A long and tedious debate that has continued for over 30 years is what type of oven to buy; electric or gas. Now this article is not going to conclude this massive struggle of old versus new, but it might put your mind at rest. Now the two main arguments are price and quality.

Generally speaking electric ovens are more expensive to own than gas. But to purchase two ovens with comparable size and power, electric and gas cost practically the same. If anything, gas is a little more. For general use, electric costs more. The price of the electricity used by an electric oven is more expensive then the gas used by a gas one. Actually, even a microwave is more expensive to run than a gas oven. The difference we are talking about is 7 cents a minute compared to 17 cents, which is very little but adds up very quickly.

Quality is a much more complicated subject. Tests again and again show that modern day electric ovens cook more evenly and at temperatures more consistent then gas. Yet in counter you must ask why do more professional cooks prefer gas? The simple answer is control. You can see the flames on most gas ovens, allowing you to tune it to the exact amount you want. On the other hand, when you turn an electric dial to 375 degrees, chances are the temperature is 375 degrees and will be every time you turn it to such.

A smaller argument for electric is safety. One concern some people have is the risk of gas leaking into their house from a gas oven. This is very possible, though very unlikely if you are careful. A final perk to electric is that they are often easier to clean. With the modern day smooth surfaces there are no cracks to scrub burnt overrun from.

In conclusion there are many factors to consider when purchasing an oven. What is your price range? What type of cook are you? Are you the take-charge type (gas) or follow the directions type (electric)? Also, how important are your other priorities such as clean-up and safety? But finally, the most common deciding factor is what kind of connection your house has.