Which oven is better - gas or electric?

Connection Features

Often the ability to select the type of oven is limited by the ability to connect it. For example, if the house is not gasified, then the dilemma of how to choose a gas or electric oven disappears by itself. Some gas ovens can operate from a cylinder filled with liquefied gas, but this option of operation is possible only for private houses. Using a gas cylinder in apartment buildings, even if it is installed on the balcony, is strictly prohibited.

Has its own important features when connecting an electric oven. It should be understood that the oven is a very energy-intensive electrical appliance, its power ranges from 2 to 4 kW, while the load on the wire is long-lasting. Intra-house wiring of houses built in the USSR can not withstand such a significant load. This can cause short circuits and network failure, as well as its excessive heat, which can cause a fire.

One more thing - a certain amount of available electrical power is allocated to each apartment / house by the power company. Before buying and connecting an electric oven, it is necessary to clarify the size of the allowable power and make an approximate calculation. For example, in apartment buildings designed before 2006( when installing a gas stove) the permissible power is 3 kW per apartment, when installing electric cookers - 7 kW.Whether this will be enough to provide all simultaneously connected electrical appliances - with the current number of electrical appliances, the allocated power may not be enough. Especially if the apartment has air conditioning, plus a refrigerator, a computer and other electrical appliances. So you will have to send a letter to the energy supply company with a request to increase the allowable power limit. I just want to warn you that this procedure is costly - both in terms of financial and time, because you have to develop and coordinate a new power supply project, receive admission, conduct tests, etc. The process of obtaining admission itself can last from 2 to 6 months.

The optimal solution for installing an electric oven is to conduct a separate cable, the cross section of which will be selected taking into account the power of the oven. And also it is obligatory to provide good reliable grounding.

Uniform heating

Cooking in the oven occurs due to the fact that the air transfers heat from the heating element to the cooking dish. Therefore, the uniform heating of the entire volume of the oven directly affects the quality of cooking. Because of the uneven heating, the dish will have to be rearranged or rotated to avoid burning.

Gas tubes located at the bottom are used as a heating element in a gas oven. The heat generated by the combustion of gas rises. The uniformity of heating the oven also affects how much the gas tube has a geometric shape and how it is located - as a result, some areas can warm up more intensely, while others get less heat. Therefore, even despite the relatively small size and volume of the oven, due to unidirectional heating, temperature differences can be quite significant. The difference in the lower and upper parts of the oven can be 20-30 degrees. Irregularity of heating becomes clearer even when installing just one pan, and when cooking on two - they will have to be interchanged from time to time.

In electric ovens, heating elements( tubular electric heaters) are used as a heating element. In most cases, they are installed in the upper and lower parts. That is why any electric oven in terms of the uniform distribution of heat exceeds the gas. In the premium segment models, in order to achieve the maximum uniform heat distribution, additional heating elements can be installed on the side walls.

Modern models of ovens are equipped with convection function. This function, which allows for uniform distribution of heat throughout the oven. The fan creates an air flow that mixes warm and cold air throughout the entire volume - this way the problem of cooking dishes on two baking trays is solved. Convection is less effective in gas ovens, since they are not sealed to ensure the removal of combustion products. Therefore, to achieve a uniform distribution of heat even with the use of convection will be quite problematic.

Functionality

In this parameter, the models of modern electric ovens are far superior to their gas counterparts. First of all, it should be noted the variability of the heat supply - an electric oven allows you to combine the top and bottom heat supply, only the top or only the bottom, a combination of heating and grilling.

Despite the fact that both electric and gas ovens have temperature regulators, in electric ovens this function is more efficient - it allows you to expose and maintain the required value much more accurately. Plus - a larger temperature range is available in electric ovens. In addition, the electric oven has a set of different thermal modes:

• quick heating;
• careful defrosting, as an option - automated programs of defrosting products in which temperature changes occur at different stages of the process;
• fermentation;
• languor;
• maintaining the set temperature of the finished dish.

Of other functions, it should be noted:

• convection - allows you to ensure uniform temperature conditions, even when installing several trays. This feature is especially demanded by baking lovers;
• timers - allow you to both turn off and turn on the oven at a user-specified time;
• thermoprobe - an opportunity to check the readiness of a dish by measuring the temperature inside it. This is important when cooking large( bulk) meat or fish dishes;
• cooking programs - when you select a specific dish, the oven automatically controls the temperature and cooking time;
• self-cleaning function - depending on the model, it can be pyrolytic, catalytic or hydrolytic cleaning of the oven, they greatly simplify the process of cleaning after cooking;
• grill - an additional heater, usually installed in the upper part of the oven, allows you to get a very high temperature for the formation of a crisp. Included with the grill can go spit( manual or automatic).

In some electric ovens, the possibility of steaming is implemented, in some models they have the functions of microwave ovens. But it should be remembered that a significant disadvantage of a large number of functions is a significant increase in the cost of the oven. However, as experience shows, some functions can be very rarely used. So, choosing which oven is better gas or electric in terms of functionality, you should decide whether you need to overpay for the little-demanded possibilities of an electric oven.

Safety

Traditionally, gas ovens are considered to be more dangerous than electric ovens due to the use of natural gas and open fire. In fact, modern models of gas ovens have a multifactorial security system, which reduces the likelihood of a fire to zero. Gas supply sensors very carefully monitor the flow of gas, automatically blocking it when a fire is lost. Another important aspect is good ventilation, which should ensure the discharge of combustion products.

The safety of operation of an electric oven is directly related to its proper connection - the right choice of cable section and grounding, as mentioned above. Despite the high temperature, heat insulation is provided in the ovens, so the risk of getting burned by touching the outer surface of the oven is minimal. However, when buying an embedded model of an electrical cabinet, you should take care that the furniture can withstand the increased temperature. In fact, the safety level of ovens, both electric and gas, is the same.

Important:

Safety is directly related to a very important requirement - accurate compliance by the user with the use of the oven, which is described in the instruction manual.

Profitability

In this parameter, gas ovens look preferable to electric, because the main gas is cheaper than electricity. However, this difference is not very noticeable, if you rarely use the oven. But with frequent use of the electric oven, which consumes from 2 to 7 kW of electricity for the cooking cycle, this difference in favor of the gas oven becomes especially pronounced.

Cost

The cost of the oven depends on a large number of parameters - the manufacturer( brand), brand prestige, functionality, power, energy efficiency, materials used, year of manufacture, visual appeal, etc. But with relatively equal parameters, gas ovens turn out to be significantly cheaper than electric models.

Definitely determine that the best electric or gas oven is almost impossible. The choice depends on many factors, but most importantly, for what purposes and how often you plan to use the oven. If you have enough minimum set of functions and you plan to use the oven often, then you should carefully study the proposals of gas ovens. If, however, a variety of prepared dishes is important for you, then definitely choose an electric oven.