There has been a long debate in Kelowna and around the province of BC about which is better, electric or gas. While that debate has typically been centred on the heating of homes, it also applies to other elements, and that includes whether cooking with an electric oven or with the blue flame found on gas ranges that use natural gas is better when it comes to sustainable living and saving on energy bills.
With the higher price of electricity compared with natural gas, switching over to gas may be an option you and your family may be ready to make.
ON THE MARK
Gas cook ranges are known to provide more precise temperature control and heat distribution. That is because a natural gas flame is infinitely variable and spreads itself along the bottom and sides of a pan.
Food tends to cook faster and more evenly over an open flame. And another bonus is that you can also char and toast food with a gas cooktop that you cannot do with an electric burner.
And as another bonus, you can still use your stovetop and oven during a power outage.
QUICKER AND SAFER COOKING
This speedy way of cooking not only applies to the cooktop but also with the oven. A gas oven can burn at up to 2,000 degrees F, while an electric oven typically only heats to as high as 500 F. Therefore a gas oven tends to preheat faster, allowing you to save time on baking and roasting your food.
Another factor of a gas oven is safety. The blue flame of a gas oven is visible, and as gas is detectable by smell, you will know when you have accidentally left your stove on.
WHY BLUE IS THE NEW GREEN
An electric stove, on average, tends to cost more than a gas stove. Additionally, the natural gas to operate the gas stove is also cheaper, saving you money in more ways than one.
Many homes in Kelowna and BC are already heated by natural gas, so you will likely be able to easily hook up gas-powered kitchen appliances without adding to the cost of installation.
Another cost saving factor is the fact that an automatic pilotless ignition found on many new gas ranges can actually save you money on your energy bill as it uses less gas than a standing pilot range. While electricity does power the ignition switch, you can still use your oven during a power outage, as you can light the burners with a match.
