Can I get used to an Electric Range?

[mrswaz]

Right now I cook with a gas range. Basically, I have learned to cook on a gas range, even after growing up with electric. My exploration of the culinary arts has all been within the confines of a gas stove.

We are looking to move. Today I looked at a place that I think I mostly liked. I am being nitpicky because if we are going to move, it had better be a better place than where we are. This place today had a new electric Fridgedaire range. It is a newer place, and was set up for electric, so there isn't a possibility of us bringing along our own gas range. I just don't know if I'll like it. The we'll have moved, and I'll be stuck with it for several years until we buy.

I don't know. Anyone have opinions one way or the other. It seems silly to base a move on a range. Maybe if someone has a story on "crossing over" I'd feel better about it. :D

[Cookin4Love]

I had to do the switchover when we moved. After 5 months, I'm almost used to it, but not without paying the price of a few totally burned meals. I'm so used to just cutting the flame on the gas--or turning it off--and letting the pot sit there. The heat retention of an electric range just keeps sneaking up on me. My electric stove is a glass cooktop. It's easy to clean, and I like that I can easily set hot stuff on it, but the next time we move, electric won't be an option. I will say that I like the electric oven, though, and I'm sure that given a bit more time, I'll adjust better to the electric cooktop. I've had to learn, for instance, that if I'm going to want to quickly cut the heat on something, I need to have another burner going at the desired level so I can just switch the pan over.

I love the house we're in, and it more than makes up for putting up with an electric stove. I looked out the kitchen window today and--here in the 110 degree weather--there was (I think) a red cardinal. If it wasn't a red cardinal, I sure don't know what it was. That's totally worth putting up with an electric stove. That, along with 3 kinds of squirrels, rabbits, and other varieties of birds that I've never seen before. So, if there's something else about the house that will make the tradeoff seem worth it, I'd go for it. Otherwise, I'd keep looking.

[funniegrrl]

I grew up cooking on gas, but when I came to college (and stayed in town after) I found I was in a community where gas is rare. I have had electric stoves for 20 years and still curse occasionally. I've gotten used to it, sure, but it took a while, and if I had my druthers I'd go back to gas in a heartbeat. I'm NOT saying don't do it, but just that yes, it DOES take getting used to.

[leannebw]

I grew up with a gas range, and when I got married, our first apartment had gas too. When we bought our house, it had electric, with no gas lines near enough for us to convert. I found myself in your position, wondering if I could get used to it.

I'm happy to report that I now kind of like my electric range. Since it's a modern, glass top range, it's neat and easy to clean. Water seems to boil soooo much faster on an electric range, and once you get used to turning down the heat in advance of when you actually want the heat lower, it's really not that different.

Hope that helps :)

[CL addict]

I grew up cooking on a gas range, and for the past 20 years or so have been in situations that have required me to cook on electric. I have learned to cope, but I have never never never learned to like it, and dream of the old days every time I cook. Yes, I have gotten "used to it" in the sense that I know how to make it work for me, but still get irritated!

Electric ovens don't seem to bother other people, but I find the outside of baked goods gets too brown and crusty in comparison with gas ovens, and I've never found a suitable solution, despite well-meaning suggestions for adjustments.

Having said all that, I'm sure you'll learn to do fine with electric, especially since you grew up with it and know what to expect.

Good Luck!
Jeanette

[Clover]

Originally posted by CL addict
I grew up cooking on a gas range, and for the past 20 years or so have been in situations that have required me to cook on electric. I have learned to cope, but I have never never never learned to like it, and dream of the old days every time I cook.

Ditto. Not to mention all the objects I've burned over the years when I turned on the wrong burner or put something down on one that was still hot.

[CL addict]

Originally posted by Clover

Ditto. Not to mention all the objects I've burned over the years when I turned on the wrong burner or put something down on one that was still hot.

And all the times someone forgets to turn off the burner because it's not hot enough to glow. (My mom does this daily.)

[wallycat]

I prefer gas--like most here, but in my early years of apartment living, I had many an electric stove. DH also had electric when I first moved after we got married.
I always grumbled, but was still able to put out great meals.

If you really love the house and the stove is the only issue, you could always get a propane tank and get a gas stove at some point..then you could hook up a gas grill as well.

[blazedog]

Of course you can get used to it and there are certain advantages -- it's much easier to simmer, pot handles don't get hot.

While it's true that you can't get an immediate cool down, how hard is it to move a pot off the side briefly especially since most new electrics are smooth tops.

I also think it's way easier to clean a smooth top than anything with grills and call me a minimalist but I LIKE the sleek lines of my glasstop range.

