How to Make Your Cooking Gas Last Longer,  Without Cutting Meals

Cooking gas prices have soared across Nigeria in recent years, turning what was once a relatively affordable energy source into a financial strain for many households.

According to National Bureau of Statistics NBS LPG Price Watch data, the average price to refill a 12.5 kg cylinder surged from approximately ₦15,600 in mid‑2024 to about ₦20,700–₦21,000 by May–June 2025, a year-on-year increase of 32–33%. 

As families seek ways to cut costs without compromising the quality of meals, knowing how to make your gas last longer is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity.

 Below are seven practical, research-backed methods that can help reduce your gas consumption and stretch each refill further.

1. Cook in Bulk and Store

Cooking every day means you heat the stove multiple times, consuming gas with each use. By cooking in large batches (e.g., stew, jollof rice, soup, beans), you minimize the number of times you turn on the burner.

How to do it:

• Set aside time during weekends to cook meals in bulk.
  
• Store in airtight containers and refrigerate or freeze for the week.
  
• Only reheat portions as needed.

 Reheating takes a fraction of the gas compared to full meal prep.

2. Use the Right Burner for the Right Pot

If you use a small pot on a large burner, much of the heat escapes around the sides. This is wasted energy that doesn’t contribute to cooking.

Solution:

• Match the size of your pot to the burner size.
  
• Make sure the base of the pot covers the flame without letting it lick the sides.
  

 Research from Energy4Cooking Africa (2024) found that mismatched burner-pot setups can lead to 20% more gas usage over time.

3. Soak Hard Foods Before Cooking

Foods like beans, moi-moi leaves, dry corn, and some tubers require long cooking times. Soaking softens them, reducing gas needed to cook them through.

How to implement:

• Soak beans, chickpeas, or dried corn overnight.
  
• You can also use warm water to cut soaking time in half.
  
• Add a small amount of baking soda to the water to soften beans faster (optional).
  

 Well-soaked foods can cut cooking time by up to 50%.

4. Use Tight-Fitting Lids on Pots

Heat and steam trapped by the lid help food cook faster. If you leave the lid open or use a loose-fitting one, the pot loses heat constantly and takes longer to cook.

• Always check that your pot lids seal properly.
  
• Use foil or a second cover if needed to create a tighter seal.
  

 Leaving the lid off while boiling can nearly double your cooking time (and your gas usage).

5. Do All Your Prep Work Before Lighting the Stove

Many people turn on the gas before washing ingredients or chopping onions. This wastes gas unnecessarily while the burner runs idle.

Smart approach:

• Wash, cut, measure, and season everything before turning on the flame.
  
• Organize your cooking space so nothing delays you once you begin.
  

 A single 10-minute prep delay could waste enough gas to cook a small pot of rice.

6. Service Your Burner, Regulator & Hose Regularly

 Over time, your burner might get clogged or your regulator may begin to leak. These invisible problems can silently drain your gas, and pose safety risks.

How to prevent this:

• Clean burner holes with a pin or brush monthly.
  
• Check hoses and regulators for leaks using soap bubbles (no open flames).
  
• Replace worn-out parts once a year or as recommended.

7. Invest in a Pressure Cooker

 A pressure cooker builds steam pressure inside, drastically reducing the time it takes to cook tough foods like meat, beans, and stews.

• Saves up to 50% cooking time.
  
• Preserves nutrients better.
  
• Ideal for meals that usually take over 1 hour.
  

 In a test conducted by SmartKitchen Africa (2024), pressure cookers reduced gas use by up to 45% for protein-rich Nigerian dishes.