Why not? It exhausts the coal before it does its work.
The lire will be burned too low before fresh coal is put
on and the drafts will have to be opened and the fire
started vigorously, to prevent it from going out. Or, if
fresh coal is put on as soon as it reaches white heat, it
will start up vigorously at once, even if it is all closed.
Therefore, it is a waste of coal, time, and strength ever
to allow a fire, whether it bo in the kitchen range or a
house furnace, to burn to a white heat.
Wrhat is the mistake that is often made in caring either
for a coal range or a furnace fire? It is in allowing the
fire to burn to a white heat before putting on fresh coal.
If this happens with the furnace fire what should be
done? A good supply of coal should be put on, and then
a thin layer of pea coal; or the fresh coal will in turn
burn up to a white heat very quickly, the house will be
over-heated, and after a short time the fire will burn out,
and have to be started again.
Is this an extravagant way to run a fire ? It is ; for it
takes more coal, makes more work, and the heating is
never satisfactory.
Efficiency in IIomk Making 8i
What is one of the best things to do when the top of
the range is soiled? Take a piece of newspaper and wipe
it thoroughly.
Which damper should always be kept closed, except
when starting the fire or when it is low? The one which
carries the smoke and heat from the stove into the pipe.
Can the oven be heated when this damper is open ?
No, it cannot, as all the heat passes up the chimney and
is wasted.
What causes clinkers in the stove? Allowing the coal
to burn to a white heat.
How can they be gotten rid of? When the fire is red
hot put on some oyster or clam shells, or, if they cannot
be obtained, put a little quick lime on the fire.
Will there ever be clinkers if the fire is rightly cared
for? No, there will not.
Is it cheaper to start up the coal range when preparing
one or two hot dishes for supper or luncheon, if they are
quickly cooked? No, it is cheaper to use the gas or oil
stove.
THE GAS RANGE.
In using gas to cook with, what mistake is most often
made? Using too much gas and so having too hot a fire.
How can this he prevented? By using the small burn-
ers as much as possible, turning the gas partly down so
the food will cook more slowly, and only lighting the
oven about ten minutes before time to use. After put-
ting the food in, turn the burners partly down ; the back
one may sometimes be turned out entirely.
In what other way can the gas be saved? By using
both the upper and lower oven at the same time.
How can this be done ? Bake the potatoes above while
the steak is broiling below or while custards or puddings
that require a moderate oven are baking above; bring the
potatoes to a boil on top of the stove, then put them in
the lower oven to finish boiling.
82 Efficiency in Home Making
How may the cost of gas be reduced in cooking besides
using the fireless cooker? Do not light gas until ready
to put the food directly over. In heating water put over
about the amount wanted ; to heat more is a waste of gas.
Is it a saving of gas to use a little portable oven instead
of the large one on the gas range? Yes, it takes much
less gas.
THE FIRELESS COOKER.
Page 43
Presented as published in 1915. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Why not? It exhausts the coal before it does its work. The lire will be burned too low before fresh coal is put on and the drafts will have to be opened and the fire started vigorously, to prevent it from going out. Or, if fresh coal is put on as soon as it reaches white heat, it will start up vigorously at once, even if it is all closed. Therefore, it is a waste of coal, time, and strength ever to allow a fire, whether it bo in the kitchen range or a house furnace, to burn to a white heat.
What is the mistake that is often made in caring either for a coal range or a furnace fire? It is in allowing the fire to burn to a white heat before putting on fresh coal.
If this happens with the furnace fire what should be done? A good supply of coal should be put on, and then a thin layer of pea coal; or the fresh coal will in turn burn up to a white heat very quickly, the house will be over-heated, and after a short time the fire will burn out, and have to be started again.
Is this an extravagant way to run a fire ? It is ; for it takes more coal, makes more work, and the heating is never satisfactory.
Efficiency in Home Making 81
What is one of the best things to do when the top of the range is soiled? Take a piece of newspaper and wipe it thoroughly.
Which damper should always be kept closed, except when starting the fire or when it is low? The one which carries the smoke and heat from the stove into the pipe.
Can the oven be heated when this damper is open ? No, it cannot, as all the heat passes up the chimney and is wasted.
What causes clinkers in the stove? Allowing the coal to burn to a white heat.
How can they be gotten rid of? When the fire is red hot put on some oyster or clam shells, or, if they cannot be obtained, put a little quick lime on the fire.
Will there ever be clinkers if the fire is rightly cared for? No, there will not.
Is it cheaper to start up the coal range when preparing one or two hot dishes for supper or luncheon, if they are quickly cooked? No, it is cheaper to use the gas or oil stove.
THE GAS RANGE.
In using gas to cook with, what mistake is most often made? Using too much gas and so having too hot a fire.
How can this he prevented? By using the small burners as much as possible, turning the gas partly down so the food will cook more slowly, and only lighting the oven about ten minutes before time to use. After putting the food in, turn the burners partly down ; the back one may sometimes be turned out entirely.
In what other way can the gas be saved? By using both the upper and lower oven at the same time.
How can this be done ? Bake the potatoes above while the steak is broiling below or while custards or puddings that require a moderate oven are baking above; bring the potatoes to a boil on top of the stove, then put them in the lower oven to finish boiling.
82 Efficiency in Home Making
How may the cost of gas be reduced in cooking besides using the fireless cooker? Do not light gas until ready to put the food directly over. In heating water put over about the amount wanted ; to heat more is a waste of gas.
Is it a saving of gas to use a little portable oven instead of the large one on the gas range? Yes, it takes much less gas.
THE FIRELESS COOKER.