1. Gas stoves are cheaper in the long run
Buying a new range is going to be a big investment; there’s no getting around it. And it can be hard to compare up front whether gas or electric will be cheaper for you because of their different price ranges. If you’re going for a lower-end model, you’ll likely save some money with an electric range, as they tend to start around $650, while gas ranges typically start around $800.
But if you’re looking for something a little more high-end, you could end up paying upwards of $2,800 for an electric range, while the best gas ranges can be had for around $2,300. There’s a difference at both ends of the scale, but it’s not huge considering that ranges are a big investment up front.
It’s really over the long term that you’ll see the difference. And that too can be tricky because utility rates vary widely from state to state. However, generally speaking, gas is usually the cheaper option compared to electricity. And if this is important to you, you should know that investing in a gas stove will save you between 10 and 30% on your electricity bills each year.
2. Electric stoves are safer
There’s no other way around it: electric stoves are hands down the safest option. The hallmark of a gas stove is the flame that ignites as soon as the burner is turned on. And while that flame can be useful for many things, it can also be dangerous. Children can easily become fascinated by that flame and want to touch it, leading to some pretty serious burns.
And large pets like dogs can get interested in the nice smells coming from the stove and jump up to investigate, burning their noses and paws. Objects like dish towels or wooden spoons kept too close to that flame can also catch fire and become a dangerous situation.
While it’s not impossible to burn yourself on an electric stove, it’s certainly not as easy to do. And the one safety feature gas stoves don’t have that electric ones do is the fact that you can easily see when a gas burner is hot thanks to that flame. On electric stoves, a burner can remain very hot when turned off but not have the same type of indicator. Those who clean the stove, or even brush against it, can get burned. However, with burners that have no real flame and are often even built into the stove itself for a smooth finish, it is much harder to burn yourself on an electric stove than on a gas stove.
What really wins the safety category for electric stoves is that when they are off, they are off. And even when they are on, they emit nothing but heat. Gas stoves, on the other hand, can leak gas, which is why any home with a gas stove should also have a carbon monoxide detector nearby.
3. Gas stoves cook food faster
This is one of the reasons why so many restaurants use gas stoves: they can significantly reduce the cooking time of any dish. Gas stoves and their elements heat up much faster than electric stoves. With an electric stove, you have to turn the knob and wait for the burner to get hot enough to heat a pan you’ve placed on it. This can take a while. But with a gas stove, you just turn on the burner and the flame starts heating the pan right away.
4. Electric ovens cook more evenly
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