Gas Vs. Electric Range Cookers: Which range cooker is best?

Cooking is an essential part of our daily routine, and having a range cooker that suits your needs can make all the difference in the quality of your cooking experience. Gas and electric are the two most popular range cooker options. Both types have their advantages and disadvantages, and it can be challenging to decide which one is the best fit for your needs. In this blog post, we will examine the gas vs electric range cookers debate, examining the differences in safety considerations, energy efficiency, environmental impact, noise levels, cost, cooking performance, maintenance requirements, and cooking utensils. By the end of this post, you will better understand the pros and cons of each type of range cooker and be better equipped to make an informed decision.

 

Safety Considerations

Both options of ranges have safety considerations to think about when purchasing, as do all household appliances. The risks discussed below must be considered for the safety of yourselves, the people around you and your home.

Gas range cookers can leak gas and cause carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be harmful to you and your home if your range has been installed incorrectly or hasn’t been maintained with the proper care over time. Both are well-known health risks that take effect over time, creating lifelong problems and risking your home’s welfare. We would suggest our readers install a carbon monoxide detector near your gas range cooker to ensure you are aware as soon as possible if there is ever an issue.

Electric range cookers’ main issue of being a fire hazard, especially when their heating elements are left on for far too long or any flammable items are placed on top of them. So, during and after cooking, it is vital to be extra careful around the cooker area. In addition, we recommend unplugging your electric range cooker when not in use.

 

 

Energy Efficiency

Both ranges will be using up energy in your home; that is inevitable no matter what. However, each range cooker has elements to them that make them either more energy efficient or less.

Gas range cookers are more energy efficient in the long run because they heat up and cool down much faster than other types of range cookers, which use up considerably less energy throughout their operation.

Electric range cookers are less energy efficient than gas range cookers as they need that extra time before the cooking process and afterwards to heat up to be able to start using it. However, over the years, they have become a lot more energy efficient in recent years than they used to be as the rise and popularity of induction ranges have come about.

 

Environmental Impact

Gas range cookers are very well known for the carbon emissions they let off while being used, which massively affects the air quality in your home every day it is being used, as well as a significant impact on the world’s climate and letting off formaldehyde. In addition, when being used, the heat from gas ranges creates nitrogen and oxygen, which, when mixed, create nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide, which are known to irritate a person’s lungs when inhaled over a long period of time and equally damage the environment. So, if you are deciding on a gas range, it is advised to air out your kitchen during and after cooking.

Electric range cookers can be powered and operated by renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, making them much more environmentally and eco-friendly. Electric ranges are also much better for your health as they do not release the same harmful gases and emissions as a gas range would.

 

 

Noise Levels

When turned on and used, gas range cookers make this loud and continuous hissing/sizzling sound to alert you that gas is being passed through to heat your range. However, this sound, especially in an open-plan kitchen, can be considerably annoying or distracting to some people, most likely when cooking for a long duration of time.

Electric range cookers are generally quieter while being operated, you may hear the odd sound of the fan inside your electric range if you are in the same room, but overall, they cause less of an annoyance than range cookers would.

 

 

Cost (upfront and to run)

Both range cookers equally will have their own features that make them cost either considerably more or less.

Gas range cookers are often cheaper to run (depending on the amount of usage), but they will likely require a larger cost/investment upfront due to the installation and the need for a gas line fitting if needed.

Electric range cookers are usually much cheaper as an upfront purchase cost; however, they are sometimes more expensive to run and operate over time. For example, the price of operating electrical appliances in the UK is almost three times the cost of running a gas appliance, making your monthly costs of owning an electric range cooker almost £50 more expensive.

 

 

Cooking Performance

Gas range cookers allow you to create more precise temperature controls when cooking food and are better suited for cooking tasks such as stir-frying and searing your meals. Hob burners on a gas cooktop ensure you have precise control over the flame level; you can even grill and char foods directly on top of your burner hobs! If you find a meal on your hob is cooking too fast or slow, you have the ability to quickly adjust the open flame to your desired heat.

