A cook’s guide to saving LPG: Easy ways to make your gas cylinder last longer

The shortage of commercial LPG cylinders has already begun to affect restaurants across India. Many eateries have trimmed menus, with gas-intensive dishes like dosa and uthappam among the first to disappear from some hotel kitchens.

Domestic LPG supplies have not been hit in the same way so far. But the situation has still made many households more conscious about how much gas they use in their kitchens.

The good news is that a few small changes in cooking habits can make a noticeable difference. If you want to stretch a cylinder a little longer, here are some practical ways to save LPG without compromising too much on everyday meals.

Use the pressure cooker more often

• One of the easiest ways to reduce gas consumption is to rely more on the pressure cooker.
• Dal, rajma, chana, potatoes and vegetables cook much faster under pressure than on an open flame. Even rice and pulao can be cooked in a pressure cooker in a fraction of the time.
• Shorter cooking time means less gas burned.

Cook in batches

• Instead of cooking small quantities multiple times a day, try preparing certain items in larger batches.
• Gravies, dal, sambhar, chutneys and curry bases can be cooked once and refrigerated. They can then be reheated quickly when needed. This reduces the number of times you need to turn on the stove.

Choose dishes that cook quickly

Some meals naturally require less gas.

Quick-cooking dishes include:

• Upma
• Lemon rice
• Curd rice
• Vegetable stir-fries
• Omelettes and egg bhurji

These dishes take only a few minutes on the stove and can help cut down cooking time during busy days.

Soak ingredients beforehand

• If you are cooking beans, chickpeas or lentils, soaking them beforehand makes a big difference.
• Soaked pulses cook faster and soften more easily in the pressure cooker. This can reduce cooking time significantly.

Use lids while cooking

• Cooking with a lid helps retain heat and allows food to cook faster.
• Leaving a pan uncovered lets heat escape, which means the burner has to stay on longer.

Plan meals smarter

• A little planning can reduce gas usage across the day.
• For example, if you are already cooking rice for lunch, you can make extra and turn the leftovers into fried rice, lemon rice or curd rice later. Reheating food uses far less gas than cooking an entirely new dish.

Prep before turning on the stove

• Many people chop vegetables, measure ingredients or search for spices while the burner is already on.
• Preparing everything in advance allows you to cook quickly and avoid wasting flame time.

Use other appliances when possible

• Electric appliances can help take some load off the gas stove.
• Rice cookers, microwaves, electric kettles and induction cooktops can handle certain cooking tasks without using LPG.
• Even simple things like boiling water for tea in an electric kettle can save gas over time.

Keep burners clean

• A clogged burner or weak flame wastes fuel.
• Cleaning burners regularly helps maintain a steady blue flame, which cooks food more efficiently and reduces gas consumption.

A small shift in kitchen habits

For most households, LPG cylinders still last several weeks. But small adjustments in daily cooking can help extend their life further.

Restaurant kitchens may be cutting down on gas-heavy dishes like dosa and uthappam for now. At home, the changes do not need to be so drastic. A few mindful cooking habits are often enough to keep meals running smoothly while saving fuel at the same time.