When buying a new oven for your home, the first dilemma you are going to face is that of choosing between a gas oven or an electric oven. Therefore, to tackle this dilemma head-on, you need to be aware of the differences between the two oven variations, starting with the most basic of differences: the gas oven uses LPG mix or propane gas as its fuel source while the electric oven uses electricity.
Let us first start by looking into the characteristics of the different oven versions, starting with the gas oven. The gas oven uses propane gas or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as a source of fuel. The gas itself releases small levels of moisture within the oven that circulates in the air and supports with cooking of the food, a positive element particularly for baking. On the other hand, the electric oven runs purely on electricity and uses interior heat elements that cook and heat up food. Some electric ovens come with the traditional type of burners on the cooktops, however, the newer models now have what’s known as a smooth top or glass top, meaning that they sport a flat surface for the cooktops rather than the normal protruding burners.
Taking it a step further, it is also good to note that there are ovens that run on both electricity and gas called dual fuel range, bringing together the best of both worlds. Usually, this range of ovens uses gas for the stove and electricity for the oven.
What are the main differences between a gas and an electric oven?
- Any home can accommodate both a gas as well as an electric oven. While an electric oven needs to be placed close to an electric supply, a gas oven needs to have a gas line installed running from the outside space where your gas tank is located, to the location of the oven. If you have an outdoor space where you can host your LPG tank such as an internal yard or a balcony, then you are able to opt for a gas oven at your home.
- A gas stove gives you the opportunity to cook food directly over a flame that you can control through the related oven knobs. One would need to take care of the flame regulation and monitor the food while it cooks. On the other hand, the electric oven allows for heat distribution without the need to regulate it continuously. Therefore, several people then opt for the dual fuel range as several prefer being able to regulate manually the stovetop burners, making a gas stovetop the most favourable option, while then they opt for the oven part to be electric to enjoy the perk of heat distribution.
- Another factor to consider is the cost when buying the oven, but even more important is the cost when operating it. Gas ovens are generally more energy-efficient and therefore cost-efficient. Since mid-2020, 1khw of gas costs €0.098, while 1khw of electricity has a consumption cost between €0.13 and €0.34, depending which electricity tariff band one would fall under.
- Something else to consider is the cooking speed of both oven types. Usually, a gas operated oven can cook food faster than an electric oven, this given the fact that they use direct flames and therefore the heat is emitted faster. However, some of the more modern electric oven models seem to have a faster cooking speed, particularly when it comes to pre-heating the oven.
Interested in learning more about the differences between electric and gas appliances, and how to take care of them? Make sure to check out our upcoming blogs for more information.
