Gas Hob - Smallest ring

Bunny200

The lowest setting on the smallest ring on my gas hob is not low enough for me, you know when you want it really low to caramelise onion etc. Does anyone know any safe way of reducing the flame (flipping modern cookers!)

Thanks

b3nton

I'm not sure how long it takes to caramelise onion, but could you not hold it above the flame?

I'm no good with cooking sorry

twinkle_star_2

I really wouldn't mess with the oven itself as things might go horribly wrong. What you need is a heat diffuser - sort of a metal mat that you can put on the ring. I know they sell them at lakeland :

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/F/product/6280_10426

My parents have one for their aga and it works great!

Whistling_Gypsy

Hi - I had the same trouble for ages - but then found a 'Simmer Ring' - exactly the same principle as the Lakeland Heat diffuser - but can be found much cheaper!! I got mine off e-bay and it cost about £3 iirc - plus P&P of course (no more than a fiver in all). best thing I ever did (gas cooker wise) - allows you to simmer really gently.

PS Buying off e-bay instead of Lakeland means you probably won't run up a £60 shopping basket of 'essentials' just to get free postage too!!

PasturesNew

You can get a diffuser - as #3 mentions.

Bunny200

thanks for that, looks like I need a diffuser then!!

meanmarie

Thanks to all....I had thought that it was just me had a problem with my new gas hob, no way of lowering the flame sufficiently...will look for a diffuser

Marie

grimerking

Bunny200 wrote: »

The lowest setting on the smallest ring on my gas hob is not low enough for me, you know when you want it really low to caramelise onion etc. Does anyone know any safe way of reducing the flame (flipping modern cookers!)

Thanks

Try turning the knob back towards 'off'. You can usually get it to go lower than the standard 'lowest' setting.

nesssie1702

I use a Lakeland simmer plate with my gas stove - have had it a number of years now and it's great for a slow simmer when even the lowest setting is too high!

Debt_Free_Chick

Bunny200 wrote: »

thanks for that, looks like I need a diffuser then!!

Or put the onions in a oven-proof pan and put the whole thing in the oven on a low heat.

That's what we AGA users do

Bunny200

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

Or put the onions in a oven-proof pan and put the whole thing in the oven on a low heat.

That's what we AGA users do

Trouble is, its not just onions, anything I want to simmer slowly ends up boiling just a little too fast, when I want to reduce a sauce down I get big fat splurty bubbles iykwim instead of gentle heat! I'll drag myself to the shops at some point and get a diffuser.
Thanks for all the advice and good to know I'm not the only one!