In this detailed comparison of gas vs electric stoves, we considered all important factors including price, ease of use, ease of cleaning, and efficiency.
If you’re remodeling your kitchen, or looking into buying a new house, you might be looking into what kind of appliances would be best for you in the kitchen. There are so many options, and it can be hard to know what the right option is for your lifestyle and cooking needs.
If you’re trying to make the choice between a gas vs electric stove, you might be wondering what the differences actually are. Will it change the way that you cook? Will it change anything about your bills, or safety?
This isn’t an uncommon line of thought, and a lot of people don’t know the differences until they experience both. If you want to get ahead of that, you’re in the right place. Read on to learn about just a few important differences between gas and electric stoves that might make your decision a little bit easier.
1. Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is a big deal right now with the current push towards environmental friendliness. If it’s a concern for you, this might factor in to the kind of stove that you choose.
Between electric stovetops and gas stovetops, electric stovetops are going to be more efficient. Gas stoves lose more heat overall, where electric ones transfer the majority of their heat to the food that you’re making.
2. Cost: Upfront and Operation
That said, there might be a cost factor involved here.
Electric stoves cost a little bit more upfront, generally speaking. The difference is only a few hundred dollars, and it varies depending on the model.
Over time, electric stoves will also generally cost more to operate. Gas is cheaper to use than electricity, so if you use your stove often (as many people do) the operating costs will add up.
Gas wins overall in the cost department.
3. Ease of Cleaning
If your task at home tends to be cleaning the kitchen, you might be concerned about how easy it is to clean one of these stoves, whether it’s a gas stove or an electric stove.
In short, it kind of varies.
Some gas stoves and electric stoves are pretty equivalent when it comes to how easy it is to clean them. Between grates and coils, there are a lot of places for messes to hide and get trapped. They’re always a bit of a hassle.
That said, there are some kinds of electric stoves that are flat on the surface which change the game entirely. They’re made of glass or ceramic, and messes are just as easy to wipe away as they are on a countertop.
These can often be more expensive, and any messes that are left to sit are going to be a pain to remove, but if cleaning is an issue, those flat electric stoves are exactly what you’re looking for.
4. Safety
If you’re someone who shares a house with family or pets, you might be extra concerned about safety.
In this area, there’s a clear winner. Gas stoves, unfortunately, have quite a handful of safety issues, especially if you’re not educated about them.
Gas stoves use an open flame underneath a grate. Even though the grate is there, the flame is still able to catch things on fire if they come too close. This applies to many things that might be hanging around a kitchen, like a dishrag or a potholder.
Another major safety concern for gas stoves is the potential for gas leaks. If you’re not sure how to connect a gas stove, or it wasn’t initially connected correctly, gas can leak into the house. This can also happen if a burner is turned just a little bit, not even enough to start a flame.
This can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning which is incredibly difficult to identify and also deadly.
The electric stove has this category beat.
5. Cooking Control and Ability
If you’re looking at new stoves, you might be looking into what they can do for you in the kitchen as far as your cooking goes. Is it time to upgrade some of your meals? In the battle between a gas vs electric stove, this category has a pretty clear winner as well.
If you’re a serious chef, you might be looking to have a lot of control over your cooktop. Do you want to be able to change the temperature on a dime? A gas stove is for you.
As gas stoves use open flames, the changes that you make to their temperature levels happen pretty much instantaneously. Less gas input means less fire; it’s automatic. This allows you to have complete control over the food that you’re cooking.
There are also some neat tricks available with a gas stove that aren’t with an electric stove. You can flambe, which is a neat trick. You’re also able to char and toast your foods over the flames.
Overall, for the home chef, a gas stove is an easy choice.
So, Gas vs Electric Stove, Which is For You?
There are a lot of factors to consider when you’re trying to decide which type of stove is going to be best for you and your household. Are efficiency and safety most important? What about cost and flexibilityin cooking? A mix of those?
Appliances are pretty big expenses, so this is a big decision. Make it carefully. The choice between a gas vs electric stove is a tough one, but they’re both good options with pitfalls and benefits.
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