What are the benefits, if any, of buying a gas stove opposed to an electric stove?
Wouldn’t an electric stove be easier to clean, cheaper to use, and safer to operate than a gas stove? If so, why do people still buy gas stoves? Is it like solar panels; the initial price is just too much?
It is less likely that your gas will go out than your electricity.
Flames heat faster than electricity so preheating is quicker.
Gas ovens tend not to develop hot spots like electric ovens so they bake better.
February 17th, 2011 at 2:30 am
Well it depends on where you live, If electric is cheaper than natural gas then go with the electric. Just keep in mind: If the electric goes out so does your stove, If you get a surge or lightning strike there goes your stove, & gas cooks way hotter too.
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Licensed master electrician.
February 17th, 2011 at 2:49 am
Gas stoves cost more to purchase, but are easier to cook with because the flame is controlled immediately by the cook. Most, if not all, professional chefs prefer gas. Gas stoves, I believe, are not as clean as electric stoves. Gas is cheaper to use where I live.
I used an electric stove once and couldn’t stand it. Safety was never an issue with me. They both have disadvantages as far as safety goes.
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February 17th, 2011 at 3:35 am
It depends not only on whether gas or electric service is cheaper, but also what type of cooking you do. If you are the type of person who cooks stuff out of a box and follows recipes to the letter and the electric stove works just fine, it is probably ok. I am more experimental, and like the temperature control I get from a gas stove. If it’s too hot, I can turn the heat down, and it cools down more quickly than an electric stove. Waiting for the pan to cool down is still a factor, but it takes less time than waiting for the electric element to cool down. My parents have an expensive electric stove, and they frequently complain about not being able to reduce the temperature quickly enough. Julia Child often moved the pan to just the edge of the electric heating element in order to reduce the cooking temperature if it got too hot. I usually don’t have to do that with gas. Also, if you already have gas for some reason or another, like for heating or a clothes dryer, you will be paying a nominal fee for gas whether you use it or not. In that case, using the gas during the summer probably doesn’t hurt your monthly bill too much. If you don’t already have gas and need it only for cooking, it might make sense to stick with electric and deal with the issues.
One last comment. My grandmother used to make "stove toast" by putting a slice of bread on a gas burner, charring it slightly, then smothering it with butter. It was very yummy, and you can’t do that with an electric stove.
I hope this helps.
Jim
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February 17th, 2011 at 4:19 am
I live in rural northern Florida, and our electric power isn’t terribly reliable. WIth a gas stove, I can always still cook a hot meal. We have a generator to run the fridge and freezer, but it wouldn’t handle an electric stove.
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February 17th, 2011 at 4:27 am
It is less likely that your gas will go out than your electricity.
Flames heat faster than electricity so preheating is quicker.
Gas ovens tend not to develop hot spots like electric ovens so they bake better.
References :