Gas Oven vs Electric Oven – What is the Difference?

Are you aware that there are gas and electric ovens? Do you know the differences? Well, ovens are the most hardworking appliances in the kitchen. Despite the recipe and skills, a good chef will require a reliable range and oven. Ovens can either be gas or electric.

Even though the two have dozens of similarities, pros and cons, there are significant differences such as energy source that affects the cooking experience. Read this article to discover the best oven Malaysia offers. This in-depth gas vs electric oven comparison will look at which performs better in terms of preheat time, cooking functions, and temperature. Gas Oven vs Electric Oven, which is better? Here is the answer.

Differences Between Gas Ovens and Electric Ovens

To better understand the differences between a gas oven and an electric oven, you must understand what they are, how they work, and their specialties.

In the subsequent sections, we have carefully researched and presented all the important information that will help you understand the differences and which work you can choose for your kitchen needs.

What Is a Electric Oven?

This type of oven is built with a large electric coil, located at the bottom of the oven. The heat generated radiates to the rest of the cooking area. There is another heating element related to the electric oven called the broil element, located at the top of the oven.

All this means that the heat generated is drier compared to the gas oven. Humidity plays a critical role in the outcome of the dish made.

Electric ovens are built with large electric coils.

What Is a Gas Oven?

Gas ovens rely on burner ignition. The burner is also located at the bottom but some models can have a second burner at the top of the oven. Both gas ovens with heaters at the top and bottom provide more flexibility when cooking although there must be a gas line.

The oven generates heat from the lower compartment and distributes it to the entire cooking area. As the gas is released and burnt, little moisture is released into the air. This is why gas ovens produce more moist air compared to electric ovens.

Gas ovens rely on burner ignition.

Gas Oven vs Electric Oven – What They’re Known For

Capacity

Both the gas and electric oven have standard widths but can vary in terms of capacity, or what it can hold in its interior. An oven can look deceptively big on the outside while really not having much space inside to hold what you have. So, it is important to choose an oven that meets your kitchen needs when it comes to capacity.

If you have a household of between one to two people, 2 to 3 cubic feet will suit your needs. About 3 to 4 cubic feet can be best for a family of three or four people. A family of four people and above should search for an oven of 4 cubic feet. 

Price Range

Price is another factor to consider when understanding the differences between electric oven Malaysia and gas oven. In terms of the initial costs, or what is paid to the retailer to acquire an oven, the electric oven is less expensive. At the same time, the installation is simple and cheap.

A gas oven of a similar size is much more expensive compared to an electric oven. Gas ovens cost as much as 50% more than the price of the electric oven. For the natural gas oven, the pipes and installation must be done by a professional who will be paid. They have to provide a compliance certificate to ensure that the installation process conforms to the required regulations and all safety measures are followed. The electric oven does not rely on an external source of fuel that needs to be piped-in.  Rather, you will plug into the electrical grid, just like your fridge or cooker.

But in the long-term, the gas oven requires cheaper operational costs since gas is much cheaper than the cost of electricity.

Efficiency

When comparing the efficiency of a gas oven and an electric oven, an electric oven will take the day because of its mode of operation. The gas oven consumes much more energy to deliver your cooking needs compared to the electric oven. As a result, most professional chefs prefer an electric oven. There is an even distribution of heat to meet their cooking needs compared to the gas unit which takes much longer and produces unpredicted heat temperatures.

A gas oven will take 3 times as much gas energy to deliver as an electric oven. So, choosing an electric oven saves money.

Durability

In terms of durability, gas ovens tend to last longer compared to the electric oven. The electric elements in the electric gas wear out faster due to its heating mechanism and this accounts for some of the differences that exist.

At the same time, most electric ovens come with ceramic or glass-topped ranges which tend to shatter faster when a heavy object falls on them or an extremely cold water splashes on it when hot. When scratched also, a permanent scratch will remain. This can be as a result of dragging items across it or when sugar-based food boils over.

The gas oven is easier to maintain. In most cases, the surface is hard to scratch or shatter. Ultimately, there will be fewer maintenance costs and fewer repairs to keep it functioning.

Material

Both electric ovens and gas ovens have similar materials. The cover is usually one-piece, covered in a metal enclosure. The oven interior and doors are made of galvanised or stainless steel material added with an acrylic enamel coating to enhance visibility.

