convert to gas stove or not?

hardworkingwoman · #1 10/03/11, 12:23 PM

Hi,

I am trying to figure out if I should convert to a gas stove or stay with electric. My father in law wants to buy me a new stove and knows that I am interested in the gas stove. Is it more of a hassle to have it? Getting the tank filled and all of that. Is there a specific size tank you need to get or can you get a big one to make it last longer? I don't know anything about this so any info anyone has on this I would really appreciate!! He wants me to go look at stoves today but I am not prepared until I hear pros and cons.

Thanks!!!

suitcase_sally · #2 10/03/11, 12:32 PM

If the only thing you use gas for is the stove, the gas company won't set a real large tank. For cooking only, a 100 lb. cylinder is probably enough. You can even take it in a fill it yourself. With that size tank, the price per gallon will be higher though.

I have had gas and I have electric now. I had a gas stove blow up on me. Never had that happen with electric. It was my fault - I ever-so-slightly had turned the oven knob and when I came home that night and went to light the oven - WHOMP!!! Flames rolled thru the house to a depth of 1 foot on the floor - across the kitchen, down the hall and into the living room. Nothing caught on fire, though. I'm still afraid of gas!

If you get electric, try to stay with the coil-type, if you do any canning. I understand that if you break the top on a glass top, they can cost over $600 to replace. I would try to get one with as few micro chips and computers as possible. With gas, try to find one that doesn't take electricty to use.

gila_dog · #3 10/03/11, 12:46 PM

Advantages of a gas stove are that you can have a functioning stove even during power outages, you can tell at a glance if it's on or not (not like electric stoves), and a gas stove is probably simpler, with less to go wrong, than an electric stove. Even a fancy gas stove with electronic ignition can be lit with a match if the power goes out. Electric stoves have switches and heating elements to go bad, which are expensive to replace. Not much to go wrong with a gas stove.

Do you have natural gas or would you have to use propane? Installing all the regulators, pipes, tanks, etc for gas or propane could be expensive. We have a 150 gal propane tank that was filled 3 years ago and is still half full. All it is for is the gas stove and the generator.

TnAndy · #4 10/03/11, 12:50 PM

I like gas (propane....bottled gas) for several reasons.

1. You can control the cooking temperature a LOT better.....electric elements are slow to react, either up or down.

2. I like the fact I can store a supply of gas a whole lot easier than storing electricity, so if the power goes out, we can still cook. ( Same for water heater ).

That said, some folks have had bad experiences with gas and are afraid of it. However, just as many accidents happen with electricity ( maybe more ), it just isn't as "dramatic"

......so, caution is advised with ANY source of energy.

Sally is right, the propane company probably won't set much size of a tank if the stove is your only use, as stoves simply don't use much. All the propane companies here charge rent on the tanks also, so you'd have to factor that in...also the cost of running a gas line from the tank to the new stove ( and what that might entail ). As Sally said, if you can simply buy a couple of 100lb cylinders, and a regulator that will flip over from the empty one to the full one so you never run out, that is a way to go. Do be aware that 100lb tanks weigh about 175lbs when filled, and YOU have to haul them to a filling station, and deal with that too...which means a pickup truck, AND a way to secure the tanks in it properly during transport.

First thing I'd do is call a couple propane companies locally, and see what they will set, and what they will charge in the way of deposit, installation of the gas line, tank rent, and so on....you may find electric is simply far easier and cheaper than going gas.

suitcase_sally · #5 10/03/11, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gila_dog

you can tell at a glance if it's on or not (not like electric stoves.

My electric stove has little red lights that comes on for each burner and the oven. I'm sure all have indicator lights.

Macybaby · #6 10/03/11, 01:26 PM

I love induction, quickness of gas but not the residual heat or danger of an open flame, and if you leave it on without a pan on the burner, it shuts itself off.

many new gas stoves have electric ignition, so if you want one that you can use if the power is out, make sure it has that option.

Nevada · #7 10/03/11, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hardworkingwoman

Hi,

I am trying to figure out if I should convert to a gas stove or stay with electric. My father in law wants to buy me a new stove and knows that I am interested in the gas stove. Is it more of a hassle to have it? Getting the tank filled and all of that. Is there a specific size tank you need to get or can you get a big one to make it last longer? I don't know anything about this so any info anyone has on this I would really appreciate!! He wants me to go look at stoves today but I am not prepared until I hear pros and cons.

Thanks!!!

Before this discussion gets too carried away in the wrong direction, are you talking about a cooking stove or a heating stove? Your post is pretty ambiguous.

