Gas VS Electric: Which Range Is Right For You?

In the market for a new range and trying to decide which type to go with? AppliancePartsPros.com is here to help. Today, we’re taking some of the guesswork out of picking between gas-powered and electric stoves, and helping you determine which style of range is right for you! Let’s get started.

Gas or Electric: Which Works Best For You?

While gas-powered ovens and electric ovens each have their own pros and cons, in an overall match between the two, there’s no clear winner. Picking the right fuel source ultimately comes down to deciding which will serve you and your family best in your kitchen.

With that in mind, let’s have a look at some key factors that might help you decide which type of oven you want to buy.

Cost

The big one, right? When looking at cost, you’ll want to consider the upfront cost of the appliance, itself, and the ongoing cost of running it:

• When it comes to the initial cost, electric ovens have a clear advantage over their gas-powered counterparts. They are typically more affordable and can cost up to 50% less than gas ovens.

• Once you get that range installed, however, gas is typically significantly cheaper. This depends on the cost of utilities where you live, of course, so it’s important to research that before you buy. If natural gas or propane are more expensive than electricity in your area, or if you have a renewable energy source like solar on your property, an electric range may still be cheaper.

One more thing to consider with cost: how much do you plan on using your range? If your family dines out more than they eat in, it may still be cheaper, in the long run, to opt for an electrical range even if electricity is more expensive than natural gas.

Initial Install

Have a look at what hookups are already available in your kitchen. Electric ranges require a 220V four-prong outlet to function properly. Gas-powered ranges have slightly lower electrical requirements (usually around 110V) but require a gas hookup.

If your kitchen is equipped for one of these options and not the other, the cost of updating it could be a significant expense – particularly if you’re adding a natural gas hookup.

As far as the actual installation process goes, if you aren’t familiar with handling gas hookups, you will need the assistance of a professional technician to help with installing a gas-powered range.

Safety

Both gas and electric ranges are safe for everyday use, but a gas-powered range’s open flames and natural gas connections do pose a greater safety risk.

• When choosing a gas-powered range, it’s important to ensure that your kitchen has proper ventilation and to remain vigilant about potential gas leaks. Additionally, make sure you have a functioning carbon monoxide detector installed for added safety.

• You should never leave children unattended around ranges, but this is especially true of gas-powered ranges because of their potential to create open flames.

• When using a gas-powered range, you’ll want to make extra sure you aren’t wearing any flowy fabric that could get in the way of the burners.

• If you or someone in your home has asthma, the nitrogen dioxide emitted by a gas range can potentially exacerbate symptoms. According to the EPA, nitrogen dioxide can also potentially contribute to the development of asthma in those who do not suffer from it. 

Speed

Traditionally, this is where gas-powered ovens win out. Most gas-powered ovens and cooktops come to temperature much faster than their electric counterparts because open flames provide instant heat. You can also cut the heat off faster, potentially saving a meal from burning.

Electric ranges offer a steady heat output once they reach the desired temperature, although it may take longer to reach it, whether you’re increasing or decreasing the heat. However, there is an exception to this – if you’re willing to invest in a pricier option. Some of the newer and high-end electric ovens can match and even exceed the heating speeds of gas ovens.

Oven Cooking

When compared to a standard gas-powered oven, electric ovens are better at producing consistent temperatures, resulting in fewer hot spots and more standard cook times. Bakes and roasts cook more evenly in an electric oven, and, perhaps surprisingly, electric ranges are generally better at broiling, too, again, because they brown more evenly.

That all said, depending on how much you’re willing to pay for top-of-the-line appliances with the newest features, some newer gas-powered ranges can absolutely keep up with their electric counterparts.

Stovetop Cooking

The heat produced by a gas-powered cooktop may be less precise in the long run than its electrical counterpart, but it’s also more responsive. Gas cooktops heat more quickly than electric ones, and you can cut that heat just as fast with the turn of a knob. This makes gas-powered stoves ideal for foods that cook up fast, like eggs, or that can scorch easily, like tempered egg mixtures.

