Gas vs Electric

[Vishenka69]

I've always had gas stove but we'll be moving to an apt with electric and I'm a bit scared. I don't like them and don't feel comfortable with one but DH didn't like any places we saw with gas. Any tips or advice on switching and getting used to electric?

The first thing that comes to mind is that electric takes a lot longer to cool off. So if you left a pan on the burner and turned it off, it would continue cooking more than gas. IMO, gas is easier to make small adjustments in temperature but once you get to know the stove, it may not be as big a deal.

Sorry! I love having a gas range too. You'll get used to it. I'm curious about the induction ranges and would like to try one.

[DCJenn]

Gas ranges honestly freak me out because I'm always convinced something will go wrong and we'll all blow up into bits whilst making mac and cheese.

I have an electric range here that has a red flashing light that tells you if the burners are still hot.

I do think that gas ranges are supposed to get hotter though which for things like searing meat can be important.

Jenn

[Momo]

Electric seems to be hotter. Everyone I know that has gas and then cooked @ my place on electric, would burn things or have things boil over. Like Nellie said they don't cool down as fast, like when you just shut the gas off under a pot to prevent / stop burning or boiling over, well w/ electric you need to physically move it from the burner. On food network once I heard that electric burners pulse, they do not continually heat. I'm sure there are atricles on the net about transitioning from gas to electric.

[alison]

I like gas... That's a must for me.
I feel like my food is more evenly cooked, and that I have more control over the temperature.

Plus, I love to watch my Le Crueset sit on a flame.

I also like gas more, but have been saddled w/an electric for the past 2 years. Nellie is right - it says hot longer. Also, in my experience it gets hotter faster (at least the big burners do).

It's an adjustment.

[Vanquisher]

I also prefer gas. It's just easier to control. Like someone else said, you have to physically move the pots on electric burners, or things will burn. It is harder to fine tune your temperature.

Here is the plus side! Electric ovens are better for baking. Things just seem to turn out better in an electric oven. Cakes, cookies, etc., they cook more evenly and brown better. I think gas loses more heat during the cooking process. At least, my oven does.

[Vishenka69]

I like gas... That's a must for me.
I feel like my food is more evenly cooked, and that I have more control over the temperature.

Plus, I love to watch my Le Crueset sit on a flame.

I thought it was a must for me too but then I found myself choosing between extra 100 sq ft and gas. It's a tough call.

[SuzySunshine]

I also prefer gas. It's just easier to control. Like someone else said, you have to physically move the pots on electric burners, or things will burn. It is harder to fine tune your temperature.

Here is the plus side! Electric ovens are better for baking. Things just seem to turn out better in an electric oven. Cakes, cookies, etc., they cook more evenly and brown better. I think gas loses more heat during the cooking process. At least, my oven does.

I totally agree with this. We would prefer gas and hopefully our next house will have one or we'll have to buy our own. However my mom just went from electrical for many years to gas and while she LOVES the burners, she doesn't like the oven. She says if she has to get another stove she will get an electric oven with a gas top.

[Vishenka69]

Luckily this is temporary. There's no way I'm buying a house with electric being the only option. I don't bake but never had a problem cooking in the gas oven.

Here is the plus side! Electric ovens are better for baking. Things just seem to turn out better in an electric oven. Cakes, cookies, etc., they cook more evenly and brown better. I think gas loses more heat during the cooking process. At least, my oven does.

Consumer Reports says this isn't so, that dual fuel isn't necessary, but I disagree. I prefer an electric oven as well.

We have a dual fuel range now and I *love* it. I would do the same again.

Gas ranges honestly freak me out because I'm always convinced something will go wrong and we'll all blow up into bits whilst making mac and cheese.

That's exactly how I felt about gas ranges when we moved to our house with one. I always cooked with an electric stove. It's all about what you're used to. You'll adjust to it! I still miss my electric stove.

[Ravenclaw]

Our place now has gas. I've been used to electric since we had it for most of my childhood. But other than my fear of a gas leak, I really like it. No waiting for it to warm up!

[lilponygirl]

Having moved back and forth between the two (and just recently back to electric after having a gas stove for almost three years) I can honestly say I, too, hate electric. Just like others' experiences, it is so easy to burn things because it gets hotter than expected, i.e. our pancakes burn because medium heat on the electric is like high on gas. At least that's how this one is. My suggestion is to start things at a lower temperature and work your way up. It may take longer, but it's better than the other way around. That's my :02:

[Vishenka69]

I picked up our keys last weekend and did a walk through, which included testing the stove. I turned on all 4 burners for about a minute to make sure they work and 10 minutes later, could still smell them on the other side of the apartment. It was weird. I usually cook on high heat because I don't have the patience to wait for low heat. This will be a huge adjustment.