Gas stoves are a great way to cook your meals because they are easy to use, efficient, and come in various sizes. However, there are some safety considerations you should be aware of when using gas stove at home. Below is a list of 10 safety tips for using gas stove at home.
1. Keep an eye on the flame
Whenever you use gas stove, it is mandatory to keep an eye on the flame. Make sure that it does not extend beyond the size of the pan you are using and is centered underneath your pot or frying pan. If the fire gets too big, just turn off one of its knobs to reduce how much gas goes through.
This will prevent any accidents from happening such as a fire getting out of control.
2. Be cautious of gas leaks and spills
Every time you use your gas stove, make sure that the knobs are turned off completely after. Gas can still escape even if they are slightly on and this may cause fire accidents similar to when the flame gets bigger than expected while cooking.
After turning them off, check for any leaks around the knobs or at their connections with other parts of the stove.
You may also check for any spills under your gas range or oven while cooking because if you are not cautious, it can catch on fire and cause a major accident to happen at home.
3. Turn off the burner before turning off the stovetop’s knob
If you plan on turning off the stovetop completely, make sure to turn it off from its knob and not from the gas range or oven.
This is because if there are any remaining burners while turned off at their knobs, you can still use them but once turned off at the main switch point such as a stove’s knob, it will shut off the flow of gas entirely.
It is advisable to practice this safety measure every time you use your stovetop, even when cooking simple meals like boiling water for instant coffee and soup.
4. Use a potholder when handling hot pots or pans from a gas stove top
When using your stovetop for cooking, use a potholder to handle the hot pots or pans. It is easy to get distracted by what you are doing and accidentally touch something that has been heated up such as cookware.
While it is important not to leave anything on an active burner while unattended because keeping yourself aware of everything happening around your stove is important, it is still best to use a potholder for safety.
You can purchase them at any department store or even make one out of thick cloth that you may already have around the house. If there are burn marks on your oven mitts, throw them away and get new ones because they will not be safe to use anymore.
Do not try to save money or time by using a thin cloth that is not safe around your stovetop because you will be putting yourself at risk of getting burned when cooking.
In addition, make sure to keep the potholder away from any open flames if it has been used for something else before being brought near the stove such as a fireplace or space heater.
You may also use an oven mitt since both are made of thick fabrics, will protect your hands from burns, and can be found at different stores. However, these mitts do not fit tightly like potholders so it is easy to drop pots and pans that require two hands for carrying.
5. Always use a deep pan to cook pasta, rice, or other foods that need boiling water
In order to prevent boil-overs and fires from happening, it is recommended that you always use a deep pan when boiling pasta, rice, or any other food that needs large amounts of water to cook.
This will make sure that the hot steam and liquids do not get out too quickly which can result in accidents if it is near your stove’s flame or range top.
If you are using an electric burner though, then you can use a pan with high sides but if you are cooking something that requires more water, make sure to keep an eye on it.
If it looks like the food or liquid is about to boil over, do not hesitate in turning down the stove’s knob so nothing gets spilled and causes accidents around your home kitchen.
Doing this simple safety measure can help you avoid many accidents that are commonly associated with cooking.
6. Avoid cooking with oil if possible
Oil is a common ingredient in the kitchen but it can cause problems. Because it can overheat quickly and cause serious burns if accidentally spilled on skin or clothing while cooking food at high temperatures, it is best to avoid cooking with oil if possible.
Instead, use water or broth to cook food that needs stirring such as eggs and rice because these liquids do not burn the way oil does when heated up over a stovetop flame. Oil can also flare up easily so it shouldn’t be heated for an extended period.
7. Never leave small children unattended near a gas stove
Have children at home? As they may turn knobs without understanding how dangerous this can be, it is best to keep them away from any gas stove or oven. If you have a child that needs constant attention, then it would be better if he or she were not around the kitchen when cooking food on your range top whether it’s electric, propane, or natural gas.
If at all possible, have someone watch over him or her during the cooking time because accidents can happen in seconds.
8. Have an exhaust hood with a working smoke detector
When cooking foods that need lots of time over a stovetop flame, it is important to have an exhaust hood with a working smoke detector. This will help you avoid any gas leaks or fires from happening if your stove’s fan does not work anymore because the noise created by the alarm can warn you so this problem may be fixed immediately.
9. Never put clothing over the stove to dry
If you have to use your stovetop for something else after cooking, do not put clothing over the range top because they can easily catch on fire. This is one of the most common mistakes made by homeowners who are unaware that this could happen so it is important to keep any fabric away from all flames and heating elements when possible.