Clean Up

When it comes to cleaning the oven, gas and electric are pretty evenly matched. While electric ranges do typically come with high heat self-cleaning functions, these are best used sparingly, as they can actually damage your range’s internal components.

For cooktop clean-up, electric ranges win out. To clean a gas cooktop, you typically have grates and burner heads to disassemble and take care not to damage. On the other hand, electric ranges have fewer small components, nooks, and crannies to deal with. This is especially true of glass top ranges, in particular.

Durability and Maintenance

Most manufacturers estimate that their ranges have a 13 to 15 year lifespan. Gas-powered options last marginally longer than their electric counterparts, typically, outliving them by two to five years. With careful use, a proper cleaning schedule, and regular maintenance, you’ll be able to prolong that lifespan to potentially 20 years or more!

Now, if something does go wrong, you may find that electric range components are slightly more expensive than gas range components. They are generally easier to access and replace, though, as you don’t need to worry about shutting off the gas fuel source.

Other Considerations

Here are a few other things to consider while you decide which type of range you want:

• Electric ranges produce “dry” heat, which is better for browning and crisping. The moisture released into the air by a gas-powered oven, on the other hand, helps to keep baked goods moist.

• Gas-powered ranges can function in a power outage. You will need a safe way to ignite the gas, as the ignitor will not work without electricity, but you’ll still be able to cook if you lose electricity.

• The burners on a gas-powered cooktop can be used to get a good, quick char on things like peppers and tomatoes before you add them to something else.

• Because gas-powered cooktops are more popular with chefs, they have more of a “foodie” connotation.

• According to research from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, electric ranges are more efficient at heating food compared to gas-powered ones. This translates to better energy efficiency, which could result in cost savings depending on your local electricity and natural gas or propane rates.
• If you’re into cast iron cookware, seasoning them is easier on a gas cooktop.

Getting The Best Of Both Worlds

Are you an adventurous home cook eager to have access to both gas and electric? You do have some options!

• Get a portable stove. Portable stoves are available in a variety of options: propane, butane, electric, and induction, to name a few. They’re completely affordable except for portable induction stoves, which can get quite pricey. Just be sure to follow all safety instructions when using portable stovetops, and never operate a stove indoors that is intended for outdoor use.
• A toaster oven can potentially replace an electric oven provided you aren’t looking to cook anything too big. A toaster oven’s smaller size makes it restrictive if you need to bake a lot of things at once or one very large item.
• Invest in a dual-fuel range. Dual-fuel ranges, which have electric ovens and gas cooktops, are considerably more expensive than any other range option, but if it’s important that you have access to both gas and electric, this is a great option.

The Other Option: Induction Ranges

If you’ve looked at the reviews, you may be interested in an induction range. These highly-rated cooktops outperform traditional gas and electric ranges in safety, environmental friendliness, and cooking speed.

How do they work? Induction involves passing current through a copper wire under the cooktop. This generates a magnetic current in the special pan you’ve placed on the cooktop, heating the pan itself. The result is much faster cooking with greatly reduced risk of burns because the cooktop surface will only get hot where it is in contact with an appropriate pan.

Induction ovens are, essentially, high-end electrical ovens, possessing all of the pros of a standard electrical oven, usually with some added high-tech features.

Before you make the leap to induction, however, keep the following in mind:

• You’ll need cookware designed to be used on an induction cooktop, and those pots and pans can get very pricy.

• The range itself is likely going to be significantly more expensive than a standard electric option.

• Induction cooking doesn’t feel the same as gas or electric cooking, and it may take some practice to get right.

• The electromagnetic field generated by the cooktop can interfere with other electronics – notably digital thermometers.

Wrapping Up

Where ovens are concerned, gas and electric power are largely personal choices, but we hope this guide has helped you figure out exactly which choice is the right one for you and your family. Have some more questions about ranges not answered by this guide? Why not check out our blog for more great guides or head over to our main site and consult one of our experts for help? AppliancePartsPros.com is here to help with all of your DIY appliance needs!