I use a heat diffuser just like Julia Child did. My Mom used it on her gas ranges from the 1950's on and I inherited it. I know there are ways to decrease the flame size on the Blue Star but in the 3 years we have been using our 30" RNB I haven't searched out the way to do it. We love our Blue Star and wouldn't have any other gas range. c

@User The issue with decreasing the flame size is that it also reduces the top-end output of the burner. I'm glad the diffuser works for you, but I really don't want to have to resort to that.

With 4 burners as we have on the 30" there isn't a problem with reducing the top end of the back left burner which is the smallest one. I would if I knew how. We have more than enough heat on the rest of the burners and having one that is really low would be fine. Do you really need to have a great top end heat on all your burners ? I guess it depends on how you cook. Good Luck. We absolutely love our Blue Star and my husband has been wokking for 50+ years and is so happy with his right front burner !!

@User I don't mind reducing the flame on the simmer burner, and maybe on one other, but I have 3 things on simmer several times a week, and 4 is not uncommon. That's a lot of burners to cripple. Could I live without the highest possible output on those burners? Yes, I'm sure I could, but I'd rather not have to do so.

Well there you have it. styles of cooking are so varied. i see your point. This isn’t the type gas cooktop you would benefit from , it sounds like a large flat top as in a restaurant would be better. good luck with your search. c

Have you tried the thing where you rotate the inner grate a bit - it will be in the wrong place but the pot on top will be further from the flame? I've heard it works.

I use a heat diffuser (simmer plate). It's the large one of this set - has the little removeable handle. It's a moment to place or remove. I have a different range but same problem. I've also got one that's a steel plate with a permanent handle - I don't like it as much as the handle gets in the way. Either way, it's less effort than putting on a lid.

@bmorepanic I have not tried it with an operable unit, but I have heard about this trick, and played with the ring placement on the showroom unit. That may partially address the issue, but it clearly isn't as convenient as just adjusting the burner with a knob, especially if you want to rotate a burner you just used and it's hot. But yes, that may be a good enough solution for me to be comfortable moving ahead with the BS. Thank you so much for linking to those heat diffusers -- I hadn't seen that style with the detachable handle, and I think that would make using a diffuser much more palatable to me.