Unless one is content to sustain off of microwave dinners and take-away food, owning a range cooker is a necessity. One of the first decisions in choosing a cooker is the fuel source. In order to make the decision between gas and electric, several factors must be taken into consideration. Both fuel sources offer advantages over the other, and personal cooking needs and preferences are the basis for the best decision.
Gas cookers are preferred among professional chefs because they allow more accurate control of the cooking heat. The flame on a gas stove top responds instantly to a change in heat, while an electric model needs time to cool down or heat up. Gas cookers also cost less to operate per year.
Electric cookers are generally available at a lower price than their gas counter parts. While a gas line may not be available in all homes, one can be certain that electricity will be. It is also easier to install the necessary electrical outlet as opposed to running a gas line into your home.
Another advantage of electric cookers is the very fact that they do not require you to have an active gas line running into your home to operate. However low the chance of an accident may be, this is definitely something to keep in mind. For peace of mind, an electric cooker may be a better option.
The oven is another important factor when deciding which cooker is best for you. Both gas and electric ovens offer a self clean option, so there is little difference in this regard. However, when assessing the ovens ability to make food, I would lean towards an electric model. Heat is more evenly distributed, and they tend to handle broiling better than gas ovens. Quite simply, they perform better.
If you tend to cook more on a stove top, gas will give you a better cooking experience. If you are weary of running a gas line into your home and lean towards an oven for your cooking needs, electric is best for you.
