Many restaurants, cafés and other commercial kitchens prefer the simplicity and efficiency of using gas cookers. While gas burners and cookers are generally very safe to operate, there are a few risk factors that business owners and kitchen staff should be aware of.
Installing and maintaining gas burners are easy when you’re using the certified commercial plumbing services operating across Australia. Skilled commercial plumbers will not only ensure installations are done correctly but will also be able to advise you on the safety factors to consider.
Why do Professional Chefs Prefer Cooking With Gas?
Commercial kitchens are demanding environments where food must not only be prepared at a high quality but also within a specified period. Professional chefs, bakers and general kitchen staff prefer cooking with gas as this helps to provide a great dining experience, in record time.
Some of the more common reasons gas cookers are so popular are listed below:
- Easier to manage: The precision of gas stove dials makes it easy to control natural cookers. Professional chefs agree that it’s considerably easier to control cooking temperatures which in turn results in evenly cooked food. It also makes it easier to provide top-quality food to a lot of people at one time.
- Suited to most cookware: Another feature that makes gas cookers so popular is their versatility. Whether you’re cooking curry in a large pot or a white sauce in a tiny saucepan or even frying bacon in a skillet, gas cookware accommodates all these types of cookware. The primary reason for this is that natural gas tops aren’t completely flat and therefore make it easy for a variety of cookware to balance over the gas flame. A generous amount of heat is evenly distributed.
- Instant cooking: Gas cooktops fire up instantly making them the ideal medium for cooks and chefs who need to produce food quickly. It’s just as easy to fire them up to maximum temperatures as it is to reduce heat for more delicate dishes such as sauces or reductions.
- Easy to clean: Gas cooker tops aren’t as sensitive as electric stovetops. This means there’s no need for scratch-free cleaning solutions. Cleaning is as easy as removing the steel grate and washing away any spilt food.
- Cheaper maintenance: Electric cookers require an extensive amount of technology to work and each of these components and dials can be expensive to repair or replace. For most gas cookers, the only real repair involves having the pilot light relit. This can usually be done by your service provider.
Signs That There’s a Gas Leak In Your Commercial Kitchen
Whether your kitchen staff have experience working with gas or are completely new to the process, everyone needs to know the warning signs of a gas leak. Generally, gas leaks are caused by poorly maintained, improperly fitted or even faulty appliances. The common signs to be aware of are listed below.
- Whistling sound: Points where gas is leaking from, will usually make a whistling or hissing sound. This happens when the pressurised gas is pushed through the fault in the pipe or connection that’s come loose.
- Foul odour: The most common sign to look out for is the well known rotten-egg smell that’s associated with gas leaks. A little known fact is that utility companies and gas suppliers add a foul-smelling chemical called Mercaptan to help users identify a gas leak.
- Yellow flames: An especially crucial element to remember with gas burners is that the flames should always burn blue. If you see a yellow-orange flame, it’s a clear indication that there’s an incorrect or unbalanced gas mixture which suggests a possible leak.
- Damaged gas pipe: If you notice a damaged gas pipe it’s important to act on it immediately. Don’t assume that a small tear or tiny hole is “not so bad.” Phone your commercial plumber immediately.
- Increased gas bill: If there’s a sudden spike in your gas bill, it’s an indication that gas has been escaping from gas lines or appliances in your kitchen. While you might not find the cause of the leak, enlist your plumber to perform a gas audit to ensure that there isn’t a leak.
The Dangers of Leaking Gas
The most significant danger of cooking with gas involves the carbon monoxide that can be released into the air by older cookers. Carbon monoxide poisoning is dangerous to both humans and pets and can be fatal. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poising include the following:
- Sudden headaches (for people who don’t normally have them)
- Dizziness
- Difficulty breathing
- Sudden flu-like symptoms
- Irritation to the eyes and throat
- Sudden nosebleeds
- Extreme nausea
- Chest pains
- Reduced appetite
Final Thought
Cooking with gas is the preferred choice of many Australian commercial kitchens. That said, it’s crucial to ensure that all gas fittings are installed by certified commercial plumbers. Have regular training sessions to educate staff on the protocols of gas safety.
Liase with your plumber about regular maintenance audits to ensure everything remains safe to use. These simple principles will make it easy to enjoy the many benefits of cooking with gas!
