Electric or Gas Cooktop?

[Jeannie]

I can cook just as well on a gas or electric stove top. My decision came down to cleaning. I HATE cleaning a gas cooktops! Smooth, glass, electric cooktop was pretty easy to clean - just some burnt spillovers to scrub. But... I LOVE the ease of cleaning my new induction cooktop! Just wipe it with a damp microfiber cloth and dry with a paper towel. Nothing burns on because the cooktop doesn't heat.

 

[Jeannie]

We’re replacing ours too, going with electric/induction from Bosch.

We just got the Bosch Benchmark Induction range. I love it, except for one design flaw. The first time I used it, a pot of salted water boiled over. The cooktop was a breeze to clean, but a small amount of water spilled over the top and dripped down onto the top of the oven door where it got into the vent holes/openings. It ended up in between the glass panels of the oven door. No way to clean that without taking the door apart! Lesson learned... don't take your eyes off of boiling pots!

 

[NYCgrrl]

We just got the Bosch Benchmark Induction range. I love it, except for one design flaw. The first time I used it, a pot of salted water boiled over. The cooktop was a breeze to clean, but a small amount of water spilled over the top and dripped down onto the top of the oven door where it got into the vent holes/openings. It ended up in between the glass panels of the oven door. No way to clean that without taking the door apart! Lesson learned... don't take your eyes off of boiling pots!

Water boils so much faster on an induction; the time to watch closely is 4 minutes.
Never seen a Benchmark thus using your description as to vent placement.

Perhaps canned air will push the water out and then turning the oven on will condense/evaporate the remainder? HTH.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I grew up and spent most of my life using a gas stove, until I moved here where the stove is electric. I don't know the brand offhand. I prefer gas, because I think it's easier to control the heat level. Electric burners cycle on and off to control the heat on lower settings, so I think it takes longer to heat food. The only plus to having an electric stove is that the cooktop is much easier to keep clean.

 

[jeneric997]

We just dealt with this decision. Wanted to change out a gas stove in a condo we bought because I wanted 5 burners instead of the existing 4. Kitchen people suggested induction. We decided against it because after 25+ years of cooking with heavy All-Clad pans, my hands ache. I have switched to lighter pots and pans with padded handles and I love them. I don't see a big difference when I cook with them on a gas stove. They don't work with induction.

We bought a Bosch 800 with flame select. Haven't cooked on it as it hasn't been installed, so I can't give a review. I grew up on electric, but I prefer gas.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

For separate units I much prefer gas cooktops and electric ovens.
For a drop in unit, I prefer Gas.

 

[Imzadi]

I'm glad you guys are okay.

Gas. All the way. I grew up with gas stoves. Then I had gas here in this apartment until a few years ago, when the building switched to electric burners.

I have always heard there is an adjustment to electric. There is no instant heat. Also, just because one turns down the heat, one still has residual heat for a while - when you don't want it.

I haven't been able to fry a decent egg or pancake since. The heat is always too low or too high. I have to keep taking the pot or pan off the burner to cool it down, whereas with gas, I can instantly drop the flame down.

 

[RedAngie]

I lived with both gas and electric ranges for long periods of time and always preferred gas.

 

[barkley]

But... I LOVE the ease of cleaning my new induction cooktop! Just wipe it with a damp microfiber cloth and dry with a paper towel. Nothing burns on because the cooktop doesn't heat.

The only plus to having an electric stove is that the cooktop is much easier to keep clean.

ease of cleaning was a consideration when we were shopping-of the gas options i am so glad we went with thermador b/c the 'star burners' they have make for the easiest clean up of any gas cooktop i've ever experienced. while it's taken me a bit to get used to i'm also a fan of their simmer setting.



one strong suggestion when shopping for a stove/oven-RESEARCH who you will purchase it from. our buying process took over a year b/c we initialy went with the long established very (historicaly) respected appliance chain. we did not know it had gone to pot in recent years and their customer service reviews and bbb ratings had become horrific. wrong orders/missing parts/terrible customer service-we experienced it all and finaly cancelled the entire order, called it quits and put off the process for several months. we won't buy through lowes/home depot or those types of places b/c we've heard the nightmares on returns/dealing with them and their subcontractors. we ended up going with a company called Ferguson. i highly recommend them-the sales people are 'old school'-they know the products they sell, the customer service is excellent-and if you have ANY question or problem they are SO responsive. if they can't address it they facilitate communication/repair with the manufacturer FAST. when we price compared we saw that with some brands the manufacturer offers the same sales to all their authorized sellers so while the big box stores may seem like they are have a crazy good sale the same sale is had at the smaller more responsive sales environment.

