A gas or electric oven - which one will be better in your kitchen? These devices differ from each other not only with regards to the power source. Choosing between a gas or an electric oven will also influence the way you cook, as well as the way you organise your kitchen. What are the pros and cons of each type of oven?
A gas or electric oven – which one will be better in your kitchen? These devices differ from each other not only with regards to the power source. Choosing between a gas or an electric oven will also influence the way you cook, as well as the way you organise your kitchen. What are the pros and cons of each type of oven?
Pros and cons of a gas oven
Gas cookers come in several variants, including:
- as a freestanding cooker with gas burners and a gas oven,
- as a free-standing cooker with gas burners and an electric oven,
- as a built-in gas oven.
One of the main advantages of this type of equipment is the maintenance cost. Gas is a cheaper power source than electricity, and the cost of a gas cooker is also often lower compared to an electric cooker.
A gas installation of a given building is not the only source it can be connected to. Gas cookers can also be connected to a gas cylinder. A gas oven is therefore a good solution if you live in or run a place with poorly developed infrastructure.
If you are wondering which will be better, an electric or gas oven, also take into account that the latter type will allow you to cook even when there is no electricity.
An advantage of gas cookers is also their ease of use, and they usually come equipped with convenient-to-use knobs. And most often you won’t need matches to start a flame. Nowadays an igniter is often built into each burner, and is set off by pressing a knob on the front of the electric oven.
Gas ovens do not have as many cooking features as electric ovens. They also don’t have the self-cleaning option, which would make day-to-day use and maintenance much easier.
The differences between a gas and an electric oven are also with regards to safety. Natural gas is flammable, so you need to ensure that the installation is tight. Most cookers are equipped with so-called anti-outflow devices that cut off the gas supply when the flame is extinguished, but there are still some risks. Additionally, the room in which the gas cooker is located should be adequately ventilated. You may need to install a cooker hood above the unit to mechanically extract the air.
Pros and cons of an electric oven
An electric oven may need to be connected to a three-phase system, i.e. a 400 V network. In new buildings this is usually the standard, but in older properties it may be necessary to modify the electrical installation, converting the network from a single to three-phase system. It would be best to consult an electrician to determine if you are allowed to use an electric oven in your home.
The need to connect to an appropriate power system is actually the only major disadvantage of an electric oven. Another disadvantage are the higher operation costs compared to a gas oven. On the other hand, if you buy a cooker with a high energy class, e.g. A ++, the costs compared to a gas cooker should be quite similar.
A gas oven versus an electric oven – which one has more functions? In this case electric equipment will be better. Electric ovens have more options especially when it comes to cooking modes. This includes not only standard heating, but also hot air circulation and a grill function.
In addition, with an electric oven you can set the temperature more precisely than with a gas cooker. Some models also have a timer function – they will turn off automatically after a specific amount of time set by you. Moreover, some electric ovens have automatic programmes for preparing specific types of dishes. If you decide to cook a kilogramme chicken, an electric oven will adjust the cooking time and temperature by itself.
In the case of restaurants, an advantage of electric ovens is greater flexibility in terms of setting up the kitchen. Designing the kitchen in a bar or restaurant will be easier, as an electric cooker does not have to be located next to a gas pipe. It is usually much easier to connect to the power supply than to gas. Additionally, an electric oven does not have to be located under a dedicated cooker hood.
Gas ovens and electric ovens – baking differences
An electric or gas oven – which will make cooking easier? Electric equipment is more universal to use. Why is that, you may ask?
Gas ovens have one heat source in the form of a burner located at the bottom of the cooking chamber. As a result, the food is only heated from the bottom. In addition, heat is distributed less evenly in a gas oven compared to an electric oven. The above mentioned factors mean that the food may burn from the bottom, will not necessarily be heated in the same way over the entire surface, and cakes may become soggy.
In an electric oven you can heat the food from the top, bottom or both at the same time. Thanks to hot air circulation, the temperature will be constant and the same everywhere in the chamber. You can prepare several dishes at the same time and on different levels, without worrying that one of them will be undercooked or cold, and the other will be overheated or burnt.
The difference between an electric and a gas oven is also the heating time. Electric cookers will reach the desired temperature faster, so you can prepare your dishes in less time. Some models also have a steam cooking mode, which lets you preserve the aroma and nutritional value of the ingredients. This is especially important if you like cooking vegetables in the oven.
More possibilities and a higher level of safety are often arguments in favour of choosing electric ovens also for use in commercial kitchens. You will be able to serve your guests faster, cooks will have more control over the cooking process, and there will be less risk that in the heat of preparing food a flame will suddenly burst out from the burner on the cooker.
What features should the best ovens have?
Choosing the right equipment depends on several factors. One of them is matching the cooker to the space in which it will be used. Before you buy an oven, check that it will easily fit in the space you have available.
Another option is built-in kitchen equipment. An advantage of this solution is that it will not stand out from the rest of the kitchen furniture, and you will also have more options when it comes to arrangement. Built-in ovens can be installed not only under the countertop, but also as a column at chest height. Thanks to this you will not have to bend down to put the food into the baking chamber.
A built-in gas or electric oven – which will work better? Due to the wider range of features and the lack of need to connect to the gas installation in a specific part of the kitchen, an electric oven may be a better solution. You could also choose a solution where you have gas burners on the countertop and a separate electric oven below.
A good-quality oven should have a lot of options making cooking easier, including the hot air circulation previously mentioned, the possibility of heating from above and below, and a grill function. Also pay attention to whether it has solutions that facilitate regular cleaning. Pyrolytic ovens (which tackle the grime by burning it with fire) or catalytic ovens (which contain special catalytic liners inside the oven) are a good example.
Hygiene and maintenance are particularly important from the point of view of health and safety in commercial kitchens. When choosing an oven for a restaurant or bar, it would be a good idea to invest in one made from stainless steel, which is easy to clean and corrosion resistant. An oven for use in commercial kitchens should have higher feet, making it easier to clean the floor without having to move the equipment.
When choosing an electric cooker, you also have to decide whether you prefer an induction or electric hob. Bear in mind that cooking on induction will require special pots and pans. On the other hand, it is also a safer solution. It is not the hob itself that is heated, but the pan, so the risk of burns is much lower. In the case of commercial kitchens, an important fact is that the induction hob does not generate heat, which makes the kitchen cooler.
To sum up – a gas or electric oven?
Will a gas or electric oven better suit your needs? If, above all, it is low operating costs you are after, and you don’t do much baking, then a gas cooker will be a better option, or alternatively gas burners and an electric cooker.
An electric oven is a more modern solution, so it usually has more features. It is also safer, and it lets you prepare numerous dishes faster and with more control over the process than in the case of a gas oven.
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