Cooking *dal* (lentils) is a daily affair in Indian kitchens. However, it is natural to get annoyed when the pressure cooker whistles and the yellow, starchy water from the boiling lentils spills out, messing up the entire gas stove.

No one enjoys the extra effort of cleaning the stove after cooking. If you want to avoid this daily hassle, these three simple, tried-and-tested hacks will come in very handy.

**The Magic of Oil or Ghee**
Add a few drops of mustard oil or half a teaspoon of *desi ghee* (clarified butter) to the lentils while boiling them. Additionally, lightly grease the underside of the cooker lid and the area around the whistle with a little oil using your finger. The slickness prevents the lentil foam from rising up, keeping the cooker lid perfectly clean on the outside.

**Drop a Steel Spoon into the Cooker**
This is a highly effective, age-old trick passed down by grandmothers. Simply place a small steel bowl or spoon inside the cooker—along with the lentils, water, salt, and turmeric—before closing the lid. As the lentils boil, the bowl or spoon constantly breaks up the foam forming inside. This prevents the starchy water from reaching the whistle and spilling out.

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