Gas or electric stove: which is better and more economical, comparison using a specific example

When choosing a new kitchen assistant, some users believe that a gas stove is better and more economical in everyday life, while others believe that an electric one. On the Russian domestic market, these two products are represented by a large range of models, the first is already known for its advantages and disadvantages, the second has recently entered the lives of new residents, since new high-rise buildings are equipped with electric analogues.

Each stove has its own nuances, operating principle, as well as individual advantages and disadvantages. To deal with all the difficulties during operation, just carefully read this article. We will try to reveal in detail all the features of these household appliances unknown to the general consumer.

Advantages and disadvantages of a gas unit

Any household appliance has its pros and cons, but first we will describe all the positive qualities:

The cost of the product is 10-20% lower than its electric counterpart, and this means a stove of the same class from the same manufacturer.
Adjusting the flame on a gas stove is much more convenient; no model of electric stove can compare with them in this regard.
The work process is much faster, since the temperature of the open fire is always higher than the maximum heated burner.
The efficiency of a gas stove is 60-70%, while that of an electric stove is 30%.
The price of gas is much lower than electricity, so a gas stove is more economical.

Flaws:

an open fire always poses a fire hazard; in addition, a gas leak may occur from the main line, and no one needs to explain what this entails;
there is no possibility of precise temperature control in the oven;
Various additives are added to blue fuel, and they do not always smell pleasant; traces of soot remain from combustion, which is quite difficult to remove;
when working with gas, filters on the hood must be changed more often;
there is no protection from child intervention.

Using natural gas is much cheaper for consumers, but the danger of fire and explosion due to leaks really exists, so these stoves must be used very carefully.

Advantages and disadvantages of gas stoves

When figuring out which stove is better, gas or electric, you need to consider the positive and negative aspects of both models. It's worth starting with the first one. Such a household appliance has a lot of advantages:

Relatively low cost (about 20% less than electric). This parameter is important for those who are interested in what is cheaper, an electric stove or a gas one, and only by comparing the cost can they make a choice.
High cooking speed. A gas stove, having good direct contact with an open flame, allows food to cook faster due to the highest possible temperature.
Convenient flame adjustment. The power of the burner can be easily adjusted to the required level.
When considering which is more profitable, a gas or electric stove, it is worth considering that the efficiency of the former is 60-70%, and that of the latter reaches 30%.
Additionally, it can be equipped with electric ignition, the oven has a convection function, and also has a clock, timer and gas control.

When deciding whether gas or electricity is better in an apartment, one cannot do without a fly in the ointment. So, you need to be careful with open fire. Do not leave towels, oven mitts, plastic or paper bags on the work surface near the burner. In addition to a sudden fire, a gas leak may occur.

It is difficult to set the exact temperature in the oven. Food may burn or not cook through. Impurities in gas have a specific odor. Regarding whether a gas stove or an electric one is more economical, the former is considered more profitable. This is due to the price of fuel consumed. Gas will be cheaper.

Advantages and disadvantages of electric stoves

First, let's talk about the advantages:

Safety comes first; all you need to do is connect it correctly, and the electric stove will work for many years without unnecessary problems.
A convenient oven with many functional capabilities and workflow automation.
There is no open flame, so there is no soot.
Electric models are much more profitable than their gas counterparts in terms of air purity.

Negative qualities:

the cost is higher than that of gas models;
it is inconvenient to adjust the temperature, but this only applies to options with separate burners - we do not take glass ceramics into account here;
constant dependence on the availability of electricity, what to hide - in many regions there are interruptions in its supply, and then users are left not only without electricity, but also without hot food;
there is no effective protection against children.

The cheapest option for consumers to operate electric stoves will be in rural areas, since tariffs there are lower than in urban areas, so it is more profitable to use these models in a dacha or country house.

Which stove is better?

To conclude which device is optimal to purchase for your kitchen, it is worth comparing their main indicators:

Basic indicators	Gas stove	Electric stove
Life time	10 years	10 years
Food heating time	Food heats up faster and more evenly over an open fire	Slower; high cooking speed only on glass-ceramic stoves
Temperature control	Convenient regulation of temperature and flame power using the handle.	Hob adjustment is less flexible than a gas stove
Product cost	Relatively low	From 10 to 50 thousand rubles. Approximately 10-20% higher than gas
Economy	Gas bills are much lower than electricity bills	The average electricity bill is higher than that of gas stove owners
Air and room cleanliness	Gas burners emit toxins harmful to humans and leave behind soot and grease that are difficult to clean off	Electric stoves do not release toxic substances into the room that turn into fat, so such stoves are much easier to clean.
Functionality	Most often, gas stoves are equipped only with electric ignition, a timer and a grill in the oven.	Higher functionality - automatic programs, microwave function, electric grill, spit, etc.

As you can see, electric stoves are a more expensive, but environmentally friendly option for apartments or country houses. They are easier to clean, have many convenient options and interesting designs.

However, the cooking speed is much higher on gas models . In addition, gas stoves are available in all price segments and do not require a large gas bill.

Which is cheaper?

For comparison, we chose an inexpensive stove from a Belarusian manufacturer under the GEFEST brand; both models have almost the same basic parameters.

5140-01

The average cost of an electric model is 12.5 thousand ₽, dimensions are 500x585x850 mm, the oven has a volume of 52 liters, grill, double glass, internal lighting. The hob is white enamel, 4 burners.

