Electric vs Gas Stove: Which Should You Choose for Your Kitchen Remodel?

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electric vs gas stove

If you’re in the midst of a kitchen remodel, you may be thinking about replacing your stove. If you’ve had your stove for 13 years or more, it’s probably time to get a new one.

If you’re considering replacing your stove, there’s an age-old dispute to resolve between electric vs gas stove. It’s a question that involves several others. Which one is better for your home? What does a better job at cooking?

If you’re wondering about questions like these and just want some answers, then look no further! In this article, we’ll discuss the differences between these two stoves and their pros and cons. That way, you should have a clear idea of what’s best for your home. Read on to learn more!

Electric vs Gas Stoves

When people think about getting gas or electric stoves, they often wonder what exactly is the difference. Sure, one may run off of gas power and the other electric, but what does that mean in practice?

Gas stoves are an older model of stove that runs on gas-powered heat and flames. Their flame heating options make gas stoves versatile, offering a range of techniques for aspiring cooks to try. These stoves boast a certain precision as well that their electric counterparts don’t usually achieve.

Electric stoves began competing with gas stoves nearly 100 years ago. Their overall efficiency comes from their electricity-based power, which can heat food far more rapidly than gas stoves.

Pros and Cons of a Gas Stove

We’ve briefly touched on what exactly a gas stove is. We’ll break down the specific factors you should consider before you buy a gas stove.

Pro: Versatility

As we said in the section above, gas stoves offer several options that create more intricate cooking opportunities. For instance, it would be much easier to cook a personal pizza from scratch using a flame-powered gas stove.

Pro: Affordability

In many cases, gas stoves are easier on the budget than electric stoves. The average price range of a gas stove usually starts around $460 and ends near $2300. Electric stoves, however, can cost up to $2800.

This means that the most expensive gas stoves potentially save $500 or more compared to their electric counterparts. Operating costs also tend to be cheaper, though these costs vary from state to state.

Pro: Greater Temperature Precision

Gas stoves respond almost immediately to any change you make in the temperature settings. This responsiveness makes them perfect for adept cooking.

Electric stoves, however, are slower in this regard. It takes longer for these stoves to respond to temperature changes, making them less precise.

Cons: Cleaning and Gas Lines

The primary trouble with gas stoves is that they require scrupulous cleaning. This cleaning is time-consuming and frustrating, particularly for households that cook frequently.

The other problem with gas stoves is that they run on natural gas, which houses can only access through an in-ground line. This isn’t a problem for most neighborhoods. However, if you live in a more remote area, getting an in-ground line is tedious.

Pros and Cons of an Electric Stove

We’ve discussed the several advantages and disadvantages of a gas stove. While gas stoves do have some advantages over electric stoves, don’t rule these out for your luxury kitchen remodel!

Pro: Energy Efficiency

An electric stove is virtually always more energy efficient than a gas stove. Natural gas is a fossil fuel, which most industries encourage you to move away from. Electric stoves provide you an efficient alternative to that natural gas power.

Beyond providing an alternative to natural gas, electricity also works better than natural gas. Approximately 74% of an electric stove’s energy transfers to your cooking food, while only about 40% of a gas stove’s energy transfers to your food.

Pro: Safer for Home

For all the fancy techniques that gas stoves may offer, there is always a danger that comes with it. While gas stoves cover their flames with an iron grate, any use of open flames risks a fire spreading.

Gas lines also bring a potential risk, as these lines can leak. Gas leaks in the home can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, which can become fatal.

While electric stoves are not fireproof, they are far safer than gas stoves in this regard. Because they do not use any open flames, electric stoves avoid the risk of flammable objects getting too close and catching fire.

Moreover, since electric stoves don’t use gas lines, they avoid the threat of gas leaks.

Pro: Easy to Clean

When we say the electric stove is easier to clean than its gas competitors, there’s some nuance required. If you have an old-school electric stove with grate burners on it, then these are tricky to clean as well.

However, many more modern electric stoves escape this difficulty through either a smooth glass or ceramic stovetop. These stoves label their burners with clearly marked circles that concentrate the electricity into the pot.

Cons: Price and Precision

As we’ve discussed with gas stoves, electric burners have some downsides. Since they don’t have any open flames, they lose some versatility and precision that make gas stoves so appealing to many.

Additionally, gas is cheaper than electricity. As such, gas stoves do save more money than electric stoves. If you are on a tighter budget, it may be worth your while to stick with a gas-powered option.

Important Considerations 

Selecting between electric and gas stoves can be a challenging task. It would help to know the essential considerations to make a sound decision. Take a look at the following things to consider when choosing between these two stove options: 

  • Source

Electric gas stoves usually source power from coal-generated energy sources. If you’re using solar panels, you can power your electric stove using natural or renewable energy. This saves you money from high energy bills and helps protect the environment from emissions.

Natural gas can power gas stoves. Thankfully, natural gas in Georgia is deregulated. That means consumers can shop for a lower price on their natural gas. That helps with budgeting, especially if you prefer natural gas appliances.

  • Budget 

A gas stove is a better option than an electric stove if you’re on a tight budget. However, consider long-term financial impacts, too. A gas stove has cheaper operational costs than electric stoves.

  • Performance

Most chefs prefer to use natural gas because of its temperature control ability. You can adjust the gas flames quickly with a touch of a dial. Meanwhile, an electric stove takes time for the surface to attain the temperature you need to cook food. 

  • Safety

Electric stoves prevent the risk of gas leaks, promoting better kitchen safety than gas stoves.

Making Your Decision

We’ve spent a good bit of time discussing electric vs gas stoves and their pros and cons. Gas stoves offer economic value and precision that electric stoves cannot match. However, electric stoves provide efficiency and safety.

The question now is what to choose. To make that decision, figure out which of these options appeals more to you. Next, check out different models to see what advantages they provide and what people review well.

We hope you found this article helpful! For more content like this, check out our other articles!

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