Gas or electric oven

New items in kitchen appliances help to create "culinary miracles" and significantly expand the range of dishes. In this regard, the question often arises, which oven is better to choose, gas or electric? Before buying, you should figure out what opportunities both devices have, which is more economically profitable and is associated with less risk.

Distinctive features

Any technique, be it a gas or electric oven, will cope with food preparation. The features of gas devices include fast heating. Energy is transferred from the open flame of a gas burner located most often at the bottom. Therefore, a constant supply of fresh air is required for work. It enters through the ventilation holes in the metal casing around the cooking compartment.

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Electrical appliances are more popular today. Their work requires less human supervision and is less dangerous due to the absence of open fire. It so happens that, having a gas oven, people decide to purchase a second oven - an electric one, since it has more options.

Which is better - a built-in gas or electric oven, everyone decides for himself. In this case, one must take into account:

• technical capabilities of a house or apartment;
• the frequency of using the oven;
• variety of dishes;
• the need for such additional options as child lock, electronic programming.

Power supply price

Gas ovens and electric ovens use different power sources. It is more profitable to use gas than electricity. But for those who rarely cook in the oven (and there are most of them), this difference will not become so significant. The average family uses the oven 1-3 times a week or on holidays. In this case, convenience of use comes to the fore, and not the price for the product or power source. In addition, many modern electrical models are classified as energy efficiency class A + and higher, which are energy efficient.

Convenience of connection

Which is better, a gas or electric oven? This is important for those who live in a house with a centralized gas supply. For residents of high-rise buildings (above the 10th floor), the choice is obvious (or rather, it does not exist) due to the ban on gas pipelines. Here it remains to choose the appropriate model of the electric oven, with the necessary set of options.

Gas in cylinders is used in extreme cases, for example, in the country. It does not meet safety requirements.

To connect an electric oven, a separate line, outlet, wires must be of sufficient cross-section. The power of the device is on average 2 - 3.5 kW, a significant amount of energy is required for operation. Old wiring may not hold up.

In both cases, a specialist must connect so that the operation of the device does not pose a risk.

Ovens price

The ovens themselves are insulated or come complete with a hob. There are models that are installed separately, others are built into furniture. There are different oven sizes on the market. The middle ones have a volume of 60 - 70 liters and a height of 50 - 60 cm. Small ones (with a volume of 30 - 45 liters and a height of 40 cm) are designed for families of 1 - 2 people, they can be placed on a table. Of course, all this affects the cost of the product.

Ovens have a wide range of prices. This is due to a different set of functions. The simplest ones have temperature and mode control using mechanical levers. Electric ignition makes it easier to switch on the gas appliance. Double glasses, heat resistant. There is a timer, backlight.

More advanced models are equipped with complex programs, have the functions of heating dishes, grilling, steam processing, defrosting, pyrolytic cleaning, child locks. Then the oven or gas oven is much more expensive.

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The range of gas models is smaller, but their prices are higher than electric ones. Modern induction ovens are the most expensive.

Cooking quality

Most people are unlikely to be able to distinguish the taste of food cooked on gas and electricity. The grilling effect is mainly given to food by grilling, which occurs in both types of ovens. Which is better - a gas stove or a hob, the hostess can reveal during cooking, based on her preferences.

Electric ovens heat the food more evenly. The heating elements are located at the bottom, top, and sometimes on the back wall. There is often a fan on the back to move heated air inside the chamber. There are different cooking modes, which differ in heating speed, duration, temperature. You can cook more different dishes.

In gas ovens, heating is unidirectional. Often a situation arises when there is a strong heat from below, the food burns, and from above it is insufficient for baking the dish. Over time, you can adapt, adjust the strength of the fire and the duration of cooking. But in electrical appliances, the process is much simpler. The temperature in them is set with great accuracy and you don't have to worry about the quality of the baked goods. Manufacturers of gas ovens are improving them, gradually approaching the functional characteristics of electrical appliances.

The convenience of use

Easy-to-use appliances are found among electric and gas ovens. From functions - only mode and temperature. Control of gas appliances is mechanical, electrical - sensor or electronic-mechanical. The mechanics are characterized by simplicity, practically does not break. Touch control has more possibilities, but more complex. If there is no desire to delve into the intricacies of adjusting and programming different modes, it is better to choose an electronic-mechanical device.

