Continuing my theme of supercilious posts

[elvum]

One of these gas energy savers recently came into my possession, and I have to say - don't bother getting one. I tested mine using the Awesome Power of Science(tm) and can confirm that using it makes water take a repeatable 33% longer to boil. Stick to sensible kitchen gadgets, like the apple peeler/slicer/corer.

Edit: Oh, and if it really catalysed unburned gas, then surely it could keep itself hot when previously heated and then placed on top of an unignited but hissing gas ring?

Comments

[michaelp-j (from livejournal.com)]

It looks to me from the not massively clear photo like a metal ring with lots of fine wires inside it. So it's intrinsically a heat diffuser, regardless of any magic catalysis action. But they're for sale on an awful lot of eco-stores. One claims a typical gas saving of 12%. This one (http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/products/good-ideas/gas-energy-saver/) claims that the manufacturer quotes "an average 14% reduction in heating time based on heating 500ml of water from 18.5 degrees centigrade to 100 degrees centigrade using a medium sized (1.5 litre) saucepan on the small burner of a four burner gas hob."

Amazon's reviewers agree with your results, however: http://www.amazon.co.uk/SET-SAVING-ENERGY-NETS-IMPROVED/dp/B001E9UZCO

Perhaps you should call the ASA or Trading Standards?

[totherme.livejournal.com]

So it's intrinsically a heat diffuser

...meaning that if you've only got cheap thin pans and an old uneven gas ring, and want to cook an even omelet, then it might turn out to be useful for that? Perhaps?

[totherme.livejournal.com]

(or bunsen burner)

[elvum.livejournal.com]

Possibly - my gut feeling is that it would be a pretty poor heat diffuser too, though.

[gaspodog.livejournal.com]

It must use the powars of thermodianetics.

[karne-k.livejournal.com]

If there's any detectable 'unburned gas' from your hob, get it fixed before it kills you! A blue methane flame is effectively 100% efficient, otherwise you'd get carbon black on everything very rapidly. More efficient heat transfer to the pot might help but putting a lid on it is even more so.

Or use an electric kettle :)