Gas cookers use liquid petroleum gas as fuel. These are free standing and may comprise of 4 to 6 burners.

Since these are free standing, these can be conveniently fitted into any kitchen.

Electric cookers have been in the market for a long time. Still, the utility of gas cookers cannot be undermined. Gas cookers have distinct advantages over electric or oil fired cookers. They are:

• Cost: The day to day expenses are much less in a gas cooker as compared to electric cooker as gas is relatively cheaper.
•  Time: Electric cookers take very long to get heated. Whereas, in case of gas cookers, the heat is generated through flame the instant the gas cooker is switched on.
• Gas cookers have burners in various sizes. The heat generation depends on the size of the burner. You have the choice of selecting the burner for different type of food. The flame in gas cookers can be controlled, thus you can cook as per the requirement of the food being cooked-low flame, medium flame or high flame.
• For certain types of food, only gas cooker is viable. For example, making various types of bread.
• Taste: Food tastes much better when cooked on gas cookers.
• Simple warming or reheating of food takes too long in electric cooker. So, for families with kids, it is better to go for a gas cooker as food can be cooked quickly.

Overall, cooking on gas cooker is time saving as well as economical.

The gas cookers that we generally use at home are meant to serve a family. But restaurants, catering houses etc cook food in bulk. They need large capacity gas cookers, called commercial gas cookers. These have 6 burners of big size, as against small sized burners used in our homes.

Camping gas cookers or portable gas cookers are single burner or double burner gas cookers. The LPG is stored in a small tank which forms the lower part of the cooker. It is ideal for use while camping and outings, but can also be used at home in emergency, when the LPG cylinder gets exhausted and is not replenished.

Gas rice cookers are a convenient and faster way to cook rice and keep it warm. You can cook up to 6 to 8 cups of rice at one go. This is suitable for rice lovers.

Cannon has introduced various designs in cookers. It has gas cookers, electric cooker as well as dual fuel-meaning a combination of gas as well as electric cooker. It has also introduced huge gas cookers for professionals, to be used in the kitchen of a hotel. The body of the cooker is made of stainless steel. Stainless steel gas cookers are durable as they won’t rust. A few models have separate section for grill. Cannon gives 5 years guarantee on spares and one year on labour. There are cookers with single oven and double oven.

Zanussi too has introduced many designs of gas cookers. One feature about Zanussi gas cookers is that the main oven is illuminated. This enables to see the food as it is being cooked, without opening the oven door. A few gas cookers have the feature of catalytic oven cleaning. This feature cleans the oven and does away with the food odor. Some variants are fully programmable ovens.

Some of the gas cookers are fairly small, with a capacity of 39liters, which suits the needs of a small family.

When we cook food, some food may spill on the gas. This is so, especially while we fry the food. Gas cookers, particularly the upper portion of the gas cooker should be cleaned regularly.

Few handy tips for cleaning the gas cooker:

• Always keep an aluminum foil on the top, near the burners. This way, if any food spills, it will spill on the foil. The foil should be discarded when it gets dirty.
• As far as possible, cover the lid of the pot, while cooking. This way, the food won’t spill, it will cook faster and also, the aroma will be maintained.
• The burners are detachable. Remove all the burners and wash it off at least once in a week, These should be washed manually and not put in the dishwasher.
• Clean the oven and the grill after every use.
• For using the gas economically, cook food on the low flame.
• Always switch of the gas supply at night and whenever you are going to be out of town.
• If you suspect a gas leak, switch off the mains and contact the gas company immediately. Open the doors and the windows of the house so that the gas does not get accumulated.

gas range cooker, electric cooker, semi integrated dishwasher