It’s wonderful that we live in an age where we can choose the type of energy we use in our households. We can choose between electric and gas appliances. In this case, more specifically, we can choose either an electric oven or a gas oven. But how do we decide which one to use?
Firstly, let’s talk pricing. If you do your research, you will find that the price range for an electric oven and a gas oven is more or less on par with each other. If you are comparing the two against their specifications, setting the energy source aside, you’ll find that their prices are about the same in each category of oven you consider. When it comes to price, there’s no real difference between the two.
Quality of the two ovens compared. There are various levels of quality when it comes to electric ovens. Some are of a better quality, more reliable and last much longer, but then you also get the lower end ovens that are simply manufactured to fulfil basic functions of baking and grilling. These electric ovens are more suited for smaller households where budget is a concern. On the other hand, you also find good quality electric ovens with multifunction use, electronic programmers and tilting grill elements. Gas ovens are generally manufactured with quality in mind. For example, the Elba gas ovens are built with thermostatic controls, a minute minder, closed door grilling function, fan assist function and most of them include a rotisserie. Therefore, they can also be used to fulfil multiple baking and grilling functions.
Let’s look at the energy source. Electric ovens’ source of energy is electricity, of course. Electricity is generally available in every household. However, lately with the supply of electricity becoming scarce, Eskom has resorted to load shedding. This means that you’re not able to use the oven any time you wish and have to wait for the electricity to be turned back on again. Gas is the energy source for gas stoves. In recent years, gas has become more readily available to households and at a reasonable cost. So you don’t have to rely on the use of electricity when baking or grilling. The supply of gas remains constant even when load shedding occurs. Nowadays, a gas oven is a good alternative to the electric oven due to the unpredictability of the electricity supply. When you turn on your gas oven, you ignite a gas flame which provides the unit with instant heat, and the oven will reach the desired temperature much faster than an electric oven. faber cooktop 4 burner This will speed up the cooking/baking process and use less total energy. Gas ovens also only start off from a temperature of between 130°C – 150°C depending on the model where as an electric oven can be set from as low as 50°C.
With regards to the two types of ovens, each is evenly matched on price and quality. As to which one you prefer is up to personal choice and what you’re more comfortable with using. With regards to energy source, this also depends on your preference. Some people say that the cost saving is dependent on how you use each type of oven and others say that the gas option is more cost effective. At the end of the day, it is down to your preference.
