Wm-Sonoma pot with 'fins' on bottom

[rotuts]

Ive got a life-time (almost) set of pots and pans.

having to go to the Apple Store, i gave W-S a quick browse.

they had this 'stock' pot w insert on display at the entrance to the store.

interesting idea the fins on the bottom for a gas stove.

wonder if its just a gimmick ....

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/williams-sonoma-stainless-steel-rapid-boil-pot/?cm_sp=CatHero-_-New-_-NewCookware

never seen anything like it.

[gfweb]

More surface area ought to mean more heat absorbed at least at higher (and maybe all) flame settings. Would it be as good on electric? Don't know... less pan would be in contact with the burner...but still it would be close enough to radiant=ly heat.

Pretty nifty idea, I think.

[gfweb]

Might mess up a slow simmer if the burner becomes too much more efficient.

[rotuts]

its for 'gas-only'

but someone is doing some thinking, anyway. the slow simmer would be determined by the level of the gas flame, perhaps.

[Mjx]

My first thought was 'Why'd they put a heat sink on the bottom of the pot?' Wonder whether this actually makes any measurable difference.

[rotuts]

it seems it would get the bottom of the pan to 'max temp' faster, after that it might not matter, as the conduction then goes to water, not above boiling point of water.

[sigma]

These have been around for years on the commercial side. Turbo Pot, I think is the name. No idea if anybody uses them, though. They wouldn't work well on my range.

[boilsover]

This W-S item is virtually identical to the Eneron Turbo Pot steamer. These have been available for quite awhile through commercial kitchen stores like Bargreen-Ellison.

Eneron's website is http://www.turbopot.com/

The concept is not a gimmick. PG&E tested it and found that it does save energy. Of course, it's only going to work well on gas hobs.

[rotuts]

soo ... not so exclusive, Bill, as you claim.

thanks for the ref to TurboPot. they don't seem to give prices.

there is a 9 qt pot/insert there on the residential tab that Bill seems to have tarted-up. Curious as to the price difference

interesting idea though.

Edited November 20, 2013 by rotuts (log)

[Shel_B]

Testing results from PG&E, our utility company. My first, quick read shows an improvement in efficiency.

http://www.fishnick.com/publications/appliancereports/rangetops/Eneron_Pot_Testing.pdf

[rotuts]

thanks for finding this SB. wonder why W-S went with design 1 rather than D.2 grated it seems to only be a 4 % increase in efficiency to D.2 which has a cross-hatched base.

maybe the D.1 looks better and might be more stable.

regular pot: (smooth bottom) 27 % efficiency

D.1: pot similar to W-S: 40.7 $

D.2: pot above but cross-hatched: 44 %

a 5 min savings in time to boil with D.1 ( w-s, or turbo-pot )

15 min vs 20 min

on a Star-Burner range top:

13.5 min vs 24 min.

Edited November 20, 2013 by rotuts (log)

[rotuts]

its worth remembering though that the induction top is much more efficient than this.

so starting from scratch, commercial or home with an interest in the energy bill still would be induction..

starting w what you have, and you have gas, then this stuff is interesting.

wonder what the TurboPot prices are.

[Dave the Cook]

wonder what the TurboPot prices are.

http://www.usfoodsculinaryequipmentandsupplies.com/search.do?query=turbo+pot

[gfweb]

its for 'gas-only'

but someone is doing some thinking, anyway. the slow simmer would be determined by the level of the gas flame, perhaps.

Yes. My old Vulcan almost has trouble staying lit at simmer flame, turning it lower wouldn't work out.