The best gas stoves and ranges are now made with the
broiling and baking ovens above the level of the top of
the stove, doing away with the stooping and inconvenience
caused by the old style.
In selecting these stoves see that the top grates are
movable and that the stove can be readily cleaned. As the
stoves become old the valve handles turn easily and are
sometimes turned on without the knowledge of the worker,
allowing the gas to escape, which may lead to an ex-
plosion. There is usually a nut for tightening the valves,
which should be turned until they are no longer loose.
In lighting gas stoves let the gas flow for a second before
applying the match; otherwise the gas may burn back
producing a yellow flame which soils utensils, and gives
off poisonous and odorous by-products. If this occurs turn
out immediately and relight. Closing of the air slots of
the burner from any cause will give a yellow, smoky flame.
Before lighting the oven be sure to open the oven door
until the burners are well lighted. This is to guard against
the explosion of gas which might have leaked into the oven.
JANUARY MENUS 151
How to Use Gas
1. Have the article ready and on the burner before the
gas is lighted.
2. Never turn the gas so high that the red flame shows
as that means imperfect combustion.
3. As soon as the liquid begins to boil turn the gas
down until there is just enough heat to keep it boiling.
4. Use the simmering jet whenever possible. It sup-
plies sufficient heat to keep a large kettle of water boiling.
5. In most baking, turn out one oven burner or lower
both after the first fifteen minutes.
6. A small oven set on top of the stove over one burner,
for baking small quantities, will reduce the gas bill. In a
test of baking a pan of muffins, 4 cubic feet of gas were
consumed with a small portable oven against 12 cubic feet
in the large oven.
Rates of Consumption of Gas
The following figures are the results given by careful
tests made by Miss Bertha M. Terrill :
Top Burners,
Single burner, full, consumes 1 ft. in 4 to 5 m., or 12 to 15 ft. per
hour.
Single burner, just boiling, consumes 1 ft. in 15 to 19 m., or 3 to
4 ft. per hour.
Single burner, simmering height, consumes 1 ft. in 29 m., or
about 2 ft. per hour.
Double burner, full, consumes 1 ft. in 2 m., or 30 ft. per hour.
Oven Burners.
Two burners, full, consume 1 ft. in 1 m., or 60 ft. per hour.
One burner, full, consumes 1 ft. in 2 m., or 30 ft. per hour.
One burner, half on, consumes 1 ft. in 3 m., or 20 ft. per hour.
Electricity
Electricity is the ideal source of heat for cooking, but
in most places is too expensive for the average home use.
It is absolutely without dirt, can be controlled perfectly,
and can be used in any part of the house where the con-
nection with the electric wires may be made.
Recently electric stoves have been greatly improved and
lessened in price, and there are now on the market "electric
fireless cookers," which use little current. With electricity
at 4 cents a Kw. they are said to cook a meal at less expense
than with gas at $1.00 per 1,000 cu. ft.
152 LESSONS IN COOKING
Page 85
Presented as published in 1912. 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
The best gas stoves and ranges are now made with the broiling and baking ovens above the level of the top of the stove, doing away with the stooping and inconvenience caused by the old style.
In selecting these stoves see that the top grates are movable and that the stove can be readily cleaned. As the stoves become old the valve handles turn easily and are sometimes turned on without the knowledge of the worker, allowing the gas to escape, which may lead to an explosion. There is usually a nut for tightening the valves, which should be turned until they are no longer loose.
In lighting gas stoves let the gas flow for a second before applying the match; otherwise the gas may burn back producing a yellow flame which soils utensils, and gives off poisonous and odorous by-products. If this occurs turn out immediately and relight. Closing of the air slots of the burner from any cause will give a yellow, smoky flame.
Before lighting the oven be sure to open the oven door until the burners are well lighted. This is to guard against the explosion of gas which might have leaked into the oven.
How to Use Gas
1. Have the article ready and on the burner before the gas is lighted.
2. Never turn the gas so high that the red flame shows as that means imperfect combustion.
3. As soon as the liquid begins to boil turn the gas down until there is just enough heat to keep it boiling.
4. Use the simmering jet whenever possible. It supplies sufficient heat to keep a large kettle of water boiling.
5. In most baking, turn out one oven burner or lower both after the first fifteen minutes.
6. A small oven set on top of the stove over one burner, for baking small quantities, will reduce the gas bill. In a test of baking a pan of muffins, 4 cubic feet of gas were consumed with a small portable oven against 12 cubic feet in the large oven.
Rates of Consumption of Gas
The following figures are the results given by careful tests made by Miss Bertha M. Terrill : Top Burners, Single burner, full, consumes 1 ft. in 4 to 5 m., or 12 to 15 ft. per
hour. Single burner, just boiling, consumes 1 ft. in 15 to 19 m., or 3 to
4 ft. per hour. Single burner, simmering height, consumes 1 ft. in 29 m., or
about 2 ft. per hour. Double burner, full, consumes 1 ft. in 2 m., or 30 ft. per hour.
Oven Burners. Two burners, full, consume 1 ft. in 1 m., or 60 ft. per hour. One burner, full, consumes 1 ft. in 2 m., or 30 ft. per hour. One burner, half on, consumes 1 ft. in 3 m., or 20 ft. per hour.
Electricity
Electricity is the ideal source of heat for cooking, but in most places is too expensive for the average home use. It is absolutely without dirt, can be controlled perfectly, and can be used in any part of the house where the connection with the electric wires may be made.
Recently electric stoves have been greatly improved and lessened in price, and there are now on the market "electric fireless cookers," which use little current. With electricity at 4 cents a Kw. they are said to cook a meal at less expense than with gas at $1.00 per 1,000 cu. ft.