The Pros and Cons of Electric Cookers with Ovens

 

Electric cookers with ovens have become increasingly popular in recent years. They offer a convenient and efficient way to cook meals and bake goods at home. In this blog post, we'll look at some pros and cons of electric cookers with ovens to help you decide if one suits your kitchen. Whether you're looking to upgrade your existing cooker or outfit a new home, there are a few key factors to consider before choosing electric.

Pros of Electric Cookers with Ovens

Convenience

One of the biggest pros of electric cookers with ovens is convenience. Electric ranges and ovens heat up quickly at the flip of a switch or turn of a dial, typically in 5-10 minutes. There's no need to light a pilot light or wait for the oven to preheat for a long time. Electric ovens are ideal for busy households when you need to cook dinner or bake on short notice. The quick start-up means you can roast, broil, or throw a pizza in the oven without much prep time. Electric ovens are always ready to go when you need them. 

Precise Temperature Control

Electric ovens provide precise temperature control that stays consistent over time. You can set the oven temperature exactly where you want it, anywhere from 150 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. This level of precision helps ensure baked goods like cakes, cookies, and breads turn out perfectly every time. Gas ovens are notorious for temperature fluctuations up to 25 degrees that can lead to uneven cooking results. You set what you reliably get with an electric oven and bake after bake.  

Cleaner Cooking

Electric cooking is cleaner than gas cooking in several regards. Less smoke is produced without an open gas flame, and fewer combustion byproducts like carbon monoxide are released into your kitchen. This makes for a cleaner, healthier cooking environment overall. There's also no risk of a gas leak with an electric range over time. And electric ovens don't leave sooty residue on your cookware from combustion the way gas ovens tend to.  

Even Heating

Most electric ovens use either convection fans or radiant heating elements to distribute heat evenly throughout the cavity. This leads to evenly cooked meals and baked goods with no hot or cold spots. Food will brown and bake uniformly on all sides. In a gas oven, heat is often concentrated near the bottom, leading to uneven top and side browning. Electric ovens avoid this issue for better consistency.  

Safer Indoor Cooking

For several reasons, electric cookers are generally considered safer than gas for indoor cooking. Since they don't utilize an open flame or release carbon monoxide, two of the main safety risks with gas are eliminated. This makes electric stoves and ovens well-suited for homes with small children or elderly family members. They minimize the chances of accidental burns or dangerous gas leaks, providing peace of mind that gas can't match.  

Lower Maintenance

Electric ranges tend to require less maintenance than gas ranges over their lifespan. Electric ovens are more reliable because they have fewer moving parts that can break down, such as hot surface igniters. You never have to clean or replace gas burners, ignition switches, or pilot lights. Electric coils need the occasional cleaning. This makes electric ovens more convenient for people who want an appliance they can " set and forget."  

Cons of Electric Cookers with Ovens

Takes Longer to Boil Water

One downside of electric ranges is that they typically take 25-30% longer to boil water than gas stoves. That's because gas burners produce higher heat output than standard electric coils. So tasks like boiling pasta water, making tea, or reducing sauces can take a few more minutes with an electric range. For households that cook a lot of boiled foods, it's something to keep in mind. 

 

Less Control for Simmering

Related to the point above, standard electric ranges also provide less fine control when simmering foods at low heat. A gentle simmer can be trickier than a gas burner, where you can precisely raise or lower the flame height. You'll need to keep a closer eye on foods and adjust the heat more often when simmering on an electric stove. The relatively fixed heat of electricity makes very low-temperature cooking more difficult.   

Higher Energy Costs

Cooking with a gas range is generally less expensive than cooking with electricity. Electricity costs 2-3 times more heat energy per British Thermal Unit (BTU) than natural gas. You may see increased monthly energy bills after switching to an all-electric oven and range from a gas model. Over years of use, the energy cost difference can add up.  

Longer Preheating Times 

While electric ovens heat quickly to standard cooking temperatures around 350 F, they can take up to 20% longer than gas ovens to preheat to extremely high temperatures like 500°F. If you regularly bake artisan bread, pizza, or roasted meats at 475-500 F, you may find an electric oven lagging several minutes behind a powerful gas model. It takes longer for electric coils to heat to maximum temperature.  

Shorter Lifespan

The heating elements in an electric oven last less time than a gas oven, on average. Electric coils may need replacing after 5-10 years of frequent use. Electric ovens also contain electronic components like circuit boards that can fail over time. Gas ovens tend to have a longer lifespan of up to 15-20 years before needing major repairs. So, an electric oven may only last briefly before requiring service.  

Less Effective for Wok Cooking

Electric cooktops are better for cooking in a wok with intense, concentrated heat exceeding 15,000 BTU. Gas burners provide the ideal high BTU output for tossing and stirring foods in a wok to get that perfect sear while cooking quickly. It's tough to replicate this intense wok heat on an electric range. Serious work chefs would do well to opt for a gas cooker.  

Less Powerful Broiler

Most electric oven broilers involve a heating element at the top of the oven cavity. These electric broilers often get less hot or provide as much intense searing heat under the broil setting as a gas oven broiler. If you like to broil fatty meats, fish, or chicken to get a nice char, you may prefer a gas range that can produce more powerful top-down heat.  

More Difficult to Repair

Repairing an electric range or oven is often more complex than repairing a gas appliance. Electric ranges could have issues with heating elements, wiring, fuse boxes, control boards, and other intricate parts. With gas, repairing or replacing a faulty gas burner, thermocouple, or igniter tends to be simpler and less labor-intensive. Electric repairs usually require a qualified appliance technician.  

No Ventilation Flame Options 

Gas range and cooktops provide a handy flame option specifically for ventilation purposes. This helps remove cooking odors, smoke, and moisture from the kitchen. Electric models don't offer this ventilation flame to remove cooking fumes during long cooking sessions. You'll need an alternate ventilation solution.  

Lack of Visual Cooking Cues 

With a gas stove, you can easily see the size and intensity of the open flame under each burner. This acts as a visual cue for how hot your cookware is getting, allowing more precise control. Electric coils provide no such visual info, making it trickier to gauge temperature changes at a glance. You have to rely more on experience and touch.  

Conclusion

Electric cookers with ovens are a fantastic choice for those who prioritize convenience, precise temperature control, and safety in the kitchen. They are ideal for everyday home cooking and baking. Although they may take a bit longer to preheat and are perceived to use more energy, the benefits of modern, efficient electric cookers often outweigh these concerns. Before deciding, weigh your cooking preferences and lifestyle to see if an electric range meets your needs.

Discover a wide range of electric cookers, ovens, and more from top brands like Zanussi, Hotpoint, Indesit, and more. Atlantic Electrics has been meeting all your electric cooking needs with knowledgeable staff and excellent service since 1965. Visit us online or in-store in the UK.