Gas vs Electric Cookers: Which One Pans Out Better?

Whether you’re getting your kitchen renovated or simply upgrading your appliances, one question’s sure to crop up: is a gas or electric cooker better? But it’s not as straightforward a question as you might think. There are practical and lifestyle factors to consider. Plus, there are different cooker and hob types, including ceramic and induction. So, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of both gas and electric cookers, so you can weigh up which is best for you. 

Fuel

The biggest difference between gas and electric cookers is the fuel itself. And it’s important for a few reasons. 

Firstly, you need to consider the physical connection. Does your home already have a gas supply? Or, is mains gas available in your area? Some rural locations aren’t supplied by natural gas. This doesn’t rule out a gas hob or cooker but it does make things more complex. 

You can convert some cookers and hobs to run on bottled LPG. However, it does limit your choices and increases the time and cost of the installation. Plus, you’ll need space outside to store and connect your bottles and you’ll need to be prepared to monitor and switch over your supply.

Secondly, you might want to consider energy prices. Gas is cheaper than electricity, so essentially, it’s more cost-effective to cook with. But there are other things to consider in terms of the fuel. 

Efficiency and sustainability 

Two of these considerations are efficiency and sustainability. In terms of efficiency, there’s no clear-cut winner. 

Gas is also more controllable than some electric cookers. Burners don’t need to heat up and gas ovens are quicker at getting up to temperature. Cooking times tend to be quicker too. However, you do need to bear in mind that you do lose some heat between the burner and the pan. So, that does reduce its efficiency and it can mean that large pans of food take longer to cook than with an induction hob, which directly heats the pan.

If efficiency is important to you, you might wish to go with an induction hob and a fan-assisted oven with a triple-glazed door. But do check the appliance is labelled with a good energy efficiency rating as this can vary between makes and models. 

Sustainability is another factor to consider. Gas is a fossil fuel, so apart from choosing an A-rated appliance, there’s not much you can do to improve the sustainability of a gas cooker. However, with an electric cooker, you can choose to go on a green tariff to ensure your electricity comes from renewable sources or power it from your own solar panels. 

Cooking and performance

Controllability is a big consideration when it comes to choosing between a gas and an electric cooker. Generally speaking, gas is better as it allows you to quickly turn the heat up and down. So, you’re less likely to have food burning or spilling over on the hob. However, induction hobs can match gas in this respect and both provide an even spread of heat. The only downside is that induction hobs do tend to be pricier than gas, ceramic and solid plate hobs. 

Whether a gas or electric oven is best, depends somewhat on what you’re cooking. Gas is considered better for baking while electric generally wins out in terms of roasting. This is because electric ovens produce a drier heat. That said, if you’re willing to spend a bit more, you can choose an electric oven with special features to boost your baking results. 

Electric fan-assisted ovens do tend to cook food more evenly and help to improve baking results. Gas ovens aren’t typically fan-assisted. This means that you may need to keep an eye on things to ensure you’re not burning the edges of your food.  

It’s not just cooking performance but how you like to cook that can be a deciding factor between gas and electric. For instance, it’s easier to use a traditional wok and char vegetables on a gas hob. And if you go with an induction hob, you need to use good-quality magnetic pans. 

If you prefer a gas hob but an electric oven, it’s worth thinking about choosing separate, built-in appliances rather than a free-standing or range cooker. However, dual-fuel range cookers are an option.  

Style and safety

When you’re deciding between gas and electric cookers, it’s not just how they perform that’s important but you should also consider how they look in your kitchen. If you’re aiming for a clean-lined look, then a built-in ceramic or induction hob is going to be best. 

Flat-surfaced ceramic and induction hobs are also generally easier to clean than the burners and pan supports of gas hobs. However, it’s always worth checking that you don’t need to use specialist cleaning products with the model you buy. 

Finally, it’s worth thinking about safety. The flames of a gas stove can be more of a safety risk for the young and old. And gas cookers do need to be serviced annually like a boiler does.   

Induction hobs aren’t hot to the touch, so they can be safer around children. However, they may interfere with pacemakers and hearing aids, so they’re not the best option for everyone.

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