Despite the ever growing popularity of induction hobs, gas hobs are still favoured by both professional and amateur cooks. The advantages of gas are primarily the fact you get immediate, direct heat and that you can easily monitor the strength of the flame.
To get the best from your gas hob, you will need to keep it clean. If you let grime accumulate around the burner, it will start to smell. If the burners become clogged, the flow of gas will be blocked and the flame will gradually weaken.
Cleaning A Gas Hob Safely
Gas hobs are potentially very dangerous, if you do not know how to work with one. Before you do anything else, put out the pilot light, either by flicking the switch, or, if you own an older hob, simply blow out the flame.
If you have just used the hob, give it around twenty minutes to cool down before you begin cleaning.
Unclogging The Hob
If the vents themselves are blocked, you will need to unblock them. You will not need to search too deep, as you are just looking to remove any dirt that has settled around the porthole. Do not use anything that is likely to break off such as toothpicks or matchsticks. Instead, wipe with a damp cloth.
Soaking The Parts
Gas hobs come with removable parts that are designed to be soaked in hot water occasionally. For best results, you will want a mixture of one part hot water and one part baking soda, the bubbles will soften the grease, allowing you to scrub it off with ease. If you need something a bit more abrasive, add a little ammonia to the solution.
Naturally, you do not want water to find its way into the burner, so dry the plates thoroughly before replacing them.
Wipe The Cooker Hood
The hob itself and the surface of the cooker hood both accumulate grease and grime, so now is the ideal time to get rid of it. Be sure that you don’t spray liquids directly into the hood, and wipe thoroughly to remove any stray pieces of food residue.
Relight The Pilot Light
Once everything is replaced, you will be able to relight the pilot light according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
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