Gas runs out mid-cooking? Don't panic, here is what to do

Imagine a situation whereby you are cooking your Ugali using a cooking gas and immediately you don't hear the sound of the gas.

You start wondering, what could the problem be? What should I do? 

However, the truth is that running out of cooking gas can be incredibly frustrating, especially when it occurs midway when preparing a meal.

The stress of dealing with a half-cooked meal, along with the additional concern of budgeting for a gas cylinder refill, can be overwhelming.

The 6kg gas goes for Sh1200 to Sh1500 depending on the estate one resides.

The 13kg goes for Sh2500 to Sh2700 also depending on the estate one resides in.

With these realities of the cost of living also going up, what happens when the gas goes off?

These are what Kenyans said;

"Iliisha usiku saa tatu, 10minutes after kuekelea nyama. Haki nililia, halafu nikajichocha nikakula hiyo nyama na ugali hivyo," one user, Rachel, wrote as she narrated how she consumed a barely cooked meal.

Another user, Carol, resorted to cooking her rice using the microwave after her cooking gas ran out before the rice was ready.

"Iliisha kama napika mchele... nilipika na microwave," she wrote.

Christine recounted how she had to give her visitors a half meal after she ran out of cooking gas before she could finish cooking.

"Baada ya kupika stew na wageni wako sitting room wanangoja late night supper, nikishaanza kukoroga unga ya ugali gas kwisha. Hivyo ndio walikula greens na nyama bila ugali na kila mtu kwake," Christine wrote.

But another user Cyrus said: Inaisha ovyo na pesa hakuna kwa nyumba. Wacha tu. Ndizi moja na maji glass moja na kulala mpaka the following day."

"One day I was cooking ugali, and my gas went off. I had to talk to my neighbour to help with his 6kg gas," says Talia.

But what is the way out of this situation?

Here are some ways you can deal with such a situation if it arises;

Change to a different cooking method: Some foods like ugali and rice can still be salvaged if you take a shorter time to switch to another cooking method. If you have an alternative cooking source like an electric stove or a microwave, use it to finish cooking your meal.

Order a delivery: If you don't have time to refill your gas cylinder and cook again, you might want to consider ordering food from a restaurant.

Have a backup gas cylinder: If you use a 13kg gas cylinder, consider having a backup 6kg gas cylinder in the house. This would come in handy in case your gas depletes at odd hours of the night when you are not able to refill it immediately.

Build a rapport with your gas supplier: When you have a good relationship with your supplier they are more likely to help you refill your cylinder when you are short on cash and can't pay for it immediately.

Build a good relationship with your neighbours: Your neighbour is the first person you can call on in case of such an emergency. Having a good relationship with them makes it easier to seek help in that case.

Always keep light food in the house.

To avoid future interruptions, it's advisable to check your gas cylinder before starting to cook, especially if you're aware that it's nearly empty.