Gas or Electric? What’s your preference?
From
| July 13, 2010
In Coffee and Convo
Our friend Julie R. asks: I am thinking about replacing our range in the near future. Right now we have a very old coil burner electric range. I need to decide if I want to stay electric or switch over to gas. Do any of you have strong feelings about this and/or can you recommend a brand you have or like?
Alicia's response: I definitely prefer gas. I have moved into my new interim abode and it has electric. Even though it is a rental, I keep trying to figure out a way to get my gas back! I have two GE Profile gas ranges and like them both. 
Beverly's response: I'm with Alicia. Gas is much more responsive, fast, to either heat up or cool off. Plus you have a greater range of temperatures you can achieve. However, gas is not nearly as good for baking (it doesn't hold a constant temperature). So the best thing in my opinion is a gas cook top and electric wall oven.
What say you, Kitchen Scoop readers?
Comments
From Samina - July 13, 2010
I understand that gas is the preferred cooking element, but I’ve never used a gas range before. They’re just not that popular in Florida. That open flame freaks me out a bit. Lack of experience with it, I guess! That said, I have an Electrolux solid surface electric cooktop & love it. It has great temperature control & heats up very quickly. I agree that the electric coil stoves are a pain to use, but the smooth cooktops are a joy.
From Beverly Mills - July 13, 2010
From Connie, via Facebook:
I have to go with gas…so much easier to adjust the temperature. And if you live in hurricane-prone South Florida, you can still cook if you lose power!
From Beverly Mills - July 13, 2010
From Dan of Dallas, via Facebook:
Gas for sure. Otherwise, you couldn’t say, ‘Now we’re cooking with gas.’
From Beverly Mills - July 13, 2010
From Mary of Charlottesville, Va., via Facebook:
Gas, and I don’t even have it. It’s my dream.
From Beverly Mills - July 13, 2010
From Anne in Minneapolis, via Facebook:
I prefer electric, but most people I know prefer gas.
From Beverly Mills - July 13, 2010
From Gigi of Miami, via Facebook:
I know most people like gas better, and it is easier to adjust the temp once you get going, but when you’re trying to get water to boil, it seems to take forever with gas.
From Teresa - July 13, 2010
The best solution I’ve found was a dual-fuel range, with a gas cooktop and an electric oven. The one I had was made by GE, and it was cheaper than buying a separate cooktop and wall oven.
From Cooking with Gas in KS - July 13, 2010
The only stoves I’d ever cooked on were electric until I opened my restaurant 20+ yrs ago & bought a gas stove It was love at first tick-tick. Now I’ll use nothing else. When I visit people with electric stoves, I get so frustrated waiting for burners to get hot & trying to adjust the temp. Gas only from now on!
Martha
From Anastasia - July 13, 2010
Definitely gas. It was actually a criteria for any rental I’ve had in the past (that it had a gas cooktop). I have a great gass cooktop now,and an electric oven which I also love. I think there’s a big difference in quality depending on the brand and make—some electric cooktops are better now than they used to be, but I’ve never used one of those good ones 
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Have a question?
We hope you'll tell us, but we hope you'll ASK us, too! Send your questions to alicia@kitchenscoop.com and we'll try to find the answers.
From Noise Cancelling Headphones - July 13, 2010
Gas stoves generally have sealed burners, which reduce the mess on a cooktop if something spills. Electric stoves with coil burners generally have removable drip pans to take care of the problem, but they can become dull and dirty with frequent use.