Not all of us are talented chefs. In most homes, the dad might only be able to muster a meal of Top ramen and tap water. His son Todd, though — Todd can revolutionize that ramen into a culinary festival of noodles, braised chicken, sauteed shiitake, and a soft-boiled egg, finished with a flourish of sriracha and scallions. Better luck next time, Dad.

But maybe Dad only thinks of food as fuel. Maybe a Michelin-caliber dish has the same effect on him as a crave case from White Castle. To each their own. We make cooking ranges for all kinds of cooks, although, if we’re honest, we mostly make ranges for cooks like Todd. You know — people who like options and state-of-the-art industry features. We’ve got the technology. So the main question that anyone who likes cooking at home will want to ask is this: Should I buy a gas versus an electric stove from Hisense? Read on for some tips that’ll help make your next pot of ramen so good you’ll never stop slurping.

Consumer Preferences

Shopping for a range can get complex, so here are a few top-level comparisons between gas versus electric stoves:

Baking

Don’t you love macarons? Those smooth, shiny meringue shells, at once soft yet firm — they’re delicious, right? Only if you have an oven that bakes the meringue mixture that you’ve piped with loving care evenly and correctly. If not, you may get cookies that look less like those brightly painted rowhouses along Irish quays and more like a sad puddle of misshapen dinosaur eggs. Todd could pull off a macaron masterpiece in any oven, but the rest of us should bear in mind that Consumer Reports rated gas stoves as superior to electric in this category. Whichever stove you get, make sure it’s a top-of-the-line product. (Or bid adieu to your French baking aspirations.)

Broiling

The biggest difference that Consumer Reports identified in the electric versus gas stove debate was the ability to broil. In this matchup, electric outperformed gas. Around 75% of electric ranges scored “Excellent” or “Very Good,” while 15% of gas ranges were excellent or very good. About 30% of gas ranges were rated “Fair” or “Poor.”

Simmering

You can’t make top-shelf ramen without mastering your low-heat game. Haphazard simmering is the arena where Dad plays, where rice is hard, eggs are runny, and life is unkind. In this category, electric stoves emerge victorious over gas stoves. According to the same Consumer Reports range tests we’ve been citing, electric and gas notch about the same percentage of “Excellent” scores. But gas racks up far more “Poor” ratings.

Heating

You can make instant temperature changes to whatever you’re cooking more readily with gas than electric, and you can see those changes take place. People delight in seeing blue flames flicker from the burner grate, the boil of the broth intensify, the butter melting in the stew — all with a flick of the knob.

Professional Use

Is Todd destined for culinary school? If so, he might one day use a gas range. Foodies and chefs tend to prefer gas stoves because the burners and the oven heat up faster than they do on an electric stove. So gas is often easier to control — a benefit when three 10-tops just sat down in the restaurant, and they all want steak five minutes ago.

Other Factors to Consider

Baking, broiling, simmering — you gotta know how your stovetop will handle cooking basics. But let’s compare some other factors below.

Cost

Gas ranges have fewer parts than electric ranges, so they’re generally cheaper to maintain. Still, installing a gas range from scratch is pricey, and many electric models, including smooth glass-top cooktops, start at a relatively low price.

Visual Appeal

Which is sleeker — an electric stovetop or a gas stovetop? Consider this one a win-win. Premier gas stovetop brands offer a smorgasbord of styles that lend a svelte touch to a variety of kitchen designs. But electric stovetops look modern and minimalist, like a luxury turntable or the dashboard of a spaceship. Just depends on the vibe you want.

Durability & Performance

Gas ranges tend to last longer than their electric cousins. Yet the difference isn’t all that pronounced. (Looking at lifespans, a gas range will live to about 15 years old. An electric range will last 13 years.) That hood that you’ve got above it? That thing will suck up steam and grease for 14 long, thankless years.

Ease of Cleaning

Electric stovetops are easier to clean than gas stovetops. Just avoid using sponges and other cleaning products that are so abrasive that they leave scratches. Wipe up spills at once so they don’t stain the surface of the cooktop.

Health & Safety

Perhaps the biggest knock against a gas stovetop is that, well, it runs on gas. The manufacture and transportation of natural gas releases emissions, but gas stoves tend to emit only trace amounts. Plus, a vent that you install over the range should suck them up and siphon them outside, helping to protect the air quality of your home.

Pros and Cons

We realize that all this information might feel like a data-dump of choices to weigh. So here’s a rundown of the key pros and cons of choosing either a gas stove or an electric stove.

Gas Stoves: Pros 

●     As a fuel source, gas is generally cheaper than electricity.

●     Quite durable. (The grates for gas burners are difficult to break or even knick.)

●     Chefs love ’em, in part because they can control the temperature of the oven and the burners more easily.

Gas Stoves: Cons

●     The range itself is slightly more expensive than an electric stovetop. (Installing a gas line can also get costly.)

●     Not as easy to clean as an electric stovetop.

Electric Stoves: Pros

●     Easier to clean. Easier to simmer.

●     Less expensive to purchase and install.

●     Provides a stable base for all types of pots and pans.

Electric Stoves: Cons

●     Yes, they are easier to clean, but you may damage the surface with an abrasive cleaner.

●     Electric stovetops need a special power outage to operate.

●     Some consumers might find electric stovetops to be less cool than a gas stove. Gas is sometimes seen as the chef’s choice.

Upgrade your cooking experience with Hisense

The stovetop that most of us need varies according to a range of factors — the type of kitchen we have, how many people live in the house, what we like to cook and how often we’re home. Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll be pleased with either an electric range or a gas range. Reach out to us today. We may not be able to stop Dad from mucking up your next meal, but we can equip you with the right range to help you cook like Todd.