November 2, 2014 - 9:04am
New oven for home use. Gas (LP) vs Electric
I moved into a home with propane gas and always wanted a flame when cooking on the stove top.
The question now is 'the oven'. Do I want an electric oven or gas? I enjoy baking breads and the occassional cake. What is the opinion on the Gas vs. Electric? Pros vs. Cons? Uneven baking etc? What if the gas oven was a convection oven?
I will be buying this slide in range in the area of $1500-2000 dollars incase it matters for my question. Also, if you could, please tell me what your baking in as far as namebrand and fuel type. It will help me make my purchasing decision.
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Electric is better for baking bread, because gas ovens have venting and it's much tougher (if not impossible) to get the right amount of steam. Electric ovens don't have the same venting so they hold steam better.
That said, economy is a consideration; I wonder how propane and electricity costs compare for the amount of baking you would do. If you bake a lot, will you get a bigger bite from your electricity bill with an electric oven?
Maybe a dual fuel range (gas cooktop + electric oven)? Looks like most of them are towards the upper end of your range. Explanation & examples: http://www.sears.com/appliances-ranges-dual-fuel-ranges/b-1202552187
I'd check what the max temp range is on your oven, especially if you cook pizzas. One recent dual fuel range I was looking at had convection but only went up to 450F, which isn't great for pizza.
Ok... 2 out of 2 folks think a gas oven is not the best route for bread baking...
What if the gas oven were a gas convection oven? Does that change things as far as bread baking in a gas vs. electric oven?
You don't want gas, no matter convection or not. You probably also don't want a slide-in - I've read that controls above the door of the oven heated to 450-450 F on a regular basis do not last.
3 out of 3 on gas is not the best for bread baking. You can make it work, though, by cooking in an enclosed chamber inside the gas oven, such as a dutch oven, but that limits the shapes and the amount you can bake at one time. So if you have the option, electric is better than gas for bread.