What is the difference?

Between gas and electric stoves with regards to cooking? Is there any differences?
TIA

Message edited 1/4/2007 9:23:42 PM.

Re: What is the difference?

Gas cooktops, as noted earlier, often come with a price tag 50% higher than electric models. Of course, there are other things to consider when choosing between the two fuels, among them the operating cost. While a gas cooktop generally requires a greater initial investment, DOE estimates that a new gas cooktop costs $11 per year to operate. Compare this to $24 per year for electric, and you see that the purchase price is only part of the picture.

What about performance characteristics? Each fuel has its benefits and limitations. Gas cooktops have instant temperature response, but many gas elements have difficulty maintaining a low flame. Electric can provide low level heat for very delicate cooking, and it is also better suited for high capacity such as boiling large pots of water. However, electric coil elements provide rather uneven temperature distribution, and warped-bottom pans are not well suited to electric cooking.

Re: What is the difference?

Gas is better. You have more control over the temperature.

Re: What is the difference?

i got that from energyguide.com...

i am looking for a new gas stove, and its definitely not 50% more than electric - most models are about $50-$75 more for gas..

Re: What is the difference?

I've cooked with gas my whole life and the house that we just bought has electric. I definitely prefer gas because you can control the temperature.

Re: What is the difference?

Re: What is the difference?

Re: What is the difference?

Posted by wp


Thank you so much for the information. We currently have gas and we are redoing our kitchen. I like the look of the flat glass electric stoves better so I was debating to switch to electric but now I am not sure.

Re: What is the difference?

Re: What is the difference?

i mentioned to a coworker that i make eggs in the morning before breakfast. she said that she can't do that because she has electric and it takes a while for her stovetop to heat up to cook the eggs. she has electric. i have gas. I would only want gas wherever i go.

Re: What is the difference?

I grew up in upstate NY and had an electric stove and oven my entire life. I moved down to LI and had to get used to gas stove/oven. Personally, I prefer electric. I understand it's not the most even of heat, but I don't like flames in my kitchen when cooking, and having company over - with little kids. I prefer electric for the self cleaning methods that can be employed for the inside of the oven (I'm not sure if gas ovens allow this), I like that everything is automatic. Such as preheating the oven to 400 degrees, an electic oven will beep when it's preheated. I can lean over an electric stove without worrying my hair/shirt will catch on fire if I have to get a pan from above the stove. And for convience, I like that electric stoves offer storage under them for pots of pans b/c the broiler is part of the electric oven.

Re: What is the difference?

Message edited 1/5/2007 9:40:16 AM.

Re: What is the difference?

I never had a gas stove until I moved into this apt and now that I have it, I don't ever want an elec stove again. Cooking with gas is SO much better! you have absolute control over the temps. I love it

Re: What is the difference?

I prefer gas. I've also burned things on electric, b/c the heat doesn't immediately go away - so so if you put something on the burner when it's "off" it is still hot.

Re: What is the difference?

My SIL once told me that gas is better for cooking and electric is better for baking.

I have a gas stove *which I love* and an electric convection wall oven.

I really wanted the convection oven, and I had a hard time finding one in a gas model (not sure if they even make them).

Re: What is the difference?

Re: What is the difference?

From experience, we now have an electric stove. They do cook differently. I found it easier to cook with the gas stove because when the flame is off - everything stops cooking. With an electric stove, depending on the stove, the top stays hot so you have to remember to remove your food. I have burned a few things this way. Unfortunately we don't have a choice were we live - we can only use electric because there are no gas lines.

Re: What is the difference?

I've had both and we have gas (actually propane). I really have an easier time cooking with gas.

Re: What is the difference?

I'm sooo not used to cooking with electric. I burnt my sausage and peppers last night...

Re: What is the difference?

Gas is much better IMO. Easier to control the flame and you can cook even if there is a blackout. I also believe gas stoves last alot longer than electric stoves.

Re: What is the difference?

I hated having an electric stove. You have to wait forever for it to heat up and forever to change temperatures so if you want to change from a boil to a simmer, you actually have to remove the pot/pan from the stovetop until the temperature decreases. With gas, the flames go down immediately. Also because I am use to judging temperature by the flame level - high, medium and low just don't mean anything to me on an electric.

Plus I like to occassionally roast marshmellows on my stove (yes I know it's probably not healthy)

Re: What is the difference?

Re: What is the difference?