 

[North of Mouse]

Grew up with gas, then throughout our married lives have had electric (GE) as natural gas wasn't available wherever we were transferred. They just made natural gas available here and we have hooked into it. Much cheaper here than electric. Love gas, much more even and easier to regulate IMO. But, as another poster said, so easy to keep a smooth top electric clean.

 

[Skippy918]

You will need to check first if your kitchen is already wired for the proper electrical requirements for an electric or induction range top.

Looks like it will be its own dedicated 240V outlet. https://homes.rewiringamerica.org/projects/cooking-homeowner

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Gas hob, electric oven.

 

[_19disnA]

Always had an electric stovetop and think they work great. Newer research about concerns over fumes from gas appliances seem taken out of context and you can simply install outside venting if that is a concern. It seems that we can now more precisely measure things than in the past, but there are also obvious ways to deal with that if a concern. When we built our new home a few years ago, we specified an outside vent above the electric cooktop so the smell of whatever we have recently cooked doesn't linger.

Electric cooktop/range uses a 240V outlet much like you would have for an electric clothes dryer. Any type of major electrical work should only be done by a licensed electrician. I know that if you switch to an induction type cooktop, it is not compatible with certain types of cookware. Better to know that before you find you have to buy new cookware once the installation is complete.

The big-box home improvement stores also provide installation and we have always had success on other items they installed for us.

 

[NAB]

Only had electric.

Have a smooth top. Trouble wasn’t with the top part but the oven. Bought a LG True Bake 2 years ago but never really worked right if you bake. Found out it doesn’t have a bottom element and realize on the convection fan. So temps were all over the place. Couldn’t even bake a frozen pizza raw bottom burnt top. Luckily we had extended warranty and got our money back.

Found out not all ovens have a bottom element any more. They told us they were only covered but not true.

Have a GE cafe , has bottom element but since they are covered takes a little longer to heat even though it says it’s at temp. Have a temp gage in there no to check to see if it is right temp.

 

[tvguy]

Always had an electric stovetop and think they work great. Newer research about concerns over fumes from gas appliances seem taken out of context and you can simply install outside venting if that is a concern. It seems that we can now more precisely measure things than in the past, but there are also obvious ways to deal with that if a concern. When we built our new home a few years ago, we specified an outside vent above the electric cooktop so the smell of whatever we have recently cooked doesn't linger.

Electric cooktop/range uses a 240V outlet much like you would have for an electric clothes dryer. Any type of major electrical work should only be done by a licensed electrician. I know that if you switch to an induction type cooktop, it is not compatible with certain types of cookware. Better to know that before you find you have to buy new cookware once the installation is complete.

The big-box home improvement stores also provide installation and we have always had success on other items they installed for us.

You just have to buy an "adapter" if your pans are not compatible.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Stainles...5?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=102488330

 

[Moliphino]

There are pros and cons to both. Gas is much easier to adjust temps quickly. Electric gives a more even heat distribution. I have cooking bacon down to a science on my electric stove.

 

[fla4fun]

I grew up in a house with a gas stove, so that is what I learned to cook on. However, where I live now, there is no access to a gas utility to install a gas stove, so I have a glass top electric. I don’t have any issues with regulating the temperature, and it’s so easy to keep clean. The gas stove was a huge pain to clean.

 

[NannyBeBe]

My biggest complaint about my electric cooktop is that it is impossible to get a simmer. But gas stoves are not allowed in our development, so I have no choice.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I had gas in my house but electric in apartments. I absolutely despise the electric for cooking, the gas heats up so much faster and I think the food tastes better with a flame, I also despise electric for my dryer because all the ones I have had takes twice as long. That said, I do suspect electric causes fewer kitchen fires so there is that and it is a big thing if I had kids or was moving towards older age. Come to think of it, I think it would be good if electric came with an auto off like irons - like why not?

 

[unrequited23]

We replaced our gas stove with an induction stove about two months ago. My biggest disappointment is that the "air fry" setting doesn't perform like a countertop air fryer. The kids have been wanting to cook more, so it feels safer with no open flames and burners that will only work with the right cookware on top.