Gas vs. Electric Stove: Which Should You Choose?
The choice between a gas or electric stove will depend on a variety of factors including your cooking style and available power hookup.
Written by Abbey Orzech
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
Professional chefs and cooking connoisseurs often prefer gas ranges for the more precise stovetop temperature control, while electric ranges are sought after for their more regulated oven temperatures and smooth stove surface.
To help you decide which of these stove options are the best for your home,
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has created this guide to gas vs. electric stoves. From safety to resale value, this article will walk you through the different ranges and their benefits and drawbacks. RECOMMENDED
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Gas vs. Electric: what’s the difference?
Both of these options will help you get a warm dinner on the table, but there’s more to the story than that. If you’re in the market for a new range, consider these differences.
Gas Stoves
Perhaps the biggest difference between these two kinds of ranges is their power source.
A gas range draws its power from a natural gas line or a propane hookup. A gas stove’s heat source comes from therelease and ignition of gas to produce a flame that can be lowered or raised to manipulate the temperature. This method of temperature change is often regarded as more precise than an electric stovetop.
The burners on a gas stove are covered by small ceramic plates with grates that fit over the top so that the cookware never directly touches the burner.
Electric Stoves
Electric stoves are powered by—you guessed it—electricity.
Electric stoves use either exposed metal coils or metal coils under a flat ceramic or glass surface that draw in electric currents to create heat. Your cookware sits directly on the coils or on the ceramic or glass surface. This method of heating and cooling takes longer, so electric stoves are often regarded as less sensitive when it comes to temperature manipulation.
The cost of gas vs. electric stoves
While there is not a hefty difference in sale prices between gas and electric stoves, gas ranges are generally the more expensive option. You can generally find a gas range selling between $400 and $2,100 while their electric counterparts sell between $360 and $1,800.
The biggest expense when deciding between an electric stove and a gas stove comes down to whether or not you need to install a new power source. If you opt for a power source your home currently doesn’t have, you’ll likely be shelling out thousands of dollars for the switch.
Installation and maintenance of gas vs. electric stoves
Installation
If you’re simply buying a new appliance to replace an old one, installation will be easy. You just have to connect the new appliance to the existing power source.
If you’re installing a range that requires a different power source than the one already in your home, installation will be more difficult and expensive considering you will likely have to pay a technician to run a gas line or new circuitry.
Maintenance
The upkeep and cleaning of a gas stove is a bit easier than electric stoves because the burners of gas stovetops are covered by ceramic plates and grates. The plates and grates are also removable, so you won’t have to maneuver around them when wiping the surface.
Maintaining an electric stovetop can be a bit more laborious as food easily comes in direct contact with the metal coils or flat stovetop. Scrubbing the ceramic or glass slab could scratch the surface as well. However, there are many cooktop cleaners available that will make the clean-up job less of a chore.
The ovens of both gas and electric ranges should be cleaned monthly, and any wiring or gas issues should be handled by a professional.
Safety
Gas ranges, as the name implies, use flammable gas to ignite their burners and flames to cook your food. Gas stoves without automatic shut-offs could release gas into your home, leaving you at risk of fires, explosions, or poisoning if they aren’t shut off properly.
If you have a gas range in your home, it is a good idea to also have a carbon monoxide detector to detect potential gas leaks.
Electric stovetops have metal coils, either exposed or under a conductive surface, that reach extremely high temperatures and can take a relatively long time to cool. With electric stoves, you’re faced with a higher risk of burning your flesh or anything left on their surfaces, so make sure to allow the burners and surface to cool completely before touching it.
Key Takeaway Gas ranges have a higher potential for fires or gas leaks and electric ranges leave you more exposed to hot surfaces that can burn you.
Resale Value
The resale value of either your gas or electric stove will mostly depend on its condition. However, it may be worth looking into the common household range types in the area you wish to sell in—many homes in the U.S. don’t have access to gas hookups, so your gas range may do better in the areas where gas lines are more prevalent.
You could fetch a more handsome sum for your range if you’re offering a top brand like LG, Samsung, or KitchenAid.
Does home insurance cover stoves?
Most of the time, your home insurance will not cover damage to your stove unless it was damaged by a listed peril in your policy. However, there are options to have your appliances covered in your insurance policy if you include equipment breakdown in your coverage.
How to find affordable home insurance
Like selecting your kitchen appliances, you want to make sure your
home insurance
policy fits your needs. Home insurance protects you and your personal belongings (including your gas or electric stove) from unpredictable disasters, so you’ll want the best coverage for your budget. That’s where
Jerry
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FAQs
Is it cheaper to run gas or electric?
Generally, running gas is cheaper than electricity, but the margin may not be very significant if you don’t cook very often.
How hot do electric stoves get vs. gas stoves?
Electric stoves range from 180 degrees Fahrenheit at their low setting to 500 degrees Fahrenheit at their high setting. Gas stoves range from 140 degrees Fahrenheit to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
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