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What Are the Advantages of Using a Gas Stove Vs. Electric?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

There's a reason restaurants use gas stoves almost exclusively: there are a number of advantages to using a gas range as opposed to an electric range. Although home cooks don't require quite the same performance that a professional chef needs from a stove, they may find that gas stoves are easier to work with and that they produce more dependable results than their electric counterparts. There are an assortment of reasons to opt for gas over electric.

For people concerned about the bottom line, it tends to be cheaper to operate a gas stove, depending on the type of gas used to fuel it and the prevailing prices for gas. Gas stoves tend to be a bit more expensive to buy and install, but people may feel that this is worth it when viewing costs in the long term.

Gas stoves are usually cheaper to operate than electric stoves.
Gas stoves are usually cheaper to operate than electric stoves.

A gas stove offers immensely more control over what is going on at the stove top. When temperature adjustments are made with a gas stove, the stove changes immediately, rather than taking time to heat up or cool off, as is the case with an electric range. For finicky dishes, this level of control can be critical. It's also easy to gauge how much heat a pot or pan is getting by looking at the flame, allowing for more accuracy when working with gas. In addition, electric stoves require specific glass top stove cookware while you can almost use any cookware for gas stoves.

Advantages of gas stoves include the ability to rapidly control temperatures and to keep usage costs low.
Advantages of gas stoves include the ability to rapidly control temperatures and to keep usage costs low.

Gas stoves also tend to contribute less to ambient temperatures in the kitchen. After a day of slogging over the stove, the kitchen should not be significantly warmer as a result of lost heat from the stove, a common problem with electric stoves. Gas stoves also work when the power is out, a definite plus for people in regions with unreliable power supplies, and the stove top tends to be cooler than that of an electric stove, reducing the risk of burns.

Gas stoves can be operated without electricity, which is particularly beneficial for those living in areas where the power supply is unreliable.
Gas stoves can be operated without electricity, which is particularly beneficial for those living in areas where the power supply is unreliable.

Historically, gas ovens have been criticized as being slightly less accurate and harder to handle than electric ovens. However, modern gas stoves offer ovens with excellent performance on par with that of an electric oven if not better, and they are often more suitable for tasks like broiling and baking bread. A gas stove/oven combination can take up less space than a separate range and oven.

Modern gas stoves offer heat control on par with electric stoves.
Modern gas stoves offer heat control on par with electric stoves.

People who want to make the switch from an electric to a gas stove should consider switching to gas for their hot water heaters and their heating systems. As long as one is going to go to the expense of installing a gas line, it pays to convert several systems at once. Switching to gas for heating can also save a significant amount of money.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a HomeQuestionsAnswered researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a HomeQuestionsAnswered researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon278621

Does anyone know if it is expensive to switch out a gas wall oven and cook top for electric ones?

anon152883

If cooking with cast iron is your thing (like mine) only gas will do. Nothing tastes better and is healthier than cast iron. Look it up, iron is a huge problem for ladies when you don't get enough of it, cast iron will fill the void. Look it up.

FootballKing

One thing to consider when evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of gas and electric stoves is the repair cost that one might face in the event of an appliance failure. Most people realize that appliance repair can be very costly and to have to call a service technician can take quite the bite out of a monthly budget.

For this reason one my consider that another advantage to purchasing an selecting a gas range as your primary means of cooking is that the parts in a gas stove are much less expensive. While working with gas can be very dangerous, electricity can be as well and you should never try to repair these appliances by yourself. There are trained professionals that have been through schooling to ensure that proper safety precautions are taken care of.

JoseJames

Even though I am not a professional kitchen worker nor have I ever worked in a commercial kitchen, I think I can still appreciate the use of a gas stove over the use of an electric one.

When I cook complicated dishes at home, especially ones that involve specialty candy cooking, then the flexibility that a gas range can have is crucial. While I cannot afford to install a new gas stove at home right now, I plan to do so as soon as the budget will allow for the expensive remodeling project that will be required for the switch. People who are looking at purchasing a new home should consider what type of energy service connectivity is available in the kitchen.

ronburg44

To me, the difference is so minimal that I can't really say if I have a preference between the use of a gas stove or electric stove. While some more picky home cooking types might make a stink over what stove they have available, I am happy with whatever cooks my food.

Since the most complicated cooking I do is Top Ramen dehydrated noodles or macaroni and cheese, then how the food is cooked doesn't really matter to me at all. The bachelor style of cooking that makes up my diet is simple and I honestly keep stove top cooking a minimum as it can be very messy to pick up and what bachelor likes messes in the kitchen?

thumbtack

As a professional chef I can tell you that it is vital to cook on top of a gas stove to ensure that you are able to control the temperature of the range exactly how you need to. Because of these differences in being able to change temperature rapidly, a gas stove is what you will find in most commercial kitchens. Even in my own home I demand that a gas stove be installed because of the ease of use that it provides when cooking.

Even if you are not a professional chef that works in a full scale commercial kitchen, you can appreciate a gas stove for its safety and efficiency.

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    • Gas stoves are usually cheaper to operate than electric stoves.
      By: Wollwerth Imagery
      Gas stoves are usually cheaper to operate than electric stoves.
    • Advantages of gas stoves include the ability to rapidly control temperatures and to keep usage costs low.
      By: corepics
      Advantages of gas stoves include the ability to rapidly control temperatures and to keep usage costs low.
    • Gas stoves can be operated without electricity, which is particularly beneficial for those living in areas where the power supply is unreliable.
      By: jokerpro
      Gas stoves can be operated without electricity, which is particularly beneficial for those living in areas where the power supply is unreliable.
    • Modern gas stoves offer heat control on par with electric stoves.
      By: creativenature.nl
      Modern gas stoves offer heat control on par with electric stoves.
    • Electric stoves heat up and cool off at a more gradual rate.
      By: ArenaCreative
      Electric stoves heat up and cool off at a more gradual rate.
    • Gas is often better suited than electricity for tasks like broiling and baking bread.
      By: Mario Lopes
      Gas is often better suited than electricity for tasks like broiling and baking bread.