If your April showers have brought you more of a “When it rains it pours” scenario than a May flowers situation, you may find yourself in need of a new stove. If you're someone who loves to cook, you might wonder whether your next stove should be fueled with natural gas or run by electricity.
Truly, this is one of the great debates among homeowners. Plenty of people are gas stove enthusiasts, whereas others couldn't think of making a meal without an electric stove by their side. To help you understand the pros and cons of each type of appliance, check out this fast guide to understanding the benefits and disadvantages to gas and electric stoves.
Gas Stove Pros and Cons
A gas stove uses the power of a flame to offer heat. As such, it has many advantages:
· Gas stoves tend to get hot very quickly. Plus, burners heat up automatically.
· It's simple to adjust the height of a flame on a burner, allowing you to see exactly how much heat you're using beneath your cookware.
· You know when a gas stove is off because you can see there's no flame.
Many chefs, home and pro alike, appreciate having this type of hands-on relationship with their cooking appliances, which is why you find gas stoves in commercial kitchens.
At the same time, a gas stove might not be for everyone because of the following factors:
· You have to have a natural gas hookup or a way to get natural gas into your home or apartment in order to use a gas stove.
· Gas stoves have ovens that heat irregularly, so it can be tough to be precise with a gas stove.
· Some people are fearful about cooking over an open flame and others worry that the pilot light will go out and they'll have to manually refresh it.
Not sure if you're ready to invest in a gas stove? Check out the electric stove cooking benefits and drawbacks below for contrast.
Electric Stove Pros and Cons
Unlike a gas stove, an electric stove simply needs access to your electric supply to work. In other words, you simply plug it in and it's ready to perform.
Some of the pros of an electric stove are:
· The heat tends to be fairly even. In fact, many electric stoves and ovens can precisely tell you how hot the oven is thanks to modern technology.
· It doesn't take any special expertise to hook it up because no gas lines are involved.
· It's not going to have an open flame.
Of course, electric stoves do have their drawbacks:
· It can take much longer for electric stove burners to heat up and cool down than it does for gas stoves.
· Electric stoves cannot be used if your electricity goes out. Gas stoves can be, which allows you to make food even if the electricity is off.
· You can't instantly tell if an electric stove is off or on. You have to check the knob or display because you can't see the flame.
Consequently, it's up to a homeowner to determine which type of stove will offer the most cooking benefits to fit their lifestyle.
Choosing the Right Stove for You
Want help picking a gas or electric stove and oven? Badcock Home Furniture &more is happy to help! Talk to our customer service personnel in-person or online for immediate assistance.
