Top 13 Tips for Maximizing Gas Efficiency on the Stove

According to research by gas stove manufacturers, there are three main factors that can lead to gas leakage: the gas cylinder valve, pressure regulating valve, and connecting hose. Using high-quality valves, pressure regulating valves, and hoses (authentic brands) can prevent gas loss, saving up to 3 kg/month compared to low-quality or unknown origin products. However, the best practice is still to lock the gas cylinder after use. This not only prevents gas leakage but also ensures the safety of your family.

Many people believe that a bigger flame cooks faster. However, this approach leads to excessive gas consumption. The stove flame is divided into three parts: top, bottom, and middle. The middle part has the highest temperature, so when cooking, it's advisable not to keep the flame too high. Pay attention to the flame, adjusting it so that it's just right for the pot's base, without extending beyond the pot's sides. This prevents heat from escaping and wasting gas. An excessively large flame not only consumes more gas but also makes your food take longer to cook, as the heat is dispersed rather than concentrated on the pot's base. When cooking with a small flame, choose smaller pots and pans. Conversely, when using large pots and pans, adjust the flame size accordingly to avoid gas wastage.

When boiling water or cooking, you don't need to use excessive water in a large pot. Let's imagine using just enough water to soak into the food and pour it into a pot with the right amount of water. This practice will also help reduce gas consumption and the boiling time for both water and food.

After cooking each day, it's essential to thoroughly clean your gas stove. This action will remove any lingering dirt that may block the gas holes (gas pathways). Without regular cleaning, the gas holes can easily get clogged, causing some gas to leak out, and over time, the flame will diminish. Hence, a gas stove with a small flame may still consume a significant amount of gas. This explains why newly purchased gas stoves often consume less gas than older ones. Additionally, cleaning the stove after cooking is also a way to protect the flame from turning yellow, which can be harmful to the cookware during cooking.

Some people have the habit of multitasking while cooking. They believe that when preparing meals that require more time, they can do other things like watching TV or exercising while waiting for the food to cook. Most of these individuals forget, and by the time they remember, a significant amount of gas has been wasted because the dish is overcooked, water has evaporated, and in some cases, the pot is burnt. Not staying focused while cooking leads to both gas wastage and affects the nutritional value of the food.

Defrosting food before cooking will significantly help save gas. Cooking directly from the frozen compartment is equivalent to wasting gas to melt the ice layer. Therefore, let's completely defrost the food, making the cooking process faster and more gas-efficient.

Regularly inspect potential gas leakage points such as the pressure regulating valve, rubber tubes, or even the gas stove itself. Continuous accumulation in these areas over time can lead to an alarming waste of gas. The best way to address this is to invest in replacing these related components, rather than letting your money invisibly slip away day by day.

After finishing cooking one dish, you can rinse the pan and immediately use the still-hot pan to cook another dish. At this moment, the pan is still hot, and cooking another dish won't require the time to heat the pot again. For example, after boiling eggs, you can use the same pan to blanch vegetables. This way, you won't waste a considerable amount of gas heating up a new pan.

Selecting appropriate pots will help your family save a considerable amount of gas. If you use thick pots, it usually takes more time to heat up. Choose pots like aluminum or stainless steel with a thin base… because these types absorb heat easily and save gas when cooking. When choosing pots and pans, you need to consider, pay attention to pots with a size at least larger than the burner size of the stove in use. If you use a pot that is too small, the flame will spill over the pot's edge, causing significant gas wastage.

Windbreak or gas-saving ring is made of metal and used to encircle the ignition circle, preventing gas from dispersing outward. This type of ring is widely available and popular in markets and supermarkets, priced around 50,000 to 80,000 VND. It directs the heat straight up to the bottom of the pot, allowing you to save a significant amount of energy.

While cooking, some people have the habit of adding extra water, thinking that the dish lacks water. However, this will prolong the cooking process and waste more of your gas. Only add water if truly necessary. For example, when cooking instant noodles, pour just enough water according to the amount of noodles from the start. When steaming food, especially when steaming it thoroughly, only add a sufficient amount of water to the pot. Adding water later will prolong the boiling time and waste gas.

Purchasing a high-quality gas stove can significantly reduce gas consumption. Some gas stoves have a combustion efficiency of up to 53%, compared to the average of many stoves today at 49%, meaning you will save a certain amount of gas when using them. Observant buyers can often distinguish between stoves of high and low quality. If you see a blue flame, it indicates high combustion efficiency due to abundant oxygen supply, while less oxygen will result in a green flame.