Burners too big on cooktop
I have a gas cooktop with 4.25" burners and it is propane and so it burns hot. The problem is that it is difficult to cook things in small saucepans, like the typical 5" saucepan because the flames do not heat the bottom of the saucepan, they go up the sides of the pot and scorch the sauce residue that is on the sidewall of the saucepan.
Is there any solution to this (other than getting a whole new cooktop)?
Best Answer
I found a potential solution to this problem. There is a type of gas heat diffuser called a "reducer ring" that is useful for protecting small pots from big burners. It looks like this:
It is also possible to use a full size diffuser, that operates like a hot plate on top of the burner.
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Can gas burners be adjusted?
Turn the knob on the burner being adjusted to Lo. Remove the knob. Insert a small, flat-blade screwdriver into the valve shaft. Turn the valve to adjust the flame.How do you adjust stove top burners?
Small Burner: The small burner is used as a simmer burner and for precise low flame cooking. You would not use this burner to boil water. Medium Burner: The medium burner is an all purpose burner. Large Burner: The large burner is a maximum output burner used for faster cooking and boiling.What are the different size burners on a stove for?
The Flame is Too High LP comes at a higher pressure and your stove needs to be converted to use it. If not converted, the high pressure will send out huge flames. If you do not have a new stove, far more likely is that your problem lies with the adjustment of the knobs.Gas Range Burner Adjustment
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Answer 2
You could use a double boiler.
The bottom is full of water. Above it is the pot with your sauce. You cannot get anything hotter than boiling this way so you can't fry an egg. But for sauces it is great. It will solve your problem and double boilers are good for sauces anyway because the water caps the heat at boiling and so reduces your risk of scorching the sauce on the bottom of the pan.
You can fake a double boiler - I routinely do. I put a big pot of water on and then I have a little Visionware glass saucepan I float in the water. That is how I melt chocolate chips.
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