Gas vs Electric...Your preference?

[coltle6920]

First off I'm not talking about cars. My question is mainly about stovetop cooking but I'm sure it will turn into other subjects.

Had gas top stoves growing up and never questioned it. Last three homes I lived in had electric stoves and again never questioned it. It wasn't until I tried to cook a large aluminum pot of sauce for spaghetti that I realized an electric stove wasn't the way to go. It definitely takes longer.

My current home is 33yrs old with an electric stove. I'm guessing that things have improved over the years. I could use a new stove but wonder if it would be better to convert to gas or just suck it up and stick with electric models.

Your thoughts or experience.

 

[Farmer17]

I think gas will always cook faster. The gourmet chefs claim gas is better but the best cook that I know cooks on electric.

 

[Rpg]

A good cook can overcome poor tools.

Electric in its various manifestations is a poor substitute for gas.

 

[Goldstar225]

My preference is to cook with gas but I'm stuck with electric. All electric home and it would be cost prohibitive to run lines for propane (natural gas isn't available).

 

[Rustyt1953]

We have gas.

 

[Beecherkid]

I find that I have better control of the cooking temperature when using a gas stove. I notice that the most when using a pressure cooker.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Electric all the way. I don't like gas in my house.

 

[VaTom]

Gas. Used electric for 30 years. Gas is easier to control temperatures when cooking.

 

[curtmini14]

also electric all the way one utility bill and one tax.

 

[biku324]

Electric is safer; it never leaks and won't explode.

 

[ralph7]

Gas was one of the reasons I bought this house.
I think a lot of those that state safety reasons are trying to reconcile an inferior cooking source they are stuck with.
How many houses blow up because of gas, nowadays?

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have 44 years of apartment and house maintenance experience. I have worked in shacks and million dollar homes.

CONS of gas:

It less expensive to maintain equal quality electric appliances!

As property grows older, gas line leaks appear out of nowhere and in walls that were never intended to be serviced!

You have to screw up more to burn yourself on electric.

Lastly; older gas ovens and furnaces are harder to to adjust and keep adjusted to correct temperature range.

More expensive building costs.

PROS of gas:
Faster response to heat increase.

Warmer feel.

Less expensive energy costs!

What do I have in my condo? Gas heat, electric A/C and Cooking.

Ivan

 

[Mule Packer]

When it comes to cooking, personally, I think gas can't be beat. It's so much easier to regulate. When I'm cooking up a big pot of soup or stew, I can put it on the back burner and turn it down to simmer and let it go for the next hour or two with no worries about burning or scorching.

Also, (and this is a BIG plus for me living in an area where a big storm can knock out power for days at a time) you can still cook with your gas stove when the power goes out. You just can't use the electric starter...you have to use a match to light the stove's burners. Also, you still have hot water. During times when the power goes, our wood stove keeps the house warm, we can still cook, and we can still take hot showers. Pretty tough to do when the home is all electric.

Of course, that's just my view from the saddle.

 

[snubbyfan]

I prefer cooking on gas over electric. Just seems kinda odd cooking with cast iron or a hammered steel wok on an electric stove.
Anyway though, we have electric out here. Works fine for us but ya just gotta learn how to work it. Takes longer to preheat a pan and longer to get down to simmer.
What I really prefer is cooking meat on charcoal.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

If you live in an all electric house and want to have gas installed for heat or cooking, you can always have propane installed! You will most likely regret it from the first bill to the last day you live there, but you can do that.

Ivan

 

[snubbyfan]

When it comes to cooking, personally, I think gas can't be beat. It's so much easier to regulate. When I'm cooking up a big pot of soup or stew, I can put it on the back burner and turn it down to simmer, and let it go for the next hour or two with no worries about burning or scorching.

Also, (and this is a BIG plus for me living in an area where a big storm can knock out power for days at a time) you can still cook with your gas stove when the power goes out. You just can't use the electric starter...you have to use a match to light the stove's burners. Also, you still have hot water. During times when the power goes, our wood stove keeps the house warm, we can still cook, and we can still take hot showers. Pretty tough to do when the home is all electric.

Of course, that's just my view from the saddle.

If we had the money, our house would've been converted to gas long ago with a big propane tank in the back yard for those very reasons.
Out here in a small town in the mountains of West Virginia, we've lost power for over a week before.

 

[johngalt]

Newer electric stoves are worse than older ones in one aspect. They don't maintain a constant temperature. Instead, they run at full power but cycle on and off. At low heat the burner is mostly off. At high it is mostly or always on. A really stupid design.

 

[bgrafsr]

Our new home had electric heat and water heater. There was no AC at all.
I had the electric base board heaters removed and since we had natural gas, I had a new furnace, AC, and all related duct work installed. I kept the electric water heater and stove was gas also, which we prefer.

 

[snubbyfan]

Newer electric stoves are worse than older ones in one aspect. They don't maintain a constant temperature. Instead, they run at full power but cycle on and off. At low heat the burner is mostly off. At high it is mostly or always on. A really stupid design.

Fortunately our stove's old and obsolete. The oil's gotta be at a constant temperature for cookin' up a batch of fry bread.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Good range reports.