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Gas vs Electric Stove: Which Is Best for Your Home?

October 22, 2020 *

It seems like most people have some distinct preferences when it comes to one of the most important kitchen appliances, the stove. Along with the refrigerator, your kitchen stove is vital to your cooking operations, so you want to choose wisely. Not only do you have to choose a brand and price range, but you first need to decide between a gas vs electric model.

Since your stove is an essential feature in your kitchen, and you want to feel good about its performance, potential lifespan and extended warranty coverage to ensure quick repairs to keep you cooking.

Take a few moments to learn more about gas vs electric stoves and which one suits your cooking style, environmental outlook and ability to afford repairs if problems arise.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Start Shopping for Your New Range

One of the main drivers for how consumers choose between gas and electric stoves involves which type of stove they used when learning to cook. Experience and habit can make the decision easier, but for people who love to cook, you might feel like it is time to find the right range for your style.

Before you begin your official search, ask yourself some essential cooking questions to help guide your shopping experience:

Do you want to up your cooking game?
Are there young children in your home, causing you to feel more in control of cooking with an open flame or a hot burner?
Do you have a budget limit for the purchase of a stove and long-term operating costs?
Do you feel an extended warranty is a crucial part of your purchase?

Gas Stoves

Gas stoves feel more traditional to many passionate cooks and tend to produce better food. Take a few moments to look more closely at the pros and cons of owning and cooking on a gas stove.

Gas Stove Pros

Gas Stoves Cook Food Better than Electric Stoves: You might wonder why people think gas stoves cook so much better than electric stoves. The answer is that a gas stove’s flames spread out along the bottom and sides of a baking pan or dish, thus cooking food faster and more evenly over the open flame. An additional benefit in terms of the cooking process is that you can toast and char food with your gas stove, which you cannot do on an electric model.
The Heat Turns On and Off Instantly: As soon as you turn on the flame, you are ready to cook and as soon as your food has finished cooking, you turn off the flame and walk away without worry. The flame also lets you know the level of heat you are using.
Popular with Top Chefs: Watch any cooking show, and the top chefs love gas heat.
Reduced Operating Cost: As long as your home is already using natural gas, a gas stove can save you money over using an electric stove.
Lower Energy Consumption: Gas stoves consume less energy when operating.
Rustic Appearance: Gas stoves’ appearances often carry an air of tradition and classical cooking styles.

Gas Stove Cons

The Open Flame: The same open flame that helps you closely determine the heat at which you are cooking at any point also makes it a problem if you worry about open flames in your home for any reason, such as if you have active children or pets.
Expensive Hookups: If your home does not already have a gas line, you will need to invest in that. If natural gas is not available in your area, you will need to buy your own propane tank and have it regularly serviced.
Costly Repairs: Service calls and repairs for a gas stove can add up quickly, so consumers who do buy gas stoves need to find an extended major kitchen appliance warranty to keep the stove in good working condition at all times.
Indoor Air Pollution Potential: If gas stoves do not ventilate to the outside, they can cause indoor air pollution problems.

Electric Stoves

Kompare It shares that electric stoves are more common than gas stoves in American homes. Learn what there is to love about electric stoves and where they fall short.

Electric Stove Pros

Less Expensive Upfront Costs: Electric stoves are less expensive to purchase and set up with instant activation.
Easy Clean-up: The flat-top cooking area makes clean-up much easier than gas stove cleaning.
Sleek Design: Electric ranges increasingly feature a smooth and sleek surface area that gives them a clean and modern appearance.
Durable and Stable: Electric stoves can handle greater weight capacities for huge cooking pots and more, which is especially helpful for newer, less experienced cooks.

Electric Stove Cons

Uneven Heating: One of the most common complaints cooks note when discussing electric stoves is the uneven heat.
Less Reliable in Variable Conditions: If you experience a blackout or other power outage, you can still cook on your gas stove, but the same isn’t true with an electric stove.
Slower Heat: It takes an electric burner or oven longer to heat up.
Glass Range Tops Stain Easily: As sleek as the modern electric range tops look, it is tough to keep them looking great. You have to stay vigilant and clean up messes as they happen to avoid accumulating unsightly stains.

Choosing the Right Stove Between Gas vs Electric Comes Down to Weighing the Pros and Cons

Hopefully, these pros and cons give you a better idea of which type of stove is best for your home. Regardless of the stove you choose, make sure you protect your investment with an Upsie extended warranty for major home appliances.

Do you have a stove in mind and wonder whether Upsie might offer a warranty to cover it? Contact the Upsie customer service team to find out more about the major brands and different styles of stoves to help you make your decision in terms of long-term protection and care.