The newest electrical appliances are sophisticated smart machines that combine the function of an oven, steamer, grill, microwave. They can be used:

• for defrosting;
• fast heating of dishes;
• fermentation;
• languor;
• steam sterilization.

The cooking modes for the most frequent meals can be stored in the device memory. There is a blocking, timer, automatic cleaning, convection. The core temperature probe detects the temperature in the depth of the baked dish, which allows you to know for sure about the readiness of the dish even without opening the door.

In the combined models, the gas oven is supplemented with an electric grill. Less often it is the other way around: an electric oven is equipped with a gas grill. Products with an electric grill have a touch screen. The more expensive the device is, the more functions are included.

Care and maintenance

Modern ovens inside are equipped with a specially prepared bioceramic surface. Fat practically does not stick to it, so it is not difficult to remove it.

After cooking and cooling the appliance, the walls are wiped with a damp sponge to collect food residues. Cleaning regularly is a guarantee that the next dish does not absorb unpleasant odors.

The Catalytic Auto Purge option is available on most models. The walls of the oven are coated with a catalyst that accelerates the breakdown of fat. Pyrolytic - is possible only in electrical appliances, and quite expensive ones. This cleaning is achieved by raising the temperature to 500 degrees, at which all food residues are burned. The experts' comments are unambiguous: this is the most reliable way to get rid of dirt and microbes, although it requires a lot of electricity. To reduce the risk of burns, the door is locked during the period of such intense heating.

To facilitate the washing process, in many models the door is made collapsible. In some ovens, the rails can be removed to make cleaning easier. Dishwasher safe.

Safety

Gas is an explosive, highly flammable substance. Gas appliances are always more dangerous than electrical appliances. Although non-observance of safety measures and incorrect connection can lead to negative consequences in both cases.

Gas ovens are now being made more secure than before. All modern models are equipped with gas control. If the burner flame goes out, the gas supply is shut off in automatic mode, the autoignition does not work. This minimizes the risk of gas leaks. And yet, one should not forget about possible defects in the gas hose. What a specialist should connect is not even discussed.

To eliminate the harmful effects of gas combustion products (carbon monoxide), it is necessary to ensure the correct operation of the ventilation and exhaust systems in the kitchen.

Electrical appliances are less dangerous. Unlike gas devices, they are not explosive and do not burn oxygen with the formation of excess carbon dioxide. It is also important to connect them correctly so that there is grounding, to exclude the possibility of overloading in the network, and not to use extension cords. This will protect against electric shock.

It is also necessary to reduce the heating of the outer surface of the oven and nearby pieces of furniture. And this is where modern technologies come to the rescue. A heat-insulating material is placed between the working chamber and the outer metal casing. Modern electric furnaces have an electronic emergency shutdown in case of any malfunctions in the system, additional blowing for the purpose of cooling. A temperature of 90 degrees is the maximum allowable for the outer side walls. If the sensors record its excess, the electrical appliance stops working so as not to cause a fire.

Oven models from renowned manufacturers

It is better to choose a gas cabinet from reliable manufacturers: Gefest, Electrolux, Indesit, Fornelli, Hotpoint-Ariston. Maunfeld. They all offer many options for convection ovens. Korting, Gefest, Indesit - with electric grill. It is convenient to cook meat in them. The dish turns out to be juicy, covered with an appetizing crust. Indesit is energy efficient. Electrolux combines many modes, including defrosting food.

Among electric ovens, the leading models are Neff, Indesit, Zanussi, Bosch, Beko, Electrolux, Gefest, Hansa, Siemens. Some can cook 2 different dishes at the same time, have a spit, a delayed start timer. The switches are recessed into the front surface, which makes it impossible for children to turn on the device.

You can get acquainted in detail with the characteristics of each oven model on the Internet, in a hardware store, or study the instructions for the device. It is important to choose ovens from well-known manufacturers in specialized stores in order to exclude the possibility of counterfeiting. It is useful to study the reviews of other buyers, since sometimes the declared characteristics do not correspond to reality.

An integrated approach will help you choose an oven that suits the price, size, design, and set of functions. She will be a good helper in daily cooking.