We’re so fortunate here in the Pacific Northwest to have access to affordable, reliable, and safe natural gas. According to the World Health Organization, there are 3 billion people worldwide still cooking by burning wood or biomass. Converting more people around the world to natural gas has greatly improved indoor air quality and reduced harmful emissions.
Whether you’re cooking, heating your home, or using electricity, natural gas is part of a clean energy system. And it’s popular. Nearly 200 million Americas are using natural gas in their homes and they are helping us address climate change. And 70 percent of people say they prefer cooking and heating their homes with natural gas, according to the Energy Solutions Center.
Now more than ever, we are staying indoors and passing the time by trying new recipes. Natural gas stoves give cooks immediate heat and precise temperature control making it the ideal way to cook. Depending on what you’re cooking and how high of a temperature, foods can produce pollutants. Here are some tips to ensure you’re cooking safely and efficiently:
- Always turn on the range hood while cooking to eliminate steam, smoke, grease, and heat.
- Select the correct pot or pan size when cooking.
- Don’t cover your oven bottom with aluminum foil. While it helps collect spills, it reduces air circulation and ventilation.
- Never use your gas stove or oven to heat your home.
Please share your favorite recipes by tagging @pepnorthwest and using the hashtag #CookingWithGas.
By Leanne Guier, member of UA Local 32 Plumbers & Pipefitters and President of Partnership for Energy Progress