Hot Cooking Ranges: Gas vs. Electric Stoves – Which One is Better?

Looking on buying a new stove this year? Debating between a gas and electric stove can be tricky – here’s the breakdown on which stove option is best for you!

Photo: Nick Olsen

Electric stoves look sleek and modern and are the perfect option for homeowners that are on-the-go and don’t have much time for cleaning. Just wipe and go – how simple is that! You may be debating on purchasing a new stove and deciding if perhaps a gas stove would be better for your home. Restaurants use them so they must be amazing, right?

We’ve highlighted some of the advantages and disadvantages of each to help you choose which stove type is best for you:

Electric Stoves

These frequently win over buyers for being cheaper since they are less costly to manufacture and a lot easier to install. They are simple to operate, take up much less kitchen space and appear fashionably sleek and trendy. The part I LOVE about electric stoves is that they have a flat glass top which is extremely easy to clean and can be used as counter space when not in use.

Photo: HGTV

The cons of choosing an electric stove is that food tends to cook less evenly and more slowly than on their gas counterparts. Glass tops can shatter, scratch or stain, and be a bad choice for bakers, as sugar spills are pretty much impossible to clean up. If you reside in a location that experiences frequent power outages, these can be a poor selection because the stove will be rendered unusable without electricity.

Gas Stoves

People who do a lot of food preparation often prefer these, as they allow items to be heated quickly and in a more uniform manner (because flames reach the pan along the sides and bottom). They enable you to visually adjust the heat source, so you don’t have to be concerned with whether it’s off, on or on the proper setting. They can be less expensive to operate, especially if you already employ natural gas in your home. You can rest food on the range post-flame turn off, as the area cools quickly.

Photo: Domaine Home

The main drawback to these products is that they are more pricey and harder to install if your kitchen is not set up for them. In addition, they have the potential to be dangerous if they are left burning (even if a flame doesn’t ignite immediately, gas is still being released into the atmosphere, but without a visual indication).

Whichever equipment you decide on, be sure to do your research and give it some thought. One size does not fit all, but it’s relatively simple to determine which one will be right for you.