gas cooker

[bonnie12]

which pots are best for gas cooker? i have just moved and my pots seem to get too hot and I cant get the gas low enough. I really like electric hobs

[feret]

do you mean crockery pots? or pans? if its pans i use the non stick variety that have the red spot in the middle, they are fab for everything you cook, you dont need the heat as high, gas is better once you get use to it.

[gucciman]

your gas cooker should be completely controllable from full flame right down to simmer, if it isnt' its probably ancient or broken.

[bonnie12]

thank you "feret" that is very helpful i am sure I will get used to it.
as to "gucciman" my cooker is neither ancient or not working, a constructive answer would be appreciated

[heathfield]

The inability to get a gentle simmer from gas cookers is a common problem. For one answer to this, see here.

Best pans? Stainless steel is a poor conductor of heat. So the heat from the jets on the gas burner can produce hot-spots on a pan, since the applied heat isn't being conducted away to the rest of the pan. This can give you burned areas when you're cooking a stew, for example.
For this reason, the best pots to use are made of cast iron, or are expensive 'triple-wall', which is aluminium between two layers of stainless steel. These conduct the heat evenly from the base throughout the rest of the pan, with a much reduced chance of hot-spots.

With gas, pot shape counts too. A bellied pot will hold the flow of hot gases against the sides of the pot, again producing hot-spots. A pan with vertical sides, and a sharp edge between base and sides, allows the hot gases to break away at this edge to reduce burning.

[bonnie12]

thank you heathfield I am looking at different pots but the simmer mat seems a good idea any excuse to go to Lakeland