The oven cooking surface is made of ceramic or glass. The burner is made up of circular metallic cylinders of nichrome-alloy resistance wires. Inside the oven, some electromechanical features and controls include timer motors and switches. There is also a magnetron tube, stirrer fan and waveguide which are made of metal.

For an electric oven Malaysia, electricity is transmitted through the wires, emitting heat that comes out of elements. This turns red when the knob is at maximum. The levels of voltage that passes through the wires determine the heat settings. Electric gas also has a glass-top which is fairly easy to clean, but any sugar stain can require some serious cleaning to get the glass clean again.

Grates used in both ovens are available in different materials, like cast iron or ceramic which is easy to clean.

Reliability

Electric ovens tend to generate more heat, creating even and consistent results when baking. If the chef has to set the temperature at 350 degrees in a gas oven, the flame will have to continuously turn off and on to maintain heat. As a result, most chefs prefer the electric oven when it comes to reliability.

Electric ovens are also easy to switch on. Most models come with a dial that you simply twist and adjust to the required temperatures. There is also a dial used to select the cooking function.

Gas ovens require an igniter which can be electric power and if there is a power outage, a manual lighter can be used. However, the manual lighter should be used with caution to prevent possible accidents.

When it comes to warming up, an electric oven takes a lot of time to warm compared to a gas oven. However, once the electric oven is hot, they provide sufficient and evenly distributed heat to the whole oven. The gas oven heats up quite faster but when it heats up, there isn’t enough heat in the oven. Gas ovens become hottest at the top since heat rises but chefs can use the bottom of the oven to make their dishes. This doesn’t mean the food is evenly cooked in a gas oven. Instead, the roasting tray with food is moved up and down so that everything is properly cooked.

Electric ovens with convection technology provide an even distribution of heat. These convection ovens work by rotating heated air around the oven so that all sides of the food are evenly cooked. Food is evenly cooked and you don’t end up with one side of the cake cooked more than the other.

Safety

Safety is an important factor that you should consider for your cooking appliance. When we compare the safety of electric and gas ovens, we discover that electric ovens are safer for household use. Even though covered with metallic grates, the burner of the gas oven applies an adjustable open flame. If there is an open flame in the kitchen, there is a possibility of a flammable item catching fire. For sure, electric ovens do not rule out the possibility of fires but they are considered safer.

Another safety concern is the possibility of leaked gas with the gas oven through the pipes or the knobs being loose enough to release gas. To avoid such a possibility, however, there is a need to install carbon monoxide detectors. But all household appliances whether electric or gas should be checked often to ensure the knobs are always off when not in use.

Cooking Features and Style

Gas units produce moist heat which makes it perfect for food that tends to dry faster. As a result, it is perfect for meat dishes where the yummy juices are needed intact. If you want to make crispy dishes, the fun should be on to achieve the desired outcome. The gas oven often produces the desired outcome for baking but broiling should be done in an electric kiln.

Since the electric oven produces drier heat during the cooking process, it is perfect for broiling or making those crispy cookies, peanuts or any other dish that needs a crispy texture. If you want to make a lasagna using an electric oven, it can still be done but the top of the oven needs to be covered with foil to minimize dryness.

The electric oven features are best for roasting since the dry heat helps achieve the needed texture. However, the features of the gas oven are not best for roasting and this requires constant rotation of what is being cooked because the temperature tends to get hot too fast. As with simmering, the electric oven facilitates faster simmering because of its ability to maintain temperature faster.

Another cooking feature that can be considered is the preheating time. The gas cooktops take minimal time to preheat compared to the electric ovens. After the gas oven burner is ignited, it reaches the high temperatures faster. At the same time, it can be easily controlled.

Even though the electric oven is made to heat up slowly, once heated it maintains an even temperature for a longer time compared to the gas oven.

Gas oven vs electric oven.

Lighting the Oven

This another feature that you can consider while differentiating between an electric oven and a gas oven. The electric oven is easier to light than a gas oven. The electric oven has a dial that you twist to the desired temperature and another to choose the desired cooking function. The gas oven will need an igniter to open. However, there are some with electric-powered igniters. After ignition, the gas oven will require you to press the ignition button to choose your preferred oven heat setting.

Gas vs Electric OvenWhich Do You Need?