3200-08 K85

The price of a gas stove starts from 8.1 thousand rubles. Dimensions 500x530x850 mm, enamel work surface coating, 4 quick heating burners, with a steel grate installed above them. Gas oven, volume 42 l. Models from the same manufacturer, the same configuration, but the gas model costs 4.4 thousand rubles cheaper - that’s all about which option you should choose.

Advantages of a gas stove

The cost-effectiveness of a gas stove is undeniable. Despite the constant increase in gas prices, it is still cheaper than electricity. In addition, the cost of the gas stove itself is 10% -20% lower than the cost of an electric stove of the same class.
Many housewives enjoy the opportunity to cook over an open fire. Any dish can be prepared very quickly. There is no time wasted on heating the surface above the burner. The process begins instantly as soon as the burner is lit.
It is easier to control the cooking process on a gas stove. After all, it is more convenient and simpler to mechanically regulate the flame of a gas burner than to control a process invisible to the eye in an electric stove.

Which stove is more profitable?

When choosing a model, experts advise: a stove running on blue fuel is much more economical in a house that is connected to a gas system, and if there is only an electrical network, then there is no alternative. Let's consider several options: when the user lives in a private house or if he is going to use the stove only for his dacha.

For home

We have found out all the advantages and disadvantages of these models, so we will not repeat them. If you live in a country cottage and it is connected to a standard gas pipeline, then it is more profitable to use a stove with a blue fuel option:

The price is a very significant argument.
The second position is occupied by efficiency: gas costs much less than electricity.
Easy to use, and effective ventilation is not a problem in a separate building.
You do not depend on the availability of electricity; during any power outage, everyone will be provided with hot food, this is especially true for families with small children.
The speed of cooking is not even discussed.

What to do if there is no gas pipeline - then the electric stove option comes into force, especially since in rural areas tariffs for the use of electricity are much lower. Of course, the efficiency of using such a model will be less, and the process of heating and cooling the burners must also be taken into account.

For the dacha

The advantages of gas models are real efficiency, which is why many summer residents use them with liquefied fuel; one cylinder lasts a long time, because they live there permanently only in the summer, and after the harvest they go only on holidays and weekends. Autonomous bottled gas is easy to use, and charging it is easy today.

At the dacha, it is rational to use such devices, because power outages in cooperatives are quite common. The main thing is to install the cylinder outdoors and ensure reliable sealing of all connections. The ceiling height must be at least 2.2 m, and a good exhaust hood must be installed in the room for normal ventilation.

When your choice falls on an electric model, you need to take into account its technical and operational data, and the quality and availability of various functions will depend on the financial freedom of the summer resident. The presence of an oven will provide the housewife with an invaluable service when preparing for the winter - it will efficiently sterilize jars, and the rest of the time it will help with a variety of baked goods.

The main thing is to correctly take into account the condition of the electrical wiring: for a load of up to 6 kW, it must have a cross-section of at least 2.5 square meters. mm, for a country house option, it is considered ideal to have 2 burners. Unlike gas counterparts that run on liquefied gas, electric models do not need to be constantly monitored in energy consumption.

Connecting the stove does not require any specific knowledge - just insert the plug into the socket and use it to your health, but before that, a professional electrician must check the condition of the wiring in order to prevent it from spontaneous combustion from overvoltage. There is a wide range of slabs available for summer cottages, so you can choose any option depending on the user’s wishes.

Features of electric stoves

If previously such stoves were installed only in high-rise buildings for safety reasons, now their popularity has increased, and many people prefer them even if they can install a gas model. This is due to a number of significant advantages of using them:

Electric stoves have a stylish and modern design

Safety. The main and very important advantage of installing such devices. The only condition for complete safety in using such models is their correct connection. After this, you don’t have to worry about the safety of using such stoves. In addition, the absence of open flame reduces the likelihood of burns from careless use.
Functionality. They are more functional, so the cooking process becomes easier and more interesting.

The high functionality of the models will make the cooking process as simple as possible
Convenient oven. Modern ovens are independent and functional devices that allow almost complete automation of the cooking process. At the same time, such an oven easily copes with the function of maintaining a certain temperature.

High-quality and convenient oven
Less pollution. There is no plaque on surfaces that forms when gas is burned. Therefore, when using electrical appliances, such a powerful hood is not required, and the filters in it can be changed less frequently.

Despite the advantages, electric models also differ in a number of significant disadvantages:

High price. With the same parameters, manufacturers and classes, the cost of such models is higher.
Inconvenience of using the hob. The temperature control of electric stoves with cast iron burners is less flexible than that of gas models. However, electric models that operate on the basis of induction do not have this problem. Unlike stainless steel or cast iron hobs, glass-ceramic models allow more flexible temperature control. But at the same time, adjusting the gas burner is intuitively simple, but electric burners take some getting used to.
Dependence on electricity. Gas outages are a fairly rare occurrence, but power outages are more common, especially in rural areas.

The disadvantages of electric stoves must be taken into account when choosing them. In some cases, you can choose models whose disadvantages are insignificant, for example, with a glass-ceramic surface and at an affordable price.

conclusions

Gas models are ideal for consumers who like quick cooking, but they require strict adherence to the rules for using cylinder equipment. Their operation is much more profitable and rational, but there are some inconveniences in the delivery and charging of cylinders.

Electric stoves are only suitable in places where there are electrical networks with a high power threshold to ensure safe operation. This applies to standard equipment with an oven to pamper yourself with homemade fresh baked goods in nature. A product with 2 burners or an ordinary household tile can be used everywhere without any special restrictions.

We hope that all the information provided to your attention has helped answer most of the questions that users have: now you can freely choose the option that suits you.