How to choose a gas stove? Heat flow and safety valves are key

Gas stoves are the core appliances used in the kitchen every day, but when purchasing, most people only look at whether they look good and whether the brand is well-known. Instead, they do not carefully study the parameters that really affect the daily use experience and safety.

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Heat flow (firepower): most directly affects the cooking experience

Heat flow (kW) represents the heat released by the gas stove per hour, which directly determines the firepower.

National Standard Classification:

• Ordinary stove: heat flow per head 3.5–4.5 kW
• Large power stove: single head heat flow ≥ 5.0 kW
• Commercial ultra-high firepower: 10+ kW per head (not suitable for home use)

Daily Use Suggestions:

• Stir-fried vegetables and meat require high heat and fast frying → it is recommended to choose 4.2 kW or above
• Sufficient for daily household use: 4.5–5.0 kW main burner, matched with small burner
• Note: The greater the heat flow, the more natural gas is consumed, but usually the cooking time is shorter and the total consumption is not necessarily greater.

"Rated heat flow" vs "Maximum heat flow":

• Rated heat flow: standard measured value at specified pressure (more accurate)
• Some products are marked too high (measurement conditions are not standard), give priority to the data on the energy efficiency label

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Burner type: determines flame efficiency

Atmospheric burner (traditional)

Air is mixed into the gas by natural diffusion, with an efficiency of about 50–55%.

Full air intake burner

Gas and air are thoroughly premixed, with an efficiency of 60–65%.

Swirl type / low flame type

Optimize the combustion method to reduce local high temperatures, the thermal efficiency can reach 63-68%, it is more economical, and there are fewer incomplete combustion products.

Energy efficiency level (GB 30720 household gas stove energy efficiency standard):

Class	Thermal efficiency
Level 1	≥ 63%
Level 2	≥ 59%
Level 3	≥ 55%

It is recommended to choose Level 1 or Level 2 energy efficiency to save gas and reduce harmful gas emissions.

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Safety valve (thermocouple flameout protection): the most important safety parameter

Thermocouple flameout protection: There is a thermocouple sensor near the burner. When the flame goes out, the temperature drops. The thermocouple senses and automatically shuts off the gas supply to prevent gas leakage.

National Standard Requirements: Since 2003, the national standard GB 16410 requires that household gas stoves must be equipped with flameout protection devices.

Judge whether the safety valve is effective:

• After ignition, it normally takes 3–5 seconds for the thermocouple to heat up to establish an electrical signal
• After loosening the ignition knob, the flame should be maintained (indicating that the thermocouple is working properly)
• If the flame goes out immediately after loosening the knob, the thermocouple has failed and needs to be replaced.

Common faults: The thermocouple is carbon deposited and loose, causing the protection function to fail → Regular cleaning and maintenance.

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Ignition method

Method	Features
Manual ignition (piezoelectric)	Press the knob to trigger ignition, you need to keep pressing it until the thermocouple works
Electronic pulse (automatic)	Automatic and continuous ignition when rotating the switch, more convenient

Mainstream products are electronic pulse, recommended.

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Panel material and cleaning

Panel material	Advantages	Disadvantages
Tempered glass	Beautiful appearance, easy to wipe	May crack due to thermal expansion and contraction (extreme temperature differences); easily cracked if hot pot is splashed with cold water
Stainless steel	Durable, not afraid of hot and cold shocks	Easy to leave fingerprints and scratches
Cast iron	Traditional, durable	Bulky, unsightly

Notes on tempered glass panels: Avoid rinsing directly with cold water at high temperatures to prevent thermal shock from causing bursting.

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Bracket (pot holder)

Material:

• Enameled cast iron stand: heavy, stable, durable, easy to clean (removable)
• Stainless steel stand: light, but small pots tend to be unstable

Structure:

• The distance between the brackets should be suitable for the smallest pot at home (make sure that the iron pot and small soup pot will not fall) -Pot holder stability: simulates pushing gently with your fingers and should not shake

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Embedded vs Desktop

Type	Advantages	Disadvantages
Desktop	Easy to install, portable, low price	Occupies space on the countertop, needs to be moved when cleaning
Embedded	The countertop is clean and the vision is good	Requires openings in the countertop for installation and disassembly for maintenance

Note on embedded installation: There must be enough ventilation space under the cabinet countertop (gas stoves need to dissipate heat and prevent gas accumulation).

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Gas type: must match the stove

Main gas types in Chinese cities:

• Natural Gas (12T): Piped natural gas, most cities
• Liquefied Petroleum Gas (20Y): Liquefied Petroleum Gas Cylinder
• Artificial Gas (6R): Still in use in some areas of the old city

Must confirm: The gas type marked on the stove must be consistent with that used at home. Using liquefied gas in a natural gas stove will result in insufficient pressure, and using natural gas in a liquefied gas stove will result in excessive pressure → both situations are dangerous.

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*This article refers to the GB 16410 household gas stove standard and the GB 30720 energy efficiency standard, and is not specific to specific brands and models. *