Gas Costs: The Hidden Expense

How much does it cost to use gas for 1 minute? Learn a more detailed calculation method.

The Cost of Cooking Gas

Some operators still calculate gas expenses by averaging the cost based on each purchase cycle to estimate daily expenses. However, this method may not be as accurate as it could be, since the amount of gas used each day can vary depending on the recipes.

When setting the selling price, if the gas cost is not factored in properly, the expenses revealed later may be higher than initially expected.

This means that even popular dishes may not be as profitable as you think. Gas costs are a hidden expense you shouldn’t overlook.

How to Calculate

A more precise calculation can be done by considering the gas consumption rate of each stove model. Standard manufacturers typically provide this information in the product manual.

For example, common stoves used in the restaurant industry:

KB-3 : Gas consumption rate of approximately 30,000 BTU per hour
KB-5 : Gas consumption rate of approximately 50,000 BTU per hour
KB-7 (Chinese stove): Gas consumption rate of approximately 70,000 BTU per hour

To easily remember the gas consumption rate, multiply the last number of the stove model (3, 5, 7) by 10,000 to get the BTU consumption per hour. (The units of gas consumption rate are often kW, BTU, or MJ, and they can be converted between each other.)

Usage Time = BTU of the Gas Tank ÷ BTU Consumption Rate of the Stove

Example calculation for KB-5 stove:

1.Convert LPG kg to BTU: 1 kg = 46,452 BTU

2.Gas consumption rate of KB-5 stove: 50,000 BTU per hour

Usage Time = 46,452 / 50,000 ≈ 56 minute

Therefore, if the KB-5 stove is used for 4 hours a day, it will last about 4.31 kg of LPG.

The above calculation uses a full 100% gas consumption rate, as adjusting the flame from low to medium depends on the user’s technique. In practice, adjusting the flame may reduce gas usage, making the gas last longer.