Kitchen Stove - Gas or Electric

[Danny]

Roxanne and I have always had electric.
We're getting ready for a remodel (God protect us) and the dear one has been getting hot for gas burners.

Thoughts? Preferences?

Also curious about how energy efficiency plays out between gas and electric in the kitchen.

 

[crazy connie]

Gas allows higher temps for searing usually and greater control of temps. When you shut it off, it is off not hot and still cooking for 5 or 10 minutes. If you are saute, stir fry or searing (think steak) folks then gas is best IMHO even though I have electric!

 

[travelover]

Gas also works in a power outage. The last time we faced this decision gas didn't offer a self cleaning oven, so we went electric. I'd consider gas next time.

 

[W2R]

It is easier to cook with gas. I think it would cost more to have the gas lines put in and to buy the gas stove.

Although I learned to cook with gas, since that time I have been "stuck" with electric enough that I can manage with either. Some people really have a hard time cooking with electric and really feel more comfortable with gas. They probably cook a lot more than I do.

I have absolutely no idea as to energy efficiency. Gas seems cheap in my area compared with electricity in recent years, but beyond that I do not have a clue.

If she wants gas, get her gas! Otherwise, unless she is a saint you may never hear the end of it. Gas stoves are a Big Deal to many women. Getting her an electric stove would be like getting a man a complete set of tools from the Dollar Store instead of letting him buy good tools.

 

[harley]

I've never met a professional chef (or even a talented amateur) who didn't prefer gas to electric. It gives you so much more control. I'm sure there are people who prefer electric, but there are also people who prefer propane grills. There's no accounting for taste.

 

[RonBoyd]

I've never met a professional chef (or even a talented amateur) who didn't prefer gas to electric. It gives you so much more control. I'm sure there are people who prefer electric, but there are also people who prefer propane grills. There's no accounting for taste.

And. even more interesting are the Microwave fans.

 

[samclem]

If your house is plumbed for gas, that's probably what I'd go with. Greater control is the biggest reason.

I was surprised to learn that an electric stove can boil water faster than a standard gas burner. But the newer gas ranges (even low end ones) have "super" burners designed to rapidy boil water.

Energy cost: I don't think this should be a major consideration--over the course of a year, the difference is probably less than 20 bucks for most families. Gas is usually cheaper than electricity per BTU.

It is nice to be able to heat water in case of a power outage.

 

[Danny]

We have gas for heat so line no problem.
hadn't thought about power outages and that Roxanne is not quite a saint yet

 

[FIREd]

We currently have electric (halogen) but if we remodel the kitchen I want gas too. More control and more heat! But my mom swears by induction cooking (which is considered electric). She now prefers it to gas. She can boil a pot of water in less than 2 minutes. So it produces plenty of heat (more than gas according to our own experiences) and allows for good control because the induction burners do not hold residual heat like halogen burners do (with induction, the pot gets warm but the burner remains cold to the touch). The only downside: you can only use pots made of materials that will sustain a magnetic field. So stainless steel and cast iron are in but aluminum and copper are out.

 

[My Dream]

I used to install comercial kitchen for a living and about 90% of ovens/stoves where natural gas with the exception of Bruce Power and Darlington Nuclear. Most chef's refused to cook with electric. We have electric but when this one goes, it's natural gass and convection baby....

 

[TromboneAl]

I would like a gas stove that is easy to clean.

 

[megacorp-firee]

We have gas stovetop and electric oven. Gas is best for general cooking, more control. My DD has one of those flat glasstop electric cooktops. I hate the thing, I have to constantly watch and move the pans on and off the cooktop when the heat gets too hot. I have no preference for the oven. Gas and electric all work the same to me.
If you are a cook, then you probably prefer gas cooktop. If you just want a cool looking kitchen, then you probably prefer electric. IMHO

 

[Danny]

I warming up to the idea of a Gas stove top and an Electric oven

 

[Texas Proud]

We currently have electric (halogen) but if we remodel the kitchen I want gas too. More control and more heat! But my mom swears by induction cooking (which is considered electric). She now prefers it to gas. She can boil a pot of water in less than 2 minutes. So it produces plenty of heat (more than gas according to our own experiences) and allows for good control because the induction burners do not hold residual heat like halogen burners do (with induction, the pot gets warm but the burner remains cold to the touch). The only downside: you can only use pots made of materials that will sustain a magnetic field. So stainless steel and cast iron are in but aluminum and copper are out.

I am assuming halogen are the glass stove tops... if so, that is what we have... in the old house, we had gas...

I prefer gas for the reasons the others have mentioned... but propane can be good also

 

[Westernskies]

...and the dear one has been getting hot for gas burners.

There is your answer.

 

[WhoDaresWins]

I've had both gas and electric. I vastly prefer gas. In fact, I feel so strongly about it that I wouldn't buy a house that did not have a gas range or could not have one installed.

 

[Achiever51]

I would like a gas stove that is easy to clean.

Newer gas cook tops have sealed burners which are much easier to clean than the old style ones. Many have one higher BTU burner to boil water quicker along with "true" simmer settings for longer cooking at lower temperatures.

Combine a gas cooktop with an electric oven (preferably with convection) and as they say...Now you're cooking!

 

[Zathras]

I've always found the 'more control' point kind of funny.
You turn it on, you get heat, you remove the pan, you have no heat, and both have dials to increase or decrease the heat.
That said, I am a mac&cheese kind of guy, so the level of control just probably doesn't matter to me
We have electric now (flat top, easy to clean) and will go induction with my next stove.
My understanding is gas is more energy efficient than standard electric, with induction being better than both and the microwave being better yet.

 

[FIREd]

I am assuming halogen are the glass stove tops...

Glass stove tops can be halogen or induction. At first glance, they are hard to tell apart. But, unlike an halogen burner, an induction burner would remain cool to the touch (no more burnt on spills).

 

[freebird5825]

I have gas.

 

[Westernskies]

I have gas.

bad burrito?

 

[Rambler]

I've had both gas and electric. I vastly prefer gas. In fact, I feel so strongly about it that I wouldn't buy a house that did not have a gas range or could not have one installed.

Ditto. However, when we had our home built, we had it plumbed for gas and wired for electric, just in case some future new owner had different preferences. The home is still pretty new (completed in 2005) so no remodels in sight, but would go with gas again without even thinking about it.

R

 

[Orchidflower]

Have glass top top-of-the-line electric stove and separate oven, but would have taken a gas stove if I could have. I find it so much easier to regulate the fire under the cast iron with gas compared to electricity.

 

[Zero]

Here's a nice gas range that I've been looking at. Gas lets you get the heat all the way up the side of the skillet or pan, makes for nice stir frying also. Get a little flambe action at the last minute to add that smokey/charred taste to a beef dish.

 

[Orchidflower]

We have a new fancy schmantzy oven and separate electric glass top stove that cost way too much. Me? I'd rather have an old gas stove where I can see the flame underneath my #12 Griswold cast iron skillet instead of having to guess if there's enough electricity under there. Go figure?