Energy Matters Forums

[jaahn]

Hi,
We are considering a new stove. We live in town and on the grid and on the town gas. I was interested in the comparison between an electric stove, a gas stove, and a gas top/electric oven.

Has anyone any direct experience with this or any comments. Cost comparisons ? Energy comparisons ? CO2 comparisions ?

Cheers John

[lantern]

I know I much prefer cooking with gas. Can't give you any numbers though as I only ever had bottled gas.
But I'm sure it has to be heaps cheaper.

[Gordon-Loomberah]

I also prefer cooking on gas, rather than an electric hot plate- the gas is much more controllable as you can adjust it to exactly where you want it. Electric hot plates are on-off-on-off all the time and are more likely to burn whatever you are cooking, in my experience. That said, I do have an induction hob that works very nicely, although it too suffers the on-off-on-off electric mode of operation, but it is somewhat moderated by the use of cast iron and heavy bottomed SS induction cookware. It is certainly more efficient/faster than using gas, see: energy-efficiency/topic2540.html

Since all my power comes from solar and wind, and I'm not connected to the grid, any use of the induction cooktop or benchtop electric oven results in no CO2 being released, unlike when I cook on the gas burners, which I do when the batteries are down a bit.

[jaahn]

I know I much prefer cooking with gas. Can't give you any numbers though as I only ever had bottled gas.
But I'm sure it has to be heaps cheaper.

Hmmm,
I think the gas retailers make sure it is not "heaps cheaper". If it was then they will sell it OS. Thanks for the feed back. The comparison of the heating the cup of water was instructive.

Yes we did like the gas in previous houses. We currently have 'radiant' hobs on the stove which are very good. No time to heat up and no mass either. The on-off switching is no problem. Easy to set as you want. The top is flat glass so its easy to maintain. However its old now and needs some fixing.

As we have gad available we will consider it but there is not much comparison information available. I suspect the gas 'wastes' more of the energy and heats the room more. We use some thick bottom pans etc and perhaps some new ones there may help if the bottom is more conductive.
Cheers John

[superman1]

Yes I have a ceramic cook top like that and heats up almost instantly. Love it.

Gas...gosh where do I start?

1) I don't know if all gas tops are like the new one I had in my old rental place. It was a budget one. It had 3 settings. High, or medium, off. I had to stick my head down and turn it beyond its range just to get a low flame, which then goes out if you go too far - there are no markers there - or blows out with wind.
(Simmering with lids on increases effeciency.)
Electric has the full control 1 to 10. Lovely.
You have no control with gas. (Maybe I am the only person on earth who wants the low settings as much as possible.

2) Spindly little tops, instead of a solid surface, where the saucepan can fall down a crack, especially a small pan.

3) The rampant fear of blowing up suddenly. Much worse than electrocution and is more likely, in your mind.

Kills me all chefs love the primitive way. Oh well.
So why would you use gas? Apparently a bit cheaper, and it turns on instantly. And is harder to clean.
But as you said and I never thought of before, direct contact with the heat is sweet as a kiss , with the unfactored-in efficiency of complete control.

[bpratt]

Not all gas cooktops are as useless as the one you've experienced.

I'm no chef at all, but there must be something in it for them to demand gas cooking.

The instant heat and controllability of gas over electric is what wins people over.

I don't have gas here, and mum can't stand the thought of gas because of the paranoia of 'explosions', etc.


The electric inductive stoves are the only ones that give you some real control over cooking, and are effectively instant heat, but you need special saucepans and pots for them.


So for me looking at moving house, and one had gas and the other electric induction, I'd be looking at other features of the house to make my decision. of course if it was gas over standard electric, the gas would add a bonus point.