After understanding the specialties of the electric oven and gas oven, the next step is to assess which one you might need in your kitchen. To find the best oven, you need to ask yourself “What are my cooking needs?”

After highlighting what you need, you can decide on the best option. Otherwise, you can consider the following factors to help you choose the best baking oven.

Temperature

Electric oven responds faster when it comes to oven temperature control. They can be easily regulated to the required temperatures and this allows the cook to minimize heat waste. In the process, it also prevents undercooking and overcooking.

The gas oven attains high temperatures faster but instantly cools down as soon as it turns off. The trade-off between the two types of ovens is cold spots and hot spots. Gas ovens have numerous cold spots and hot spots. However, this problem can be solved if there are fans installed to distribute heat. These fans take the unit from a conventional oven to a convection oven instead. There are gas convection oven units and electric convection ovens.

If there is no fan to distribute the hot air, you can rotate the container or baking dish every so often. This can increase your chances of getting an evenly cooked dish.

Cooking Options

Gas ovens produce moist heat and this makes them a perfect fit for dishes that dry faster. It can be used to make meat dishes where you want a dish with intact juice. Making dishes soaked in sauce and broth in the gas oven produces a delicious dish. At the same time, a gas oven can be used to boil water. To make crispy dishes using a gas oven, the best option is to turn the fan. Using a fan helps produce drier heat needed to achieve crispiness in a dish. Cooks can get outstanding results with the gas oven.

The electric oven produces dryer heat without the use of a fan, hence electric cooking is perfect when it comes to broiling or making crispy dishes. It is perfect for any dish that needs to be crunchy. For dishes that don’t need that dry crunch, remember to use foil to cover the top.

Better roasting can be achieved with electric ovens. For better results, however, there is a need to rotate the dish in a gas oven since the temperature tends to increase faster. For simmering purposes, an electric oven.

Interior part of an oven.

Preheat Time

An electric oven takes a long time to preheat compared to a gas oven. After, igniting the burner in the gas oven will reach maximum temperatures faster. At the same time, the heat can be controlled by assessing the size of the flames. Big flames produce hotter temperatures.

For an electric oven, you have to wait longer to reach high temperatures. But after heating, the heat is maintained for a longer time.

Convenience

Convenience depends on your cooking needs and waiting time to get the required heat temperature. Gas ovens can be difficult to ignite and require caution compared to the electric oven that has a knob to light. After plugging in the electric oven, you choose the desired temperature and start cooking.

The convenience that comes with the electric oven can work perfectly in restaurants since they make food much faster. When it comes to temperature control, the gas range is more convenient. You can easily adjust the size of the flame and achieve your desired temperature with a gas oven.

Everything an Electric Oven Malaysia Can Offer You

Energy Efficiency

When it comes to energy efficiency, ovens are generally the least energy-efficient units in a kitchen. This is because both electric and gas oven walls consume the majority of the heat produced. Nevertheless, between gas and electric ovens, electric ovens are more energy-efficient. A gas oven converts only 6 percent of the energy it uses into usage heat that can be used for cooking. There is a lot of energy that is wasted in incomplete combustion as well as heat that is released without usage. On the other hand, electric ovens tend to convert 12-13 percent of energy to usable heat.

Usage

The electric oven is easier to use compared to the gas oven. With the electric oven, power is always ready for use and all you need to do is switch the knob or press a button to get started. Anybody can use the electric oven with easy to achieve their cooking needs.

Installation

Installing an electric oven is cheap and easy. There are fewer costs paid besides the marked price given to the retailer. There are no installation fees and professionals to get started with an electric oven compared to the gas oven that requires trained personnel to install the gas pipes. There is no external source of fuel needed.

Even Cooking Temperatures

Another positive thing about the electric oven is the ability to produce even cooking temperatures. The electric oven has a uniform internal cooking temperature. With this, you eliminate the development of hot spots and cold spots in foods as evident with the gas ovens. This applies especially to electric convection ovens which contain a fan that can circulate the hot air around the oven interior. A convection oven is great for baking.

Having an even cooking temperature is important because it can reduce chances of overcooking, undercooking and unevenly cooked batches.

Unlike the gas oven that produces unstable and unpredictable heat, an electric oven releases consistent heat. Some electric oven models have fans that help circulate heat and further helps achieve even distribution of heat into a dish.

Electric oven with a fan. Gas oven vs electric oven - Shop Journey
Electric oven with a