About 50% of homes in the U.S. have gas service available, but gas ranges are a very popular luxury kitchen item, featured on home renovation shows and cooking programs.
You may wonder whether there is a major difference when it comes to gas vs electric stoves. It’s a major question in the real estate market, as people selling their homes make decisions on what updates to do. But to understand the choices, it’s important to understand what each oven and range type brings to the table.
Gas vs Electric Stoves Installation
A gas range or gas oven requires access to a natural gas line. You can make do with bottled gas in the form of propane, butane, or liquified petroleum, but the best option will be to work with gas line installation contractors if your home doesn’t have a natural gas line already.
Electric ranges are easier to install since most homes come pre-wired for electrical appliances, and it’s often as simple as either plugging the range in or getting a contractor to wire the range into the existing system.
Gas or Electric Stoves for Ease of Use
When it comes to ease of use, the two stove types come out largely the same. Electric ranges have a lot of different control mechanisms from twisting knobs to buttons, temperature dials, or touch keys. High-end models may even take voice controls.
Gas stoves have fairly straightforward operations, with a striker and a gas valve control. Turn on the gas, and press a button to get a spark to start things. But it can be tricky to diagnose an issue if the flame doesn’t come up right away.
Electric vs Gas Stoves Temperature Control
Gas stoves edge out electric when it comes to temperature control, consistently. This is the major reason why most commercial kitchens have gas ranges and gas ovens. You control the heat of your burner by directly controlling the fire.
Since electric stoves typically use superheated coils to heat up, it can take time to go from a boil to a simmer, and vice versa. Induction stoves make this easier, but also tend to be more expensive.
Gas vs Electric Stoves Environmental Considerations
This is another area where the differences are tricky. Electric stoves use more of the energy they take up to heat your food, but gas ranges and ovens use less energy than electric ranges.
There is a slight edge for electric stoves, in that gas ranges produce small amounts of carbon by-products. But the amount of air pollution your gas range produces may be less than the pollution from the power plant that comes with powering your electric stove.
Gas Stove or Electric Stove, Get the Best Option for Your Needs
When it comes to gas vs electric stoves, the best choice will depend on what your cooking needs are. If you want more versatility and better temperature control, the gas stove is your better option. But for easier installation and cleanup, electric is the choice.
Choose the stove that fits your needs and cook with confidence.
