Let's Get Cooking With Gas!

Recently, we launched a new Cooking with Gas page to share recipes, tips, videos, and to give you an insider’s look at upcoming culinary events. From crab and veggie stuffed portobello mushrooms that will wow the neighbors at your next dinner party, to cooking demos with professional chefs, we'll have you cooking and entertaining like a pro in no time.

We know that people start tackling the stove at many stages in their lives. So we're here to break it down for you. No matter who you are, we've got some tips that can help.

1. For the millennial who is obsessed with trying three-step recipes on Pinterest...

Let's say you found a nice, easy, one-pan recipe online. Then suddenly you realize halfway through cooking that you don’t really know what to do with your stove beyond heating water for Ramen. Don’t panic! Here are a few helpful tips:

• According to the pros, the first step to culinary mastery on the stove top is to begin with natural gas. Because it offers an even, steady heat, you’ll have a higher degree of control over you food than you would using electric. That means your pot of noodles isn't going to boil over in the time it takes you to listen to the Chainsmoker's new single. So when looking for your next apartment, look for that gas stove.

• When you’re ready to turn up the heat, make sure the size of the flame matches the size of your pot or pan. If the flame is curling up over the sides of your dish, even if you need to apply high heat, you risk burning yourself and wasting energy.

• When melting butter or heating up oils, use a low flame to avoid painful splatters and oily messes on your walls, stovetop, and yourself. 

• Gas ovens tend to hold moisture inside, so to cook food evenly, try raising the heat by 25°F more than the recipe calls for. And even though this could shorten your cook time slightly, resist the urge to open the oven door until that cook time is up. Otherwise, you're just wasting a ton of heat.

• If you’re preparing a feast for your friends, baking multiple dishes at once can boost efficiency. Make sure pans are staggered so one is not directly over another, or the top dish will burn while the bottom dish will be undercooked.

2. For the practical money-saver, looking to really cut back on long-term expenses...

While price points of gas and electric ovens tend to be relatively similar, electricity uses three times more energy to produce heat than natural gas. Here are some money-saving tips that will also increase efficiency in the kitchen: 

• When using natural gas burners, if the flame turns yellow instead of blue, your stove isn’t operating as efficiently as it could be. Call a qualified maintenance provider to have your unit serviced to maximize energy usage.

• Not only is Peoples regularly among the lowest natural gas rates in Pennsylvania, we also purchase 90 percent of our gas locally, saving you money while supporting Pennsylvania’s economy. So if you're moving or if you're building a new home, natural gas is going to give you the most bang for your buck.

• If your home or small business is equipped with natural gas, you’re in luck! Buildings with natural gas tend to have higher property values, and when it’s time to sell, you’ll be able to cash in. Want to increase your property value even more? Consider extending your line and adding a natural gas fire pit out back, or maybe a natural gas grill. 

3. For the aspiring foodie, hoping to wow your friends with your next culinary creation...

After years of practice, you’ve mastered the art of the one-pan recipe, and now you’re hoping to try something with an extra pinch of mouthwatering goodness and a dash of fancy. Look no further than our Cooking with Gas page for inspiration for your next spring brunch spread or summer barbeque!

• Recently, we teamed up with TABLE magazine to bring you delicious recipes, like Shrimp and Sofregit, from some of Pittsburgh’s hottest chefs. We're bringing you insider access to Pittsburgh's vibrant and growing food scene.

• We're also stepping up our social media game. Tag us on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook @peoplesnatgas with the hashtag #cookingwithgas to share your culinary masterpiece! We'll be showcasing our favorite recipes and photos on our Cooking with Gas page! 

• If you're more of a visual learner, check out our YouTube, Facebook Live, and Periscope channels for feature demos and behind-the-scene looks at the city’s most exclusive restaurants, including Cure, M&J Bistro, and Smallman Galley.

In addition to helping you out in the kitchen, we support some truly tremendous causes like Savor Pittsburgh, a competition between Pittsburgh’s finest chefs for “Best Dish of the Year,” and Taste for Pace, an exclusive culinary gathering at Smallman Gallery. All proceeds from the events will go directly to charities that affect our communities the most, like Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation and the Pace School.

With so many great benefits, it's time to pull the plug on your electric oven and start cooking with clean natural gas. From saving time and money, to saving the environment, we're here to help food-lovers of all ages.

Be sure to visit our Cooking with Gas page for new and exciting updates!

Get Cooking With Gas