By Afolabi Oluwatobi Lagos Nigeria
Cooking gas has become an essential commodity in many homes, restaurants and hotels today. It is the most efficient and cost effective option of cooking compared to other methods. Cooking gas has become expensive of late, due a recent trend of price inflation in Nigeria.
So how do you save cost while enjoying the full utilities of your cooking gas? Simply follow the steps outlined below.
1. Use stainless steel or a very good heat conductor (subtle metal) for cooking: subtle metals such as stainless steel are very good conductors of heat. They enable a quick rise in the temperature of their content, which reduces the overall amount of gas burned.
2. Ensure that the flame does not exceed the size of the pot/pan: Make use of a pot/ pan large enough to cover the flame from the gas, Flames that extend beyond a pan produces heat that escape the pan. Heat that is not absorbed by the pan and its contents is a waste.
3. Keep the cover of the pot closed: the heat from a pot that is allowed to escape burns more gas, so ensure that the cover of your pot/pan is kept closed while cooking. More so trapping steam inside the pan will allow cooking on a lower flame.
4. Make sure the flame is colorless or blue: a yellow flame from the gas cooker indicates incomplete combustion. This translates to gas being wasted and not burned enough to produce heat required for cooking; in this situation it is advisable to contact your technician for maintenance.
5. Cook larger quantities of food at once: cooking larger quantities of meals and storing them for a later time helps save time and gas consumed.
6. Get an electric cooker (hot plate): an electric cooker is a perfect alternative to a cooking gas especially when there is stable electricity; this can reduce the overall pressure on the cooking gas while also saving refill cost.
7. Use a pressure cooker and a thermal cooking bag: Pressure cookers are very good at saving gas because they cook at higher a temperature which significantly reduces cooking time. While the Thermal cooking bag affords you the opportunity to save gas by removing the boiling pot and placing it in the bag to continue cooking on its own.
