Introduction
The kitchen has special significance in the practice of feng shui, as it is the place in the home where one works with fire. A lot of attention goes into the sources of heat in someone’s kitchen, like their stove. If you do your research, you can find a lot of feng shui tips on kitchen stoves such as where to place them, how to determine the direction of the stove based on your Kua, and even whether or not to locate your stove below a ceiling beam.
This entry pertains to the number of stoves that one should have in their kitchen, plus whether the number of stoves or the energy source of the stoves affects the home’s feng shui. Exactly much does it matter? Here, Uncle Dixer weighs in on a reader’s concern.
On Feng Shui and the Number or Type of Kitchen Stove to Have
A curious reader fielded this two-part question to our regular contributor Uncle Dixer:
For the kitchen stove, is more burners on the stove the better? Is one better than the other – gas or electric stove in terms of Feng Shui?
Uncle Dixer gave a straightforward answer on the issue of the number of stoves, plus some interesting insight on the stoves’ energy source:
The number of stove depends on needs. It’s not always the more, the better.
A gas stove usually heats quicker than an electric stove. Most Chinese prefer gas over electric, because you can see the flame while cooking and can have a visual response.
Additional Comments
The reader’s first query is easily resolved. The number of stoves doesn’t matter in feng shui. There’s no lucky number of stoves to have, nor is there an inauspicious number. It really depends on how many stoves you actually need, and this in turn depends on factors like how much you like to cook and how many people you have to feed in your home.
The second query is best summarized as a matter of preference. A lot of Chinese cuisine is prepared on the stove, and those who prepare dishes with kitchen implements like woks are required to be masters over the flame. It makes perfect sense for many Chinese cooks to prefer using gas stoves so that they have additional visibility and control over the fire. But it’s also fine to use an electric stove if that’s your preference for cooking. It is also considered by many to be the more energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly option.
If you’re curious about what more feng shui has to say about stoves, you can read up on topics like popular kitchen feng shui rules that pertain to stoves and factors that determine the ideal stove placement in the kitchen. In the end, however, you should choose according to your needs.
What’s the most enlightening feng shui advice you’ve received kitchen stoves, other kitchen appliances, and how to prepare food for your family in an auspicious manner? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
Uncle Dixer is a Chinese-Australian Feng Shui Expert. He is here to answer your Feng Shui questions so we can better understand the workings of Feng Shui. Read more about him or submit your question to an expert.