Gas or Electric - Which Range Is Right for My Home?

Whether to have a gas or electric range is something that is widely debated worldwide and the answer really depends on your personal situation. What we can do here though is to highlight what the advantages and disadvantages of each are and let you decide what is right for your situation.


When speaking to people about whether they use electric or gas, the results will generally be evenly split. When asking them why they use the choice they do, the results are far less even.

When using gas cookers, the hobs for putting pans on heat up and cool down quicker. This is because it is a direct flame heating the pan. This gives you greater control over the temperature that your food cooks at; for example, if it is cooking too fast and at risk of over boiling or burning you can correct this quickly. On the other hand, electric hobs take longer to cool down as it is electrical heat being applied to a plate which holds heat for longer. It is therefore arguable that electric hobs will cost you less in bills, as once the heat has been applied, it can be turned down without losing the ability to cook as fast. It is also however known that the price of gas is cheaper than electricity.

Electric hobs are easier to clean as they are usually flat surfaces compared to the tiered grids used by gas appliances.

In terms of the oven element, there is less difference between gas and electric in terms of heating application. There are accounts of people who believe that one betters the other. For example, a lot of users whose ovens heat by electricity claim that roasted meats and poultry cook more evenly than in a gas oven. This is because they have fans more often than gas ovens, which helps circulate heat.

You may wish to consider the costs of the way you fuel your cooking as well. Gas is what is known as a primary source of power, i.e. the fuel is burned to produce heat directly. Electricity, however, is a secondary source of power which means that coal, wood or natural gas has to be burned to be converted to electricity. So in terms of cost and effect on the environment, gas has an advantage.

Another consideration is the installation of the range. Gas is more dangerous and therefore requires an expert experienced fitter to install it. If this is not done right, then you are at great risk of serious injury or death. Electric ranges can be personally installed quickly as there is far less risk of any health issues if it is not installed correctly. The worst that could happen is that the appliance breaks, which is far better than injury.

Overall, you have to decide what is best for your current situation in terms of cooking, cost, safety and cleaning.

Kristen L McIntyre is the owner and operator of http://OrganizationAccessories.com which she created to assist people with improving the functionality of their existing kitchen cabinets as an option of complete cabinet replacement.

To see more articles written by Kristen visit her web site.

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