With LPG cylinder prices climbing, many households are struggling with kitchen costs. A lifestyle piece in Samakal says a few simple habits can make a cylinder that might have lasted 20 days run for 25.
The first is cooking with the lid on. A lid keeps the heat inside the pot, so food cooks faster; the piece advises covering pots whenever possible, from boiling water to cooking rice and curries. The second is matching the flame to the pot: the flame should stay under the base of the pan rather than licking up the sides. With the right burner and flame, the heat goes straight into the pot.
Third, keep the burner clean. Oil, spices and food particles clogging the holes stop the flame from burning properly and push up gas use; if the colour or shape of the flame stays abnormal for long, have the burner checked. Fourth, not every dish needs a high flame. Lentils and vegetables cook well on a medium or low flame, and high heat should be kept for when it is really needed.
Fifth, cook in one go. Cooking a little more at once instead of cooking or reheating several times a day means lighting the stove less often. Sixth, switch off just before the food is done and keep the pot covered; rice and slow-cooked dishes finish in the remaining heat, as long as the food is fully and safely cooked.
The seventh piece of advice is never to ignore a leak. If a cylinder runs out unusually fast, cooking habits may not be the only cause: a leak in the pipe, regulator or connection can waste gas. A cracked pipe or faulty connection needs a trained technician, and anyone who smells gas should keep away from flames, matches and electrical switches.
This report is based on a piece published in Samakal, which named Ei Samay as its source.
Photo: Yuksing / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Source: samakal
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