Electric range cookers are better known for cooking tasks such as baking and slow cooking. Electric stovetops feature dual or triple electric elements with various rings in different sizes to allow you to cook for your desired pots and pans.

 

Maintenance Requirements

Gas and electric range cookers will need a lot of care and maintenance for them to work and keep working efficiently for an extended period.

Gas range cookers need more cleaning from a maintenance point of view as well as needed a lot more inspections than an electric range cooker would need (which adds to the cost factor of choosing your range!); gas ranges need their gas lines and burners to be checked quite often compared to other ranges to ensure the safety of yourself and your home.

Electric range cookers do not need as many inspections as they are generally safer and will not have to risk of producing harmful emissions in your home. However, they are more likely to need replacements of their heating elements and fuses over time to keep the range working correctly and safely.

 

 

Cooking Utensils

Gas range cookers require kitchen utensils that adhere to the conduction of their heat, such as stainless steel or cast iron. These materials are necessary for the advantage of quick cooking on a gas cooker to exist, as other materials are not going to conduct that heat to cook your food correctly and precisely.

Electric range cookers work much better with cookware with flat-bottomed surfaces made of glass or ceramic. Glass and ceramic are naturally conducive and robust, ensuring to withstand very high temperatures without damaging or warping them while cooking for long periods of time.

 

Cleaning

Gas range cookers usually need more time cleaning them and are generally harder to clean as they have raised hob burners and pan supports, tend to collect much more food residue and dust and are more prone to spillages. To give your gas range cooktop a good clean, you have to remove all the raised hobs to get right in all the nooks and crevasses.

Electric range cookers are a lot easier to clean and keep maintained as they have a flat, smooth surface so that dust, food residue and any spillages aren’t able to get in anywhere, making it a lot easier to clean, also making your cooking experience much better and more efficient. This would be especially useful for bigger-sized families and busier or ‘messier’ cooks who need to clean up quickly.

 

 

Aesthetics

More often than not, gas range cookers come in more traditional, classic looks, perfect for older, traditional country-styled homes. So many different brands supply gas range cookers in a range of colours, all the way from unique, bold colours to dark monochrome colours that would suit all types and aesthetics of kitchens and homes.

Electric range cookers are more known for being available in clean, sleek modern designs that usually come in greyscale or monochrome colour pallets. However, they sometimes come in that old, retro style, giving you those extra options to jazz up your kitchen space and make it your own.

 

 

Resale Value

Gas range cookers are generally seen as a more desirable feature to buyers when purchasing a house, increasing the house’s resale value. Gas range cookers are also known to last around 10-15 years, so one of these in a home you are selling is a bargain to people as they are likely to last a long time after buying your house.

Electric range cookers, as nice as they are in homes, are more common in homes; therefore don’t add much more resale value to a house when people are looking to buy. Electric range cookers are expected to last around 13 years with good care taken of them, so again, like gas range cookers, they are a good bargain when buying a house.

 

 

Conclusion 

There is no correct answer to the debate of which type of range cooker is ‘better’ or ‘more worth it’ as people have different individual needs that they want when cooking in or designing their homes.

The final decision on which range cooker is better for you depends entirely on how smooth running and easy you want your cooking experience to be, your overall budget, both upfront and in the long run, and the aesthetic of your home and kitchen.

If you prefer the look of a modern-style kitchen, an electric range cooker is the way to go. However, if you want that more classic and traditional look to your kitchen, a gas range cooker is a great option, with a few selections of an electric range.

If you’re looking for a more logical, money-saving, and efficient side when buying your range rather than aesthetics, both range cookers have their strengths and weaknesses. If you’re willing to spend more upfront and less overtime, then an electric range cooker is ideal; however, gas is better if you have the money upfront and would rather spend less to run it.