A stove is perhaps the most important appliance in your home because it is one of the things that is needed to cook your food, which is mandatory for survival. As similar to other products, stoves have come a long way, and today we have several choices. As such, we will often struggle with the electric vs gas stove battle.
In deciding which amongst the two is better, there may be multiple things going through your mind like price range, functionality, ease, and even the look of the stove. At the end of the day, the two types cook the food, and it is not like one produces better-tasting food (No that depends on your recipe and cooking skills mainly). The primary difference is the way they produce and introduce heat.
In order to help you understand and choose which would work best for you, we have prepared a detailed electric vs gas stoves comparison below.
Electric vs Gas Stoves: A Comparative Analysis
Gas Stoves
Gas stoves run on natural gas that is supplied through a pipe. This gas goes to the burner where there is a mixer tube that mixes in some air. The holes in the burner release this mixture and the ignition system lights this mixture, and then, the gas combusts. At this point, you can see the blue flame.
The gas supply can be controlled through knobs. The higher the gas supply, the stronger the flame and heat produced.
As for the ignition system, there are two kinds: pilot and electric. The pilot basically stays on and uses more gas while an electric ignition is a kind of spark that lights the burner when you turn it on.
Benefits
- Great Heating Capabilities: Gas stoves have been known to heat up fast, which means that the food cooks a bit faster. Similarly, the amount and temperature of heat produced are higher.
- Low Operating Costs: Gas stoves have low running costs, which make them ideal if you cook regularly multiple times a day. On average you can save 10 to 30 percent of operating costs in comparison with electric stoves. Provided you have a gas outlet in your kitchen and constant supply of gas, this stove is more economical.
- Easy to Determine if the Stove is Turned On or Off: Believe it or not, the visible flames are somewhat better for some people because they can see the flames and infer the level of heating. Hence, you know when it is on or off.
- Durable: The traditional cast iron stoves that run on gas have proven that they last longer. In fact, with proper maintenance like cleaning, you can use them for several years. Some models are also made of stainless steel, so they won’t rust and stain, or won’t break easily.
Drawbacks
- Difficult to Clean: If you compare this aspect with electric stoves, gas stoves can be a hassle to clean because you have to remove the grills and clean them separately. It can be time-consuming, especially if you spill something on it.
- Dangerous Open Flames: Gas stoves have open flames that can be somewhat dangerous since it can easily cause a fire as well as burn items and your skin.
Electric Stoves
Generally, electric stoves have metal coils under the stove surface, and the smooth top on some models will hide these coils. When you turn the stove on, the electricity travels to these coils and heats them up. The more electric flow, the hotter the coils get. The coils get orange indicating heating up.
Benefits
- Precise Heating: The coils heat up with just a push of a button. The heating is pretty precise because there is no clogging of ignition or pipes. The heat is distributed evenly across the stove since the coils supply equal amounts of heat. Additionally, if you want a specific temperature, it is easier to reach that precise temperature than in gas stoves.
- Versatile: Electric stoves are quite versatile because they are produced in different shapes and sizes. Plus, you can virtually install them anywhere there is an electric connection. Gas stoves have to be installed where the gas supply connection is located.
- Cheap and Easy to Install: Electric stoves have lower installation costs as compared with gas stoves since there are no hoses, regulators, etc. Also, in most cases, you would be able to install electric stoves by yourself.
- Easy to Clean: Electric stoves usually have a smooth flat surface that is a breeze to clean. All you need is a rag and kitchen cleaner, and with just one wipe you will be done cleaning the stove. This is amongst the top reasons why many people go for electric stoves.
- Stylish: This may not be a deciding factor as to which of the two stove types is better but if you are one for the looks, an electric stove is definitely the way to go. It comes in sleek designs with glass tops.
- Extra Storage: One great advantage of electric stoves over gas stoves is extra storage since many models feature additional storage below.
Drawbacks
- Higher Costs: Although the difference is not staggering, if we were to pick one that costs more when used, it would be the electric stove. Buying gas regularly is more affordable than the amount added to your electricity bill when using an electric stove.
- Less Reliable: If there is a blackout you cannot use your electric stove, and it will be useless, making them less reliable as compared with gas stoves.
Verdict
As you can see, both the gas and electric stoves have pros and cons that you need to consider. Electric stoves are clearly easy to work with and clean. Gas stoves, on the other hand, are less costly since they do not run high bills.
With that said, if you do not cook daily and want something stylish, an electric stove is the way to go. If you are more traditional and someone who constantly cooks, a gas stove would be a perfect choice. Nonetheless, for both, there are ample choices online and in retail stores.