Ranges: Electric vs. Gas

[Nsane2Bme]

OK here we go...

Which do you have?

and/or

Which to you prefer and why?

Scenario - I'm buying a house. The Laclede inspection failed the existing gas cook top and oven. I knew this was going to happen. The seller is going to offer some money for replacing both of these items. I don’t know how much they are going to throw out there – I just know I have to go and pick something out and get some pricing in front of them. I’m going to price both electric and gas.

Anyway, the kitchen is the original kitchen, I was going to remodel it next fall - but now I'm picking out my 3rd new appliance for the kitchen (already picked out my fridge and dishwasher).

I need to find out if I have to pick gas because that was the existing product or if I can switch it over to electric.

I have always had an electric range, never used gas. I have always had that misnomer of the darn thing "blowing up" since I was a little kid, thus my hesitance with this.

Anyway – here’s your chance to tell me that I’m crazy and the darn thing won’t “blow up” or you can tell me about your friends, neighbors, cousins, friend who blah blah…

OR…you can tell me that I’m crazy for even thinking about keeping the existing gas service in my kitchen because “electric is the way to go!”

Dearest members of the lounge – please help – you’re ALMOST my only hope!

[Celtic]

Is the proper electric outlet run to where the oven is?

[ItsOnlyTheRiver]

Consumer Reports article

Choose the right type. Serious chefs prefer gas cooktops for the quick response and visual confirmation of a cooktop flame. But electric elements generally heat faster and perform better overall. Dual-fuel ranges combine a gas cooktop and electric oven, though they have offered no advantages in our tests. Slide-in ranges come without sides so they can mount flush with surrounding counters. But slide-in ranges typically cost more than freestanding models.

[#1 Jimmy fan]

I've had both but prefer the gas top. New appliances all at once = fun times.

[Nsane2Bme]

Is the proper electric outlet run to where the oven is?

That's an easy fix - I already thought about that. I've got a guy lined out who is coming in to install a couple of ceiling fans for me - we will talk about the power for the oven. I'm told there is plenty of power available in the house. (that's from the house inspection that I had done).

[Nsane2Bme]

I've had both but prefer the gas top. New appliances all at once = fun times.

I was planning on buying them "one at a time" and keeping in the basement until I was ready to re-do the Kitchen. The current cabinet configuration sucks complete ass - so this really might screw up the space I have now.

Also - the current oven is built into the original cabinets...so I'll have to find out if I HAVE to get one of those as well. I really don't want too - it's too small of an oven.

[ort]

IF you are serious about cooking, go with gas.

[Schwahalala]

An electric range will require a 50 amp breaker and 6-3 wire.

I prefer electric - because I hate gas in my house - it's totally electric.

[hansolo]

I have had both.

I would go with a nice electric with convenction system (for the oven). Get the flat halogen type as it's easy to clean.

Gas range is great but pain in the ass to clean up compared to the electric one above.

[lazydaze]

If you can, get an electric convection oven, and go with a gas cook top. Since you said you might be remodeling, they can obviously be separate units.

[jack jones]

I was a gas snob before I moved into this house. Sellers put in a cheap White Westinghouse electric to sell the place. I've never replaced it based on the theory that once you replace something that works something else will break.

Anyway, an electric oven doesn't release nearly as much heat into the kitchen as a gas one does. When the WW finally dies I'll stick with an electric oven and upgrade to convection.

After cooking on electric burners for 16 years I'm no longer a gas snob. The idea that you need a gas cooktop if you're serious about cooking is a myth. After a while you figure out how to get to the same place. Electric heats faster and doesn't heat up the kitchen as much. The main problem I had was pans don't always sit on the burners evenly, so they didn't cook evenly. I switched to coated cast iron five years ago and that solved the problem.

[madyaks]

Gas.....
I think electric is so damn touchy, but it might be a part of what you were brought up on.

[SKIDOG]

Electric big time. I had that in my house before me and my wife moved in together. The people that bought my house wanted to keep all my stuff. Stainless steel Fridge, stove, dishwasher, microwave. I wanted to keep it but had sat on the house for a year so I let them have it. But I sure do miss all that stuff, mostly the stove...

[007]

Just got a Frigidaire convection oven...it's been pretty good so far...

Grew up with gas stoves and this place has electric...small change, but to me, it seems to do the job just as well...

[ChiTownBluesFan]

I'd never go with an electric range. Had one once, and it was too easy to scorch stuff. Would occasionally have that problem with the gas range at our old condo, but we have a real good gas range top now, and I have yet to scorch anything. Oh, sure, I've forgotten something was on once or twice and boiled things over, but I've never had to spend time trying to scrub the burnt crud off the bottom of something.

You really don't have to worry about the stove blowing up - at least if it's hooked up right. The other reason electric always scared me, especially the flat ones (and not the ones w/ the coils) is it can sometimes be hard to tell it's on or has just been turned off, then you touch the area to clean or wipe something up and OUCH!