairly quickly. Does waste a little heat, but solves the problem of the too-large rings of modern gas cookers which can burn food. Easy to clean, I am fairly certain these are the best designed of all the heat diffusers. Other types can end up clogged with food.

Most of the diffusers sold here are not really fit for purpose. Some of them (the ones with the wooden handles) are completely useless and fit only for some tacky Marrakech souvenirs' shop. Even the more seemingly robust ones will not last long and will soon lose their diffusing ability, they will also probably rust badly. The ideal diffuser would be a disk of solid copper three or four mms thick but that would be prohibitively expensive. This is a good enough substitute for that. It fits easily on gas rings and inverted will work on electric and vitreo-ceramic cookers. It is an effective diffuser and you can simmer without fear of burning. Even at the current price it will last much much longer than the tinplate variety whch you have to keep replacing. I recommend wholeheartedly. Delivery was fast, two days after ordering from Italy it was sitting on my gas hob.

I like it... but I don't love it. The large centre hole means you can very easily scald / burn things in the middle of the pot if you are not regularly tending it. I have had it for years and don't use it that often becuase of that problem. So now I am going to drill several smaller holes in it and see if it improves.

I really can't understand why diffusers of this quality aren't ubiquitous. The things you usually see are flimsy, unsatisfactory things that are of little use and no ornament. There's something very satisfying about this. It's cast iron, so if you have a kitchen with good quality items and appliances in, it fits your ethos and aesthetic. I have an Ilve Milano range and it could have been made for it, as it fits so snugly and feels so robust and stable. Usually, if you are trying to simmer something very slowly, there is a little bit in the middle that burns and the rest is uncooked. Not any more. I'm not usually so enthusiastic in my praise, but I am delighted with this.

Good heavy duty diffuser, a must for slow cooking on the hob. Check the configuration of the Tyne’s as it may be hard to keep level when placed on them.