[wallycat]

I forgot to mention...Cook's Illustrated talked about the "cool down" urgency of an electric stove.
Their suggestion was to have 2 burners going...one high, the other at the lower temp. When the high heat was no longer needed, you simply moved the pot to the lower heating burner. A little waste of electricity, but it compensates for the cool-down need.

[mrswaz]

I can't tell you all how much I am appreciating the feedback here. I am leaning more towards the move- and as I type this DH is going through the place with a critical eye (which apparently I have a hard time doing). We keep listing our pros and cons, and every time I list a pro- DH brings up the electric range.:p I am sure it will take a while to adjust if we do go with it- but I really, really appreciate the tips being given.

[luv2run]

Originally posted by CL addict
I have learned to cope, but I have never never never learned to like it, .......for me, but still get irritated!

I think we may have been separated at birth--:o !

This is my sentiment exactly! I had an electric range at one point, for about 8 years, and I could never, ever adjust to it. You may find it easier to adapt to electric than me, though. You have gotten some good advice here so you will probably be fine--:) !

Debbie :cool:

[peachesncream]

I think you may be pleasantly surprised. The new electric ranges are better than the old ones, and you said this place had a new range! Most of the new ones have an infinite range of temperature on the dial, rather than just a few choices; they heat up faster, too. You may find it's easier to simmer foods below the boiling point on an electric range. Easier to clean, as well. This may be an old-fashioned prejudice, but I consider electric heat to be cleaner.
I also like the fact that new electric ranges have the dials at the back, where small children can't reach them.

Electric ovens are the most reliable, from what I've read. The temperature is steady and it's the same throughout the oven.

I have to admit that I've never cooked with gas, but I do love electric ranges and have never wanted anything else. Right now we have a ceramic cooktop, and it is my absolute favorite! Love the sleek modern look and easy cleanup. The cooktop is flat and heat-proof, making it convenient for serving food when we have a crowd. It heats quickly, and simmers on low heat very well, too.

I can understand why you might prefer gas (as most chefs do, for the quick changes in temperature), but there really are some good points to electric ranges!

[mbrogier]

If it is a high end electric range, it won't be as hard to get used to. I really like gas, and I never had it growing up. My mom had the Jenn-Air solid ceramic raised burners.

I've had really nice gas ranges and really cheap electric ones. You adjust, but you have to decide what is really worth having or is flexible. I'll have gas as long as I can get it. I hate those flat electric ranges, but that is a personal preference.

[Lrimerman]

This may not be an option, but when we bought our house it was an old electric range, I wanted gas. We bought a duel fuel Dacor and had a plumber come and run the gas line (from the water heater and furnace area) in the basement to the kitchen. I think it only cost us about $60 or so for him to do that.

If you can have a gas line run to the kitchen it may not be too cost prohibitive, if there is gas to the house already.

However, my parents have an electric flat cooktop and I prefer gas, but it isn't too bad. My MIL had gas and when she recently moved and put in a whole new kitchen in the new condo, she went with a Thermador flat electric cooktop. She loves it.

Lisa

[MISSINDI]

When we bought our house, it had a gas stove and I switched to electric the first opportunity I got. I love it and have no problems with it. Gas is fine as well, I'm just paranoid of house fires. :)

[landk]

I grew up and learned to cook with electric, moved to a place w/gas and had a hard time adjusting but was fine within about a month and then just bought a new place with electric and I'm back to what I like. I have never had a problem w/electric and they are much better then what they used to be years ago.

My Mom prefers electric also and she has a gas right now and curses every single day. She hates it!

Yes, you can adjust just fine!:)

[mbrogier]

New gas lines have stop breaks in them that shut off the flow of gas if there is a leak.

There are areas of the country where there are no gas lines run, so it isn't a matter of running the line through the house. Some areas, like hurricane prone islands, aren't condusive for burying gas lines.

My sad gas range now leaks because the burners don't light all the way around. You can smell it. I keep a lighter by the range to light the rest of the burner. Even with a little leaking gas, the range is safe to use. It doesn't explode like you see on tv.

[mrswaz]

Thank you everyone for all your replies.

We have decided to go with the house- electric range and all. DH did do some further exploring, and there is gas run to the house, so we can have it plumbed for a gas range should I decide I hate the electric one. I will give it a fair trial, it is brand new after all. But thank you so much for all the feedback and tips offered. Hopefully I can avoid a tragically burned dinner now!

[mbrogier]

You could always pull the new range out and sell it. People buy stuff like that on Ebay, or even in the classified.

I hope you like the range. Congratulations on the house!

[stefania4]

We've been in our house for almost a year with the electric stove, and we still hate it. Our neighbor just pulled the nearly-new gas stove out of the apartment in his basement, and I think we'll buy his and get our kitchen plumbed for gas (we have gas heat). Whatever they charge us will be worth the trouble.