FOOD NEWS
The Reason It's Better To Use The Back Burners On Your Stove, According To Science
BY AUTUMN SWIERS
While a gas stove's front burners seem more accessible, overusing them isn't wise. It’s best to use the back burners, since a range hood can fully cover and ventilate the gas.
A 2022 study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that stoves powered by natural gas can release toxic air pollutants that are very hard to detect by smell.
To avoid breathing in excess gas and fumes, match the size of your cookware to the stove burner. Fortunately, one of the back burners is often a medium-sized all-purpose burner.
Make sure you turn on the range hood ventilation every time you use the stove. If you don’t have one, you can put a box fan in the window or use a HEPA-filtered air purifier.
You could also solve the issue entirely by switching to an electric stove. If that's not a viable option for you, stick to the well-ventilated back burners to protect yourself.