Amid LPG Crisis, 10 Smart Kitchen Tips to Cut Gas Use by Nearly 50%, Nutrition Expert Shares Insights

With rising concerns about cooking gas usage and increasing fuel costs, many households are looking for ways to use LPG more efficiently.

Nutritionist Dr. Nandita Iyer recently shared practical kitchen tips on social media explaining how simple cooking habits can help reduce LPG consumption significantly.

According to her, making small changes in everyday cooking methods can help families save up to 50% of LPG while also reducing cooking time and improving kitchen efficiency.

Here are some of the most effective tips she recommends for Indian kitchens.

Use a Pressure Cooker for Faster Cooking

One of the easiest ways to reduce gas usage is by using a pressure cooker whenever possible.

Pressure cooking traps steam and increases the internal temperature, allowing food to cook much faster than traditional methods. This can reduce cooking time by 30-70 percent, especially when preparing items such as:

• Lentils (dal)
• Beans like rajma and chana
• Potatoes
• Meat dishes

Because the cooking time is shorter, less LPG is used overall.

Soak Pulses, Beans and Rice Before Cooking

Soaking ingredients before cooking helps them soften and cook faster.
Dr Iyer explains that soaking reduces cooking time by 30-50 percent, which directly lowers LPG consumption.

Typical soaking times include:

• Rajma or chana: 8-10 hours
• Lentils (dal): 30-60 minutes
• Rice: 20-30 minutes

This simple habit can make a noticeable difference in daily fuel use.

Choose the Right Burner for Each Task

Many gas stoves have two burners of different sizes, but people often use the large burner for every task.

However, this wastes fuel. The smaller burner should be used for lighter tasks like:

• Making tea
• Tempering spices (tadka)
• Reheating food

The larger burner should be reserved for tasks that require more heat, such as boiling water or pressure cooking.

Another important tip is to ensure the flame does not extend beyond the base of the vessel, as that leads to wasted gas.

Always Cook With a Lid On

Cooking with a lid helps retain heat inside the pan and prevents energy loss through evaporation.

Using lids can reduce fuel consumption by 20-25 percent because food cooks faster in a covered pot.

This method works particularly well for dishes such as vegetables, curries, and rice.

Cut Vegetables Into Smaller Pieces

Smaller pieces cook faster because heat spreads through them more easily.

For example, diced potatoes cook faster than large chunks because they have more surface area exposed to heat.

This simple step can shorten cooking time and save gas.

Cook Multiple Items Together

Another effective way to save LPG is by cooking several items at the same time.

Pressure cookers make this easy through stack cooking. For example:

• Dal can cook at the bottom
• Rice can be placed above it
• Vegetables can be cooked in a small bowl on top

This method allows multiple dishes to cook using a single flame, reducing fuel usage significantly.

Clean Burners Regularly

Blocked burner holes can reduce the efficiency of a gas stove.
When burners are not clean, gas combustion becomes incomplete, which leads to:

• Slower heating
• Higher fuel consumption
• Yellow flames instead of blue flames

Cleaning burners regularly helps maintain efficient combustion and lower LPG use.

Use Residual Heat to Finish Cooking

Many foods continue to cook even after the flame is switched off because of the heat already trapped inside the pot.

Examples include:

• Rice and khichdi
• Pasta
• Boiled vegetables
• Dal after pressure cooking

Turning off the flame two to three minutes earlier can save gas while still allowing food to finish cooking properly.

Use Heavy, Flat-Bottomed Cookware

The type of cookware used also affects fuel efficiency.
Heavy-bottom vessels distribute heat evenly, helping food cook faster without burning.

Recommended materials include:

• Thick stainless steel
• Triply steel cookware
• Cast iron for slow cooking

Thin vessels tend to waste heat and may increase cooking time.

Use Electric Appliances for Certain Tasks

Some tasks can be done more efficiently with electric appliances.

For example, electric kettles are often more energy-efficient than LPG for boiling water. They can be used for:

• Making tea
• Preparing pasta
• Blanching vegetables

Adding hot water to pressure cookers

Another useful habit is batch cooking, where larger quantities of rice, dal or beans are prepared at once and stored for later meals. This allows multiple meals to be cooked using the same amount of fuel.

Small Habits Can Make a Big Difference

Dr Nandita Iyer says that combining just a few simple habits-such as using a pressure cooker, soaking ingredients, and cooking with lids-can reduce LPG usage by about 30 percent in most households.

Beyond saving fuel, these practices also help reduce cooking costs and make kitchen routines more efficient.
Adopting smarter cooking habits not only helps during times of fuel concern but also encourages sustainable and energy-efficient cooking in everyday life.