An uproar has erupted in the United States in recent weeks over reports that the federal government is planning to ban gas stoves.
This comes as cooktops have been linked to high levels of nitrogen dioxide and other chemicals, which the World Health Organization (WHO) says are unsafe and lead to respiratory illnesses such as asthma.

Like many restaurants across New York City, gas is the primary source of heat used at downtown Chinese eateries like Round K.
But at Round K restaurant in Chinatown, chef Han Kim says he doesn't need gas to prepare his dishes. Instead, Kim's Korean-fusion menu runs on electricity. He says not only is it more cost effective, but it also protects his business should gas stoves ever be outlawed.
"In New York City, the rent is really high and having a full kitchen is a little tough on a low budget. Sometimes limitations make us more creative. That's kind of happening here," said Kim.

The New York City Council passed a bill in 2021 that will ban the use of natural gas in new buildings and by extension gas stoves starting year.

Gas stoves, even when they're not in use, can emit greenhouse gases. There are also other health concerns. A December study showed that nearly 13 percent of childhood asthma in the U.S. is associated with gas stove use.
"Unless we go into a completely renewable source of energy, not using coal or diesel to produce electricity, then natural gas is a safer way to cook for the environment as a whole," said Ilias Kavouras, professor of Environmental, Occupational and Geospatial Health Sciences at City University of New York.

The debate reached a boiling point earlier this year when the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said it was considering banning gas stoves, citing concerns about indoor air pollution. The CPSC later backtracked.

While lawmakers stoke the flames of a gas stove ban in homes and restaurants, one Asian chef in downtown New York says it's practically impossible to cook Asian dishes without gas.

Kevin Zheng runs several Asian restaurants around New York. He believes that if a ban on gas stoves ever came to pass, hundreds of Asian restaurants would go out of business.

"Most of our food is cooked by the wok. Now we have some electrical woks, but that wok doesn't work. We tried it before, [and] it doesn't work, because the temperature is really hard to control," said Zheng.

As the debate simmers, experts say there's no need to swap a gas stove for an electric one yet.