Renting the perfect stove is a big decision, no matter how much time you spend in the kitchen. The differences between a gas vs electric stove can be impactful, so we’re going to go through the pros and cons of gas vs electric stove, plus cooking on an electric stove vs gas so you can make an informed choice.
Let’s get to it!
Gas Stoves 101
The key with a gas stove is that it requires a gas line. If you don’t have one, you’re already out of the equation. If you do, let’s take a look at how gas stoves work.
Gas Stove Pros
Gas is typically cheaper than electricity, which makes it a great way to cook. It’s also easier to control the exact temperature of your food by visibly changing the flame.
Gas stoves are a great option if you like to do grilling, charring, toasting, and more in just a few minutes. For people frequently cooking in a short amount of time, a gas stove might be the best option.
Gas Stove Cons
Gas stoves do require an open flame. It’s worth noting that if you’re uncomfortable with a visible flame, or have small children and pets, you might want to opt-out of a gas stove. Additionally, if there are issues with the lighting, you might need to be comfortable lighting a match or using a lighter to get the stove on.
There is an added risk with gas stoves of improper use. It’s possible for the gas to be left on but the flame to be unlit, which can be very harmful to people and pets in the home because carbon monoxide poisoning is possible.
There’s also some concern that gas stoves cause unhealthy indoor air quality, which isn’t safe for anyone. Harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxide can affect your indoor air pollution levels and cause damage to your respiratory health.
If you do choose a gas stove, be sure that you use adequate ventilation with a hood or fan to help circulate the air. We spend so much time inside that it’s easy to have unknown exposures to toxic chemicals like this.
Electric Stoves 101
Electric stoves tend to be the default choice for many residential facilities like apartment buildings that don’t have a gas line or want to reduce fire hazards. Beyond that, electric stoves can be a great option for daily cooking!
Electric Stove Pros
Since cultivating natural gas isn’t a super sustainable process, an electric stove might be for you if you’re concerned about having a low impact on the planet. Electric stoves are more energy-efficient because they transfer more heat to the food than gas stoves do. Although, induction stovetops are the number one for energy efficiency!
As an added bonus, that means that your kitchen doesn’t warm up as much and you don’t need to blast fans or the air conditioning every time you cook. (Although you should have a hood or other fan to help with smoke and cooking odors!)
Electric stoves have a level cooktop for pots, which can’t always be said for gas stoves. This makes them easier to clean as well, when the flame is off of course!
Electric stoves are also easy to install and don’t require much maintenance since all they need is a high voltage outlet.
Electric Stove Cons
Electric stoves take longer to cook food and you’ll notice a real difference in how long it takes to do something simple like boiling water in comparison to a gas stove. The cooktops can also get damaged if you drop something heavy like a dutch oven, which isn’t ideal considering they’re expensive to replace.
Depending on where you live, electricity is expensive and with the added cooking time, you could be paying quite a bit more over time by cooking on an electric stove.
Gas vs Electric Stove
In the decision to rent a gas or electric stove, it really comes down to a few key areas:
- Lifestyle: How much do you cook? How many meals per day do you cook? Do you typically use multiple burners at a time?
- Number of people in the home: Any small children?
- Budgetary requirements: What’s your budget for gas and electricity?
However, the advantage to renting a stove is that you can try it out and next time you move or when you’re ready to buy a stove, you have some experience to go on.
If you have some time to make your decision, try asking friends and family members what they have. If you can, offer to make a meal at their home and try out the stove you don’t have the most experience with. If it’s dramatically different in a good way, spring for that option!
Renting An Electric Stove vs Gas Stove
As we mentioned earlier, the pros of renting are that you can always change your mind eventually! Use renting as a trial to see how you feel about cooking on a gas stove if you’re used to an electric stove.
Our prices for renting a gas vs electric stove are actually the same, so the only potential cost difference you’ll see is in your bills. Depending on your building and your city, you may pay more for electricity than you would for gas.
If you have particular questions about renting stoves or choosing the right stove for you, contact us! We’d love to help in your journey to the perfect kitchen.
