Choosing between gas and electric cooktops can be an agonising decision. You know that whichever one you choose, you will be using it for a long time. You\’ve heard the argument that gas is the \”chef\’s choice,\” but you\’ve been using an electric hob for years and have few complaints. What\’s better? Gas or electric?

Gas Cooktops: The Pros and Cons

Gas cooktops have three major advantages over their electric counterparts:

1. Instant Temperature Change: You can instantly change the temperature of a gas flame simply by turning the dial and observing the flame. An experienced user knows exactly how high a flame he needs for any use, from simmering to deep frying.

2. Reduced Greenhouse Emissions: Gas appliances, including cooktops, do not contribute to greenhouse gases, which are primarily produced by coal generated power.

3. Gas cooktops are cheaper to run that electric.

On the downside, gas cooktops are harder to clean than many of the newer models of electric cooktops. They are also more expensive to buy and as a rule require specialised maintenance if something breaks or needs replacing. Unlike electricity, which is connected to almost all Australian homes, you usually need to make a special provision for gas storage and arrangements for replacing fuel as needed.

Electric Cooktops: The Pros and Cons

Manufacturers of electric cooktops have addressed many of the problems they have had in the past. Today\’s models are more energy efficient than older models. This reduces their carbon footprint. Newer electronic controls and more technologically advanced heating elements have resulted in much faster heating and cooling times.

Other advantages of electric cooktops include:

– Smooth, Easy to Clean Surfaces: A flat ceramic or toughened glass electric cooktop making cleaning a breeze.

– Electronic Controls allow you to quickly and easily choose the setting you need for your intended purpose. If you want to simmer a dish for a long period of time, you don\’t have to continually check and adjust the heat as you may have to do with a gas cooktop.

– Even Heat: The element on an electric cooktop produces an even heat – there are no \”hot spots\” as there can be on gas cooktops.

If you still can\’t decide, did you know that you can now buy gas and electric cooktops? These give you the best of both worlds. They come in a variety of configurations, so you can choose the one that will serve your purposes the best. Wok cooking, for instance, is best done with gas. A gas/electric cooktop with a special wok burner may be exactly what you need.

In the last analysis, neither gas nor electric is \”better\” for everyone. It really comes down to personal preference. There are hundreds of different makes and models of both gas and electric cooktops to choose from. You can make the choice easier if you do your \”window shopping\” on an online appliances shopping site, where you can compare hundreds of different cooktops based on their prices and features.

Author Bio: Dan Stewart is a writer and researcher for Comparison.com.au, Australia\’s largest product comparison website. Find all your home appliances online at Comparison.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: cooktops,cook tops,hobs,stoves,ranges