Gas stoves use open, controlled flames for cooking.
In the event of a power outage, you can still cook, if you have a gas stove. Modern gas stoves require an electric outlet to operate the electronic ignition for the stove, but you can work around this in an emergency. Knowing light your gas stove without electricity before a disaster will ensure you are prepared for an emergency.
How Gas Stoves Work
Electric stoves heat burner coils to cook your food, but gas stoves use a real flame. This flame is produced by natural gas fed to the burner through lines in the stove. At the burner the gas meets a spark or flame and ignites to the cooking flame. The height of the flame is controlled by the stove knobs, which control the amount of gas entering the burner.
Gas Stoves and Electricity
Old-fashioned gas stoves did not require electricity, but modern appliances do. The electric plug on a gas stove does not control the burner or gas flow. It is used to create an electric spark to light the gas going to the stove burners or the oven. The lets you turn on the stove burners without using a match, but if the power goes out, you can still use the stove.
Lighting a Gas Stove Without Electricity
Long fireplace matches are useful to have on hand in your kitchen for lighting your stove if the power goes out. They will also let you continue to cook if your stove's electronic ignition stops working. Turn off the burner you want to light. Hold a lit match next to the burner and turn the control knob to high until the burner ignites. Turn the knob to off to shut off the supply of gas and extinguish the flame.
Precautions
Do not stand directly over the burner when lighting it. Using long fireplace matches instead of smaller matches will keep your fingers away from the flames. Gas ovens that use an electric glow bulb cannot be lit without electricity because the bulb needs an electric current to light the oven. If at any time you smell an odor like rotten eggs, turn off the gas to your home and leave the house. Call the gas company from another house because you could have a potentially dangerous gas leak.
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