Gas Cookers Vs. Electric Cookers

Gas cookers come in many different sizes and styles, but all use a system that burns liquid petroleum gas for fuel. Electric cookers use a system that pushes electricity through a coiled element to produce the needed heat for cooking. There are varying schools of thought about how a gas cooker compares to electric models. Electric cookers have been on the market for a long time, and enjoy a great deal of popularity in the residential market. Gas, on the other hand, has long been the preferred cooking method for professional cooks and many avid amateur practitioners of the culinary arts. This is an age old debate that is rehashed each time a new house, or any other structure containing a kitchen, is built. The decision is usually made during the construction phase, because it is expensive to run both electric and gas connections to that hole between the cabinets where the cooker will find its place.

Those who argue in favor of the gas range cooker option usually cite day to day cost savings, gas' faster cooking times, and the total control of the cooking temperature as the advantages of cooking with gas. It is true that gas range cookers do, in most cases, out perform electrics in daily cost of operation. The time savings assertion comes from the fact that gas provides instant high temperature heat, and electric elements take a few minutes to reach their target cooking temperature. Lastly, the temperature control argument comes from the ability to quickly make small changes to the temperature of a cookers gas. Again, electrics do have a significant lag time when temperature adjustments are made.

Those who like the electric option most often cite the ease of use of electric cookers, the unpleasant odor that is sometimes associated with gas, and the possibility, all be it a very rare one, of a freestanding gas cooker causing a dangerous situation. Electric cookers are very easy to operate, but many overlook the danger of elements that do not look hot when on lower settings. Because of this, electric elements do pose a burn risk, especially to small children. While it is true that liquid petroleum gas does have an odor added to it to aid in the detection of leaks, simple and easy maintenance of a home or commercial system will make this issue go away in almost every case. Also, though at times there can be safety concerns with gas, the danger associated with the flammable nature of L.P. gas is often highly exaggerated due to misinformation and a few unfortunate accidents.

As of the present day, there is no clear winner in the age old debate between gas and electric. Electric cookers enjoy a huge share of the overall residential market in the United States. Conversely, the U.S. commercial cooking market is still dominated by those who chose the gas cooker option. There seems to be no evidence that this trend will shift in the foreseeable future. The needs of the end user make gas cookers a wise choice in many circumstances, and a different set of needs make electrics the best option in other circumstances. Many times the choice is made for the individual, because most people will use whatever cooker was already installed when they rent or buy an existing home.