• Cooking gas prices in Nigeria have surged to painful new highs
• With hoarders and marketers squeezing supply, your best weapon isn't finding cheaper gas, it's making the gas you have last twice as long
• Here are five overlooked kitchen habits that are silently burning through your cylinder faster than the gas itself

Gas is expensive right now, but your cooking habits are making it worse. Here are 5 smart hacks to make your cooking gas last longer before your next refill breaks the bank.

Let's not sugarcoat it. Walking to your gas vendor right now feels like going to a robbery, except you're the one handing over the cash and saying ‘thank you.’

Prices have climbed, hoarders are holding stock hostage, and somehow your cylinder still finishes before the month is halfway done. Something is not adding up.

Here's what nobody is telling you: the gas isn't the problem, your kitchen habits are.

We broke down the five smartest, most practical hacks to make your cooking gas last longer, and some of these will genuinely shock you.

5 practical hacks to save more gas

1. Kill the big flame habit

Most Nigerians were raised watching pots bubble furiously over a roaring flame, like maximum fire means maximum speed. That is one of the most expensive lies your kitchen ever taught you.

Once water is boiling or your stew is hot, the food is already cooking at the same temperature whether your flame is at full blast or at medium-low. You're not speeding things up, you're just burning gas into thin air.

Drop the flame to low-medium the moment your pot reaches heat. Your jollof rice doesn't care. Your wallet will.

2. Match your pot size to your burner

This one sounds basic, but it's costing people real money. When you put a small pot on a large burner, the flames curl up around the sides of the pot and heat the air around it instead of the base.

You're literally paying to heat your kitchen. Swap to a smaller burner for smaller pots, and watch how much more controlled and efficient the burn becomes.

3. The retained heat trick that feels like cheating

Okay, this one is the move. It's called retained heat cooking, and once you start using it, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

Here's how it works: bring your food to a full boil, then turn off the gas completely, wrap the pot tightly in a thick towel or blanket, and leave it for 30–45 minutes. The trapped heat continues cooking the food inside.

This isn't a village rumour. It's thermodynamics. And it can cut your gas usage on long-cooking meals by a serious margin.

4. Lids on always

If you're cooking without a lid, you are literally throwing heat and money into the air above your pot. A lid traps steam, builds pressure, and circulates heat back into the food.

Food cooks faster with a lid on, which means less time on the flame, which means less gas burned. It's that simple. This single habit alone can extend your cylinder life meaningfully.

5. Check your burner and hose for leaks and blockages

This is the silent killer. A tiny gas leak or a partially blocked burner jet can waste significant amounts of gas before you even notice anything is wrong.

Signs to watch for: a yellow or orange flame instead of blue, a hissing sound when the knob is on, or a faint gas smell that lingers after cooking. If you notice any of these, call a technician before you top up your cylinder again.

Also clean your burner heads regularly. Clogged jets make the burner work harder and burn more gas to produce less heat. A toothbrush and warm water, once a week, does the job.

With gas prices where they are right now, you cannot afford to cook carelessly. Every knob turn, every uncovered pot, every mismatched burner is cash leaving your pocket.

The gas market will fix itself eventually. But while the hoarders are hoarding, you're out here cooking smarter, and that's a different kind of Naija hustle.

Sapa lifestyle: How to eat healthily without breaking budget

Earlier, TheRadar reported some practical tips to help you eat affordable and nutritious foods. The rising cost of food and basic commodities has caused many to turn to unhealthy food options like fast food and unbalanced diets, making it harder for Nigerians to prioritise their health.

However, eating well doesn’t have to be a luxury. With a little planning, creativity, and smart shopping strategies, it is possible to enjoy a diet that is both healthy and affordable.