Gas or electric hob?

stilernin

I'm not sure if this is the right place for this, but I thought I'd be more likely to be talking to the users of hobs rather than kitchen fitters on 'In My Home'.

The question is simple, which fuel do you all prefer for hobs, and why, gas or electric?

I've always had a gas hob and have just moved to a house with a Bosch ceramic hob which is over 15yrs old. I haven't really got to grips with it yet. I do a lot of stir frying and find it difficult to get and maintain the right temperature and also wonder if the surface of the hob will be damaged by moving the pan backwards and forwards? Also, I have notice that a couple of my Tefal frying pans and not perfectly flat so do not make perfect contact with the hob.

As I am planning a new kitchen, although it might not be done for a couple of years, I am pondering the electric/gas question. I also wondered what the induction hobs were like. The 'easy clean' feature of electric appeals to me, but it wouldn't trump cooking control.

Also, are they more expensive on fuel do you think?

I would really value your opinions on this, thanks

nettles77

i really love gas hob, only for the fact that when you turn it off the pan can be left on ring but with electric it cant. i always think food cooked with gas is nicer. sorry dont know about costs.

squirrelchops

Gas hob definitely. I find the heat is better distributed and you can control it better. I just cannot do stir fry on the electric hob or poached eggs!!!!

Electric fan oven though.

I can't wait until our new kitchen if fully operational!

Hawthorn

Gas, all round for me. I just can't get on with anything else!

StringersAppliances

Hi,

The reason i chose gas is because i think that the food seems to taste better too.

Also if you have children, i think the gas hobs are safer.

LydiaJ

Gas hob for me too. I've lived with standard electric and ceramic, and I've used halogen on holiday, and I'd still go for gas every time. When I turn something on or off or up or down, I want it to do it immediately! Gas is so much cheaper per kWh that I expect they're cheaper to use, as well, although I haven't checked that.

I've used both gas ovens and electric fan ovens and been fine with both, though. Does anyone know how ovens compare on running costs?

ETA There was a thread about this a year ago: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=667907

csarina

My ideal cooker is an electric fan oven and a gas hob. We do not have gas in our apartment, so I have just bought a new cooker with a ceramic hob, its amazing how quickly the hob heats up compared to my old stove with the solid rings.........plus there is a red light on the hob top which warns you that the plate is still very hot. It only goes out when the plate is cool enough to put your hand on.

anguk

I bought a portable single induction hob last week and love it, if I was replacing my kitchen I would definately get an induction hob. It's as responsive and as easy to control as gas, cheaper to use than a normal electric hob and as easy to clean as ceramic. Since getting it I haven't used my normal cooker hob, instead just using the induction and my steamer. The only downside is I had to buy a couple of new pans as you can only use pans with a magnetic base.

This is similar to mine:
http://www.qvcuk.com/ukdetail/ViewOptions.aspx?viewOption=watchvideo&item=828187&country=UK

fedupfreda

I would choose gas every time - for one thing, you can still cook in a power cut (just make sure you keep some form of ignition in the house just in case!) It's also quicker, more responsive and you can keep things on a really low simmer, way back when we had an electric cooker (solid hotplate) it used to take ages to heat up properly and gobbled up a fortune in electricity.:mad: OK the rings are more difficult to clean, but it's not impossible.

BTW - No, I don't work for the gas board!:rotfl:

Primrose

A gas hob for me every time. I've used electric hobs in the past and HATE them. You can control the heat on gas hobs far more quickly and regularly than electric ones, gas seems to be far more forgiving in the way it treats your saucepans, and if you have a gas hob at least you have an alternative source of cooking if ever your have a power cut. I'm not sure whether it is cheaper than electricity but you can, of course control your cooking costs to a certain extent anyway but always using saucepan lids to retain the heat, turning the gas down to simmer instead of letting in blaze away and cooking all your vegetables together in the same saucepan. A thought to ponder - you never ever see a professional chef using an electric hob, do you?

thriftlady_2

Gas every time for me too;)

Safer for kids, can be used in a power cut and much better control.

I like an electric fan oven though;)