7thswan · #8 10/03/11, 01:40 PM

I don't think I've ever seen a restaurant with electric stoves. Must be a good reason. I'll always have Gas(and my wood of course).

hardworkingwoman · #9 10/03/11, 02:26 PM

Yes it would be for a kitchen cooking stove. I do not have natural gas so I would have to get the whole set up. I am just so sick of my burners going out, I have had so many stoves all used but I have a problem with the burners on all of them. They are expensive and don't last long. All of the gas stoves that I see are nice and level, easy to clean and just seem like so much less trouble. I don't want one of the stoves with the flat top either. They do not appeal to me at all.
Sorry for the unclear message!

jlrbhjmnc · #10 10/03/11, 02:30 PM

If you decide to go with the gas stove, get one of the models withOUT electric ignition of the oven. We can use our burners on top but not the oven without electricity.

oldasrocks · #11 10/03/11, 02:34 PM

Do you live in the city or country? Gss is the only good option in the country for outage reasons. We also have a full house genny on propane and would have been in a world of hurt in 2007 during the ice storm when power was out for 11 days.

Beowulf · #12 10/03/11, 02:38 PM

Gas.

I just like it better for cooking than electricity for all of the reasons stated. As far as safety goes, I have had a faulty electric range arc through the burner and burn a hole in the bottom of a pan (just before blowing the breaker) but no problems ever with a gas stove - which really means nothing more than I've had better luck with gas

kimmom2five · #13 10/03/11, 02:40 PM

I have a flat glass cooktop and I really want to switch to propane. We already have propane for our water heater and part of the house heater. It's just harder to control the heat with the electric since it stays hot for a long time after I turn the stove off. Also since it is glass I can't put a canner on it so I have to just use a slightly larger pot and can my stuff in very small batches.

hardworkingwoman · #14 10/03/11, 02:43 PM

we live in the country

Homely · #15 10/03/11, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlrbhjmnc

If you decide to go with the gas stove, get one of the models withOUT electric ignition of the oven. We can use our burners on top but not the oven without electricity.

We were stove shopping and were told that the stoves without electric ignition for the oven were illegal. We really wanted one because outages are frequent here.
A few months later, Home Depot opened up and we found one-- MABE brand. It doesn't even have a plug. I am under the impression it is a Latin American/Caribbean company.

http://www.mabeintl.com/portal/main.aspx?idioma=195

whiterock · #16 10/03/11, 03:39 PM

You can buy your tank or rent from the propane co. You can use the stove top if not the oven in power outages, easier to regulate temps. Gas costs more than elec now. I have gas for heat, water heater and cooking. costs a lot for three months then nothing for 6 or 7 months. Just got a fill last week, first time since march.
Ed

geo in mi · #17 10/03/11, 03:41 PM

I finally changed over from electric to gas(natural) when the electric stove gave out. I like cooking on it much better. You can have more heat control, especially in the lower range, and instant cooldown when you shut it off. Electric burners continue to put out heat into the pan until they cool down, usually burning the contents in the pan. But, heat up of a pan is longer, and it seems to take longer to bring water to a boil with gas. And you have to be very careful picking up a pan by the handle, since the flame heat goes under the bottom and up the sides...... For that reason also, in the skillet the heat also heats up the sides and any food there will very quickly sizzle and burn--oil or fats will also burn, brown, and stick mightily to the sides. One other drawback is that the gas flame --and the oven will give lots more heat into a kitchen during the hot summer--but in the winter, that just helps make breakfast warm and toasty.

I like the cleanup better with a gas range top, which is a major reason I switched. I got the kind with full grates that will lift off and allow you to clean any spills. I especially like it that the lower heat of the gas cooking means less spatters--I hated the hardened spatters--mostly from oil and grease--on the front and control area of the electric stove that wouldn't come off with anything. It always looked dirty.

My stove tops have electric spark ignition, but you can light the burners with a match if the power is off. But not the oven, since it would have to have a pilot light and a different temp control for that.

geo

Silvercreek Farmer · #18 10/03/11, 04:01 PM

If you have (or keep) kids that can not keep their hands off of things (like mine) do not get a gas stove. All the knobs are on the front so you don't have to reach over the flame to turn them off.

Callieslamb · #19 10/03/11, 05:46 PM

If you buy a gas stove - know that there are different orfaces used for propane and natural gas. When we bought our stove, it came with both and we had to switch them. It is NOT illegal to sell gas stoves that don't have electronic ignition. If you go to Lowe's and ask for one- they have them in their catalogs. My stove (Premier) can be used both ways - elec ignition or match lit. The one thing I have negative about a gas stove is they don't seem to come with all the bells and whistles that the elec ones come with - and they don't seem to look as nice. I had to give up self-clean. You will have to look hard for timed bake. Be sure you get good, solid burner covers - the thinner ones bend with a heavy load.

Old Vet · #20 10/03/11, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silvercreek Farmer

If you have (or keep) kids that can not keep their hands off of things (like mine) do not get a gas stove. All the knobs are on the front so you don't have to reach over the flame to turn them off.

I have a gas stove and the knobs are on top to one side. That way kids or a dog that likes to rare up and look can't turn them on. See if the propane company has a tank to sell but if not then rent one, I have two propane tanks one I rent the other one I own. I can call around and get the best price for the one that I own.