I have had this in my kitchen drawer for years – haven’t ever used it and not so sure where or why I have it. What is it?

If you’ve ever seen a round, dimpled metal plate with a wooden handle—like the one in the photos—you’re looking at a kitchen tool that does two jobs at once: it diffuses heat on the stove and it protects surfaces from hot cookware.

What it’s called

This item is commonly known as a heat diffuser. In everyday American kitchens, you may also hear it called a simmer mat, heat distribution plate, or flame tamer.

The product described in the text is marketed as: Tofficu Wooden Handle Pot Mat / Heat Resistant Stove Surface Protection Pad / Tabletop Heat Diffuser.

What it is (and why it looks like that)

The round metal plate is designed with raised dimples and concentric patterns. That textured surface creates tiny air gaps and spreads heat outward so the bottom of your pot or coffee brewer doesn’t get hit by one harsh “hot spot.”

The wooden handle is there so you can safely reposition it and so it can be hung up for storage using the loop.

When this tool first appeared

Heat diffusers aren’t a new invention. They became popular in the early gas-stove era and throughout the 20th century, when home cooks needed a simple way to:

• keep delicate sauces from scorching,
• manage uneven flames or electric coil hot spots,
• and maintain a gentle, stable simmer.

The modern version shown here takes that older idea and adds a more convenient format—especially the wooden cool-touch handle and the ability to also function as a portable pot mat/trivet.

What it’s used for

Based on the product description and the design shown in the images, the Tofficu-style diffuser is built for these practical uses:

1) Spreading heat for gentler cooking

Placed between your burner and cookware, it helps:

• reduce scorching on sauces, soups, milk, chocolate, or rice
• support low-and-slow simmering
• stabilize heat for smaller cookware or coffee brewers that can overheat quickly

This is why it’s often described as a “heat distribution plate” or “simmer mat.”

2) Protecting your stovetop and table

Used off the stove, it works as a trivet/pot mat to protect surfaces from heat. The text highlights that it helps prevent:

• burns
• heat damage to stovetops and tabletops

That makes it useful not only for cooking, but also for coffee brewing setups where hot equipment may be placed on a counter or table.

Key product details from the text

Here are the most important specs and features mentioned:

• Size: 12.6 x 8.3 inches
• Thickness: 0.2 inches (slim, easy to store)
• Handle: 8.3-inch wooden handle designed to stay cooler for safer handling
• Storage: handle + loop allow easy hanging
• Purpose: stove surface protection + tabletop protection + heat diffusion
• Design claim: thickened insulation to better block heat transfer

How Americans typically use a heat diffuser like this

• For stovetop simmering: place the diffuser on the burner, then set your pot or coffee brewer on top. Start with low to medium heat and adjust gradually.
• For surface protection: place it on the counter or dining table, then set your hot pot, pan, kettle, or coffee equipment on top.
• For moving and storing: use the wood handle to reposition (carefully) and hang it up by the loop when cool.

Why people still buy these today

Even with modern cookware, heat diffusers remain popular because they’re a simple fix for common kitchen problems:

• uneven heat
• burnt bottoms
• too-aggressive simmering
• damaged countertops or table finishes from hot pans

In short, the item in the images is best described as a modern heat diffuser / simmer plate that doubles as a pot mat, and it exists for one main reason: to control heat more gently and protect your kitchen surfaces.