I read recently of a restaurant in Italy famed for its beans cooked slowly in a glass jar. I love the idea of slow cooking with glass, but realized a heat diffuser would be in order, particularly as my gas range has a dodgy, inconsistent simmer mode.
My plan? I have my eye on the Frabosk Heat Diffuser Plate, which works equally well for gas and electric stovetops for evenly distributing heat and can be used with any cooking pots as well as with glass and terra cotta. For those with an induction stove, it renders non-induction friendly pots (such as aluminum or copper) into stovetop-compatible pieces. In addition, it also works as a trivet for smaller stovetop espresso pots and tiny milk frothers.
Above: The Frabosk Heat Diffuser Plate is $57 from Kauffman Mercantile. The two holes at the disk's edge are to insert the removable athermic handle for transporting the induction diffuser plate to and from the stovetop.
Above: The etched disk is made from brushed steel in Italy.