It's a Japanese otoshi buta or "drop lid."
I first encountered drop lids on the Cooking with Dog show, where Chef uses a really cool metal one.
As soon as I saw how it was used, I realized how useful they would be (e.g. keeping eggs or vegetables or whatever you're boiling from floating to the surface and cooking unevenly), so I ordered one.
Most are made from wood (in fact, I couldn't find a metal one to order in English online), but I've been quite happy with the one I got.
You can see it in action here, doing it's thing with boiling mystery vegetable. (Incidentally, that water IS boiling. Another of it's functions is to avoid excessive violence in the water action so the food isn't overly jostled by the boiling.)
So need this for ravioli
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Hmm… I’ve always used a collapsible metal steamer basket. Turn it upside down into the pot, and voila! instant “drop lid”! ;^)
Knew it! Wikipedia, you are now my best friend.
+JMJ+ …boiling mystery vegetable.
I would say you’re making mashed potatoes.
mashed cauliflower is more likely.
Hmm. I was kinda close. I guess. You know, it looks a lot bigger in this picture.
What’s with the echoes?
“louboutin” is a spammer linking shoe sites.
I first saw it on a similar “Cooking with Cat” show. I’ve never seen the Dog cooking show. Any good?