Updated on March 9, 2023
Because of its quick heating reaction and ease of temperature adjustment, gas stoves are much sought after. The first time you use a gas stove, though, you could be a little lost. Gas stoves, on the other hand, are just as simple to use and maintain as their electric counterparts once you get the hang of them. Using your gas stove should be simple as long as you take proper care of it and follow all safety precautions.
How Do You Use a Stove
Using an Igniter
Push the igniter in with one hand while turning the burner control knob with the other. This is necessary if your gas stove has a separate igniter. Electricity powers the igniter, which generates a spark that ignites the gas. When you push the igniter, you’ll hear a clicking sound, which signals that it’s starting. The gas line is opened by turning one of the knobs, and flames are produced when gas and spark come into contact.
The flame’s height can be adjusted by turning the knob even farther. To put it another way, larger flames produce more heat, whereas smaller flames produce less heat. To extinguish the flames immediately, return the knob all the way to the start position.
Using Knobs With Built-In Igniters
In a different gas stove model, each burner has a built-in igniter. Igniter firing is indicated by a clicking sound when you turn a burner knob. Continue to move the knob until you see flames and the clicking sound stops. When you’re using a gas stove for the first time, you may find it difficult to adjust the flame because the flames tend to be high at first.
How to Use a Gas Stove Safely?
The best approach to cook is to know how to use a gas burner correctly. Anyone who has cooked on a gas burner can attest to its ease of use.
- When you’re ready to cook, place your skillet or pan on the burner. Turn the burner’s control knob to the “light” position by putting it in the “in” position. This should start the fire. Turn the ignition switch completely to the left if there is no ignition.
- Then give it another go. Stop and turn off the knob if the flame does not come on. It will keep gas from building up in your home.
- When the flame begins to flicker, turn the knob quickly to the left, but not all the way, to avoid extinguishing it. Adjust the stove’s temperature or flame setting by turning the knob.
- When using a stove for the first time, keep the oven temperature at ‘Low.’ When cooking, use a cooking spray or butter to keep food from burning.
- The greater the temperature and the faster the food will be cooked, the more flame you use. Visually inspect the flame as you’re adjusting the knob.
- Gas ranges are quite rapid to cook on, and it’s easy to accidentally burn food unless you get the hang of how the burners function.
- Take care to turn off the burners as soon as you finish cooking. When using an oven, make a 180-degree turn in the control knob. Make sure you turn it as far to the left as possible to avoid any leakage.
What types of fuel can a gas stove use?
Propane or natural gas can be used to power a gas stove. Unlike electricity, this is a non-renewable form of energy.
These stoves are so popular, in fact, that they are used by many experts. They can be found at a variety of establishments, including hotels, restaurants, and cafes.
Are gas stoves hotter than electric?
The heat from a gas stove isn’t always hotter than from an electric one, but the heat is distributed more uniformly and remains constant for a longer period of time.
Do a body safety check before turning on your gas stove
Roll your shirtsleeves up to your elbows and use a rubber band to hold back long hair when using a gas burner. Before turning on the stove, take off any jewellery you might be wearing.
- Make sure your shoes aren’t slippery while you’re cooking to avoid mishaps.
Turn the stove dial on to light the stove
The burner on most gas stoves can be started by turning a dial. The stove’s heat can normally be set to low, medium, or high, depending on the task at hand. Once the burner is lit, turn the dial to the desired heat setting and wait for it to take effect.
- It’s possible that the fire will take some time to get going. If this happens to you on an old stove, don’t panic—just keep rotating the dial until the burner lights up again.
Try Cleaning Your Burner Holes and Igniter if It Does Not Light Immediately
A food residue buildup on the burner can prevent it from automatically lighting. To get rid of any grease or crumbs, use a firm toothbrush and no cleaning chemicals to scrub the burner and igniter.
- For hard-to-reach spots like the burner holes, use a needle.
- If cleaning your burner doesn’t appear to help, call a home repairman. You may need to replace your igniter if it’s broken.
Light the gas stove manually as an alternative
You can usually fire a match or a lighter to light a broken gas stove igniter. Use a medium setting on the gas dial and then fire your match or lighter. A few seconds after lighting a match or lighter, wait for the burner to ignite. Make a hasty withdrawal of your hand to avoid being burned.
- Using a long-handled lighter is the safest bet. Most craft and hardware stores carry long-handled lighters.
- A gas stove can be tricky to light for the first time if you’ve never done it before or have just seen someone else do it. Manually lighting a gas stove for the first time might be hazardous.
Check Your Stove’s Pilot Light if It Is an Older Model
Even when the burner is turned off, the pilot lights on many older gas stoves remain lit. Find out if your stove has an on-board pilot light by contacting the manufacturer. Open the cooktop panel on stoves with a pilot light by removing the burner grates. There should be a little flame just underneath the stove panels.
- Emergency services should be called immediately if the pilot light goes out and you can smell sulphur, as your stove may be leaking gas into your home.
Always keep your stove attended when it’s on
When using a gas stove, stay in the kitchen at all times. Keep an eye on your burners at all times, as a fire can develop in a matter of seconds if your food is left unattended.
Use your gas stove for cooking only
To operate a gas stove, you must only use it to cook meals. Using your stove to heat your home raises the risk of a gas leak if you leave it on for long periods of time.
- Using a gas oven to heat a room is a bad idea, as is using it to cook.
