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What's the difference between gas and electric ovens?

Cooking with gas or in your element with electric? It's a hot debate!

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If you’re a regular Jamie Oliver in the kitchen (or even if you just love a home-cooked pizza) there’s no more important appliance than your oven. But there’s been a hot debate raging for years – which is better – gas or electric ovens?

The benefits of an electric oven include the ability to cook at a higher and more even heat than gas. But there are benefits of a gas oven too – including better energy efficiency and cooking control. But which is the right choice?

We’ll lay out the difference between gas and electric oven so you can decide the right one for you. Oven gloves at the ready!

Gas oven vs electric oven pros and cons

Let’s break down the difference between gas and electric cookers. By working out gas oven vs electric oven pros and cons, maybe you’ll have a better idea of what suits you.

Gas ovens

If you’re a gourmet, gas gives you more control, as you can adjust temperatures more easily. But because gas burns at a hotter temperature, you’re more likely to get burnt edges on your food – so you have to keep an eye on your food and rotate it once in a while. Gas ovens also produce a moister environment – which isn’t always great for big meals like roast dinners.

It's not all gas and gaiters. Gas ovens are usually more expensive to buy than electric ovens. Then there’s the potential of gas leaks – so safety is a factor too. But don't let that put you off. Gas cookers come with many safety features - so there’s no need to worry.

Electric ovens

Electric ovens are usually a bit cheaper than gas up front. They also have a dry even heat – great for baking and roasting. They’re easy to maintain since they can have easy clean gas hobs. If you've ever tried to clean the inside of a gas oven, you might appreciate the wonders of an easy clean electric oven!

And because of their build, electric ovens can also have more space on the surfaces and more storage for oven dishes. Plus, they’re easy to install – just plug in!

But there are some cons too. Electric ovens tend to cook food slower than gas ovens and are slower to heat up and adjust temperature. Plus, if you have a power cut – you won’t be able to do any cooking.

Gas vs Electric oven usage cost

As we’ve mentioned, gas ovens are a great choice for saving money. Even the most energy efficient electric cookers can’t compete with energy efficient gas cookers. And while a gas vs electric oven usage comparison sees them using roughly the same amount of energy – gas is cheaper.

According to one report, gas comes in at 6p per Kilowatt hour (KWh) and electricity 12p per KWh. So, electric oven vs gas oven running cost? Gas oven is the winner.

Difference between Gas and Electric oven temperatures

There’s a big difference between gas and electric oven temperatures. Gas oven temperatures mainly come in gas mark – but some have dials showing degrees celsius. Then there’s the fan feature which distributes heat throughout the oven and basically means you can get the same results at slightly lower temperature.

Electric oven temperatures work purely in degrees celsius and also have the fan feature.

So how do you convert gas oven temperatures to electric or electric oven temperatures to gas? Check out this table below.

Gas Mark Fahrenheit Celsius Description
1/4 225 110 Very cool/very slow
1/2 250 130 ---
1 275 140 Cool
2 300 150 ---
3 325 170 very moderate
4 350 180 Moderate
5 375 190 ---
6 400 200 moderately hot
7 425 220 Hot
8 450 230 ---
9 475 240 very hot

Gas oven vs electric oven cooking time

Once both ovens reach the right cooking temperatures, cooking time should logically be the same. But, as anyone who’s used an oven knows, it’s all about how long it takes to warm up.

When it comes to gas oven vs electric oven cooking time, gas wins this one. It takes a gas oven 10-15 minutes to reach desired temperature. Electric ovens can take 10 minutes longer than that. But why are electric oven cooking times slower?

The reason is simple. A gas flame heats all parts of the oven – including the sides. An electric oven has specific heating elements. That’s why electric ovens take a long time to heat up. But that doesn’t mean you have to switch to gas to cut down the wait. Convection ovens are electric, but they heat up super-fast.

What is a dual fuel cooker?

But just because electric and gas ovens have their differences – it doesn’t mean you can’t have the best of both worlds. Say hello to dual fuel cookers!

But what is a dual fuel cooker and are dual fuel cookers any good? Put simply, they use both electricity and gas. The gas part of it distributes heat evenly whereas the electric aspect means that food is cooked at the same temperature throughout.

And the best dual fuel cooker depends on what you need it for. Freestanding dual fuel cookers comes in all shapes and sizes – from compact models to a double dual fuel range cooker. Plus, you’ll find dual fuel cookers with some gas burners and some electric burners – so it’s about finding your perfect balance.

More gas and electric ovens

So, have you picked a side? Electric cooker or gas cooker? Or maybe you want to give a hybrid a go – like a dual fuel oven. You could go for a gas hob and electric oven.

The truth is that both types of cooking have their advantages. It’s all about what works for you – so get cooking.

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Get cooking!