Use of gas stove if power is out?

August 26, 2011 6:34 PM

Storm preparation: if we loose power, can we use a match to ignite a top burner on a gas stove (instead of the electric igniter)?
posted by Kevin S to Home & Garden (27 answers total)

Yes, you can. Turn the gas on about halfway, so the flame's not so big it jumps and gets your fingers when it lights. You might find though that the electric lighter isn't powered from the wall, but is actually a piezoelectric spark that is totally separate and will work even if the power is off to the house. You could try it by turning off the stove at the wall.
posted by cromagnon at 6:39 PM on August 26, 2011 [2 favorites]

Yes, assuming that you still have gas for your stove.
posted by metahawk at 6:40 PM on August 26, 2011

I've had the igniter break (is the igniter electric? I don't know) on my gas stove before, so I guess it would work the same way. First of all, make sure the gas is set on LOW. And unless you have really long matches, you should light the match by gripping it in a pair of pliers when you strike it, to put as much distance between your fingers and the flame as possible.
posted by phunniemee at 6:41 PM on August 26, 2011 [1 favorite]

Yeah, just make sure you turn the gas all the way to low before you light the match, or you might lose your eyebrows.
posted by InsanePenguin at 6:41 PM on August 26, 2011

You can also use one of those long nose zippo type lighters, if you don't want to get your fingers too close to the burner (like this: http://barbecuelighter.littleleaguebaseballbatshq.com/products/bic-surestart-lighter-B00065DRXQ.jpeg )
posted by joyeuxamelie at 6:53 PM on August 26, 2011

Also, if you let the gas run too long before lighting it, you'll get like a little flame cloud so watch out.
posted by joyeuxamelie at 6:55 PM on August 26, 2011

Another option: light the end of a piece of dry spaghetti, then use that to light the gas.
posted by Knappster at 6:55 PM on August 26, 2011 [13 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks - that's what I was thinking but wasn't sure.

Knappster - spaghetti as a fuse, that's terrific!
posted by Kevin S at 6:59 PM on August 26, 2011

Use wooden matches, not cardboard ones from a match book. With a wooden match, the flame is further from your fingers.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 7:25 PM on August 26, 2011

I've never tried spaghetti but I've used wooden barbecue skewers the same way and that works too.
posted by Miko at 7:48 PM on August 26, 2011

I have lit a gas stove with a cardboard/paper match on many occasions and have never come close to burning my fingers.
posted by Juffo-Wup at 7:49 PM on August 26, 2011

When I worked in the kitchen at summer camp (think enormous, ancient gas stove) we used wooden matches or one of those plastic barbeque starters.
posted by janepanic at 8:01 PM on August 26, 2011

Some modern stoves have some kind of safety dingus that keeps the gas shut off unless the stove is receiving power, at least for some burners.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:24 PM on August 26, 2011

A little paper match (like from a book of matches) will do fine. If you're worried about the initial flare, you can light the match before turning on the gas; that way the burner lights at the minimum flow that can sustain a flame, and no gas accumulates.

But, honestly, I'm pretty sure I've seen the gas flash over my fingertips and not even felt it. I think people are over-thinking this.
posted by d. z. wang at 8:28 PM on August 26, 2011 [1 favorite]

I'm pretty sure I've seen the gas flash over my fingertips and not even felt it.

Yeah, I have a bad habit of lighting my gas grill and then striking a match and tossing the match at it. Even when I get a pretty big PFFT! fireball-looking thing, it's not hot and it's over in a fraction of a second. I think it's worth being safe but it's not as crazy a risk as it seems.
posted by Miko at 8:30 PM on August 26, 2011

Gas in stoves is very very forgiving. Do light the burner as you turn it on, but don't fret about the initial lighting blowing you up or anything.
posted by incessant at 9:05 PM on August 26, 2011

Yeah, and you can try it while the power is on if you want.
posted by delmoi at 9:45 PM on August 26, 2011

I've done that a lot, actually. Just used a wooden match, lit as soon as the gas was turned on (to high). I wouldn't worry too much.
posted by Margalo Epps at 9:49 PM on August 26, 2011

Kevin S -- Yes, you can. and now you know why lots of people like (like? nay, demand!) gas cooktops. (note that you will not be able to bake.)

ROU_Xenophobe -- that's usually just for the oven, or other thermostatically controlled burner, which does not stay lit all the time.
posted by jlkr at 10:10 PM on August 26, 2011

jlkr writes "note that you will not be able to bake."

Depends on whether your oven has a standing pilot (yes) or electric ignition(mostly no). And even then some electric ignition ovens are designed to function after being manually lit until you turn the knob to the off position.
posted by Mitheral at 11:16 PM on August 26, 2011

I lived for ten years with a stove whose igniter was broken, always lit it with matches, and had no problems (except for setting my hair on fire twice). I used those super-long cook's matches.
posted by Pallas Athena at 5:59 AM on August 27, 2011

We have used our gas stove during many power outages. Just light the stove with a long match and you should be fine. As other said just don't turn the flame up too high until it's lit. I haven't ever gotten burned but better to be safe.
posted by garnetgirl at 8:21 AM on August 27, 2011

I had the same question. Here is my issue: If the pilot lights are out, doesn't that mean there is some small amount of gas leaking in? Is it a safety issue to light one burner while the pilots are out on the other three?
posted by dixiecupdrinking at 9:46 AM on August 27, 2011

My gas stove doesn't have any ignition system, and I just use an empty grill lighter. The spark is enough to light the burner.
posted by koolkat at 10:01 AM on August 27, 2011

One little wrinkle: if you stove has automatic electric ignition (i.e., it can tell when the burner gets turned on and fires the spark pop-pop-pop until the gas lights, then stops) then it will have an electric gas shut-off safety valve. This is to keep you from going and turning on the knob, the thing not lighting (no electricity!), and you leaving the gas valve on. If it's the older manual (push-button) electric ignition then you can light it with a match.

I know this because I had to research it when my parents' house lost power for a week during an ice storm. (End of the power line run, very rural area, etc.) I learned that essentially all modern stoves gas require electricity before you can light them. :(
posted by introp at 12:18 PM on August 27, 2011

One little wrinkle: if you stove has automatic electric ignition (i.e., it can tell when the burner gets turned on and fires the spark pop-pop-pop until the gas lights, then stops) then it will have an electric gas shut-off safety valve. This is to keep you from going and turning on the knob, the thing not lighting (no electricity!), and you leaving the gas valve on.

We have a gas stove with automatic ignition (turn the knob, pop-pop-pop until it lights, and if the flame is doused or blown out, it will pop-pop-pop until the burner relights).

It lights fine with a match when there is no electricity. Of course it won't auto-ignite with no power. It's a recent BlueStar/Garland.
posted by the Real Dan at 9:38 PM on August 27, 2011

Response by poster: Thanks again everyone. As it turns out, we never lost power even though close by streets went without for several days.

However, I did an experimental ignition by match, and it worked fine, so now we're all set for next time.
posted by Kevin S at 5:48 AM on September 2, 2011