Now we're cooking without gas?
By Meredith Tufts
Fossil Free Eugene Coalition Coordinator
Editor’s note: Did you know you can bring propane or helium tanks to your nearest Lane County Transfer Station for proper disposal and recycling? This includes one-pound camping propane tanks (accepted for free at all transfer sites) and propane tanks up to five gallons, which are accepted for a fee.
Many of us grew up hearing the hype about the cooking power of gas stoves and the advertising campaigns framing gas as “natural,” a cleaner alternative to other fuel sources. You may have also faced the frustration of cooking on inefficient, older electric models that are slow to heat and slow to cool down. But now we have a cleaner, healthier option—for us and for the planet, one that doesn't require compromising on cooking efficiency.
What’s the problem with gas?
Gas stoves release methane, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, benzene, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which have been linked by multiple studies to chronic health issues including cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and respiratory diseases, with 12.7% of childhood asthmas caused by gas stove pollution.
These pollutants continue to be released even when stoves are turned off. A 2022 Stanford study fo und that 80% of methane emissions occur when the appliance is off. In a 2023 report, “Fumes in Focus,” Beyond Toxics used FLIR (Forward-Looking InfraRed) cameras to show the plume of pollutants released during cooking and measured how long they lingered afterwards
Their 2023 short documentary and accompanying report, Fumes in Focus, can be viewed on their website.
The damage from these pollutants isn’t limited to our own health. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that traps more heat than carbon dioxide but also dissipates sooner. That means cutting methane emissions will slow warming faster than reducing carbon dioxide.
 The climate impact of annual methane emissions from gas stoves in U.S. homes is roughly equivalent to the carbon dioxide emissions from 500,000 cars, so while each stove’s emissions may be relatively low, they add up.
Making the Switch to Induction
Induction stoves offer a safer, healthier alternative to gas cooking, and they also reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the extraction, production, delivery, and burning of natural gas. These stoves use electromagnetism to quickly heat cookware, making the pots or pans themselves into the source of heat. They respond quickly, heating and cooling fast, and can boil water faster than a traditional electric cooktop or gas range.
This provides many of the same benefits of gas cooking, without any of the associated health and safety risks—all while allowing you to take steps to make your home more sustainable. Because induction stoves use electromagneticism to create heat, they require cookware with ferromagnetic metals like cast iron, stainless steel, and carbon steel. If you aren’t sure your cookware works with induction, the easiest way to check is with a magnet.
If you’re renting or can’t buy a new stove, you can still try induction cooking. Portable induction hot plates or burners are increasingly affordable, starting around $55 for a single burner, which can be used on top of your existing stove.
About the author
Meredith Tufts is the Coalition Coordinator for Fossil Free Eugene, a coalition of local organizations dedicated to helping Eugene meet its climate goals by supporting a local just transition off fossil fuels and building community climate resilience. She has worked in education and community support roles and loves getting outside with her family and friends.
Images courtesy of Beyond Toxics.
Sources:
Eric D. Lebel, Colin J. Finnegan, Zutao Ouyang, Robert B. Jackson; Methane and NOx Emissions from Natural Gas Stoves, Cooktops, and Ovens in Residential Homes. Environ. Sci. Technol. 15 February 2022; 56 (4): 2529–2539. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c04707
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