Can I learn to love my electric range?

[SusanT]

The house we bought two years ago came with an electic range. It's an older house so no doubt at one point the range was gas. It's a 12 year old Kenmore with solid disk burners (a cast iron plate covers the burners). It bakes really well but the burners take a long time to heat up and cool off.

I've cooked with gas my entire life but couldn't see the sense in replacing a perfectly good range. I have almost reconciled myself to using this range until Consumer Reports came out with it's report on ranges and now I'm longing for gas again.

Should I wait for this thing to die (surely it can't last much longer)or follow my heart's desire and get a gas range? The DH is somewhat opposed to replacing an otherwise functioning appliance.

[Gail]

Can you learn to love your electric range? Probably not. I'm thinking the best you can probably look forward to is a kind of peaceful coexistence.

It's like cat versus dog owners-- there's no right or wrong, only a matter of personal preference. If you've been cooking on the electric for a while and you haven't fallen prey to its charms, I'm inclined to think you probably won't, but you can use it until it goes belly up. (No fair cheating by placing tupperware and old Keds directly on hot elements to speed up the process either.)

My reasonable side says live with it. It cooks food, doesn't it? Really, it does a perfectly serviceable job once you get used to its quirks and if running down to the store isn't really in the budget, deal with it until is is. There must be someone out there perfectly happen to pick up a second-hand range at a savings, after all.

My creative side says lose that turkey. (Is that the growling of electric appliance fans I hear?) Never mind that you may not be able to afford the food to cook on it, or that you'll be in hock up to your elbows-- a good cook is a happy cook, right? Who needs those darned elements which constantly burn you? How many times have you turned on the WRONG one by mistake because you can't see any flame? How annoying is it NOT to be able to throw a tortilla directly on the flame to heat it? (oh all right, so not everyone does that one.) Don't you just love it when you spill something on one of those babies? The smell alone is enough to kill you...

I think what it boils down to is what works for you at this point in your life. If it's really no big deal to plop down a few hundred for something you feel comfortable working with, go for it. If your old appliance is still in good shape, maybe you can sell it to someone who can use it. (We have a place locally which resells used appliances, for example.) But, if it's stretching things right now, wait. Live with it. You may not ever love your range but at least you can learn to be friends.

Good luck! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

PS In all fairness, I realize I'm painting probably the worst picture of an electric model you DON'T have. Unfortunately, those older ones with the annoying coils-- rather than what you've described-- were my only experience with electric.

[This message has been edited by Gail (edited 02-15-2001).]

[lorilei]

Susan - Trust me, you CAN adapt, if you choose to.

I am completely enamoured with gas ranges... and in all honesty, the moment I buy my own house I'm planning to get one.

In the meantime, I've grown accustomed to the electric ranges in our rentals -- and have almost developed a soft spot for their more relaxed personality.

The choice is really yours. Can you afford to replace the range? You can definitely adapt to the electric if there are other things vying for your budget... And if you CAN afford it, then why not?

*** OK, Gail. You win. But I used fewer words.

[This message has been edited by lorilei (edited 02-15-2001).]

[SusanJoy]

Susan

Of course - you can live with anything, but Loving is a whole different matter.

If you are waiting for the trusty electric one to die however, my words of warning, we bought a house a few years ago and I was shocked and dismayed to find a 30+ year old electric range still working! Though because it was 30 years old I was able to convince DH to spring for the gas new one ....thank goodness he didn't feel the same way about 30+ me!! I do LOVE the gas range and new electric oven we replaced the oldies with....
just my thoughts on the matter.

Susan

[Beth]

I have lived with both, and you can get by either way. I have only used electric coils though, so I don't really know what you're dealing with (are the solid discs slower to heat and cool?).

If it's a budget pincher, you might want to watch ads, not only for sales but also garage, estate or moving sales. Many people don't want gas and rip our a range you'd kill for (and visa versa). Scratch and dent or floor model sales as well as the end of year clearances are a good way to save on new too.

I already have a neighbor and a repair man waiting for my 2-burners-left disaster when I replace it. They can't get the switches to repair them any more, so I made a deal with the repair man that if he'd install one of them in my neighbors cooktop, I'd call him and give him whatever was left. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[SandyM]

I've had both - and while I will always prefer gas, when I lived in my apartment and had electric, I do not recall throwing my hands up in dispair, shreiking "I cannot make this work!!!"

I do remember, though, briefly bemoaning the fact that I couldn't roast a hot dog over my electric coil! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

The tortilla thing does pique my interest tho!

[hlao23]

My biggest gripe about an electric range is that it's much harded to toast marshmallows over. It can be done but really the flame makes it so much easier. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[RUSTYSMOM]

I too always had a gas range until we moved into our new home - in which gas is not an option. I have a flat top electic which is very pleasing to the eye and easy to keep shiny, however it does not allow the same control gas does. My biggest gripe is the fact that I cannot use a pan larger than the size of the ring - no lobster pots on my stove!! This is a nuisance - this aside however I have manged just fine with electric.

[laden]

If you can afford it, and it makes you happy then go for gas!

If now isn't a good time, then you can learn to live with what you have. It's your choice. My advise is weigh the things that are important and if you have the funds replace that dinosaur!

[Wendy w]

I have an electric stove (it does its job) but I prefer gas hands down!