5 Tips for Using a Gas Stove

By Rachel WhartonJan. 25, 2023

Studies from several scientific journals have shown gas stoves can release benzene, methane and other potentially risky airborne substances when you use them.

The good news is you can usually eliminate most of the risks by getting more fresh air into your kitchen while you cook. Here's how →

Turn on your range hood every time you cook. A range hood is there to ventilate, not to remove odors. A good range hood sucks up steam and gases as you cook. That action also tends to move smells, heat and tiny steam-borne grease particles out of the kitchen.

One of the easiest ways to get gaseous irritants out of your kitchen is to open a window or a door to let in fresh air while you cook. If your closest window is a good distance from your stove or not directly in your kitchen, you could also put a fan pointed outside in the window.

Another way to improve your indoor air quality is to use countertop appliances in place of your gas stove or oven, especially if you don't have a range hood or if it's not possible to stick a fan in an open window. Our tests have shown that a portable induction cooktop is a safe and clean tool to use when you need only one burner.

Use an air quality monitor that detects carbon dioxide. Most home air quality monitors can't check for benzene, methane and some of the other substances that a gas stove emits, but a good one can show you how much CO2 is in your kitchen's air, which you can use as a proxy for other air quality factors.

Don't bother with an air purifier. Although some experts have recommended using one with a HEPA filter to address the problem, the majority of air purifiers aren't designed to efficiently capture and remove gaseous pollutants like methane or nitrogen dioxide.

Read more about slide-in electric ranges at Wirecutter. Or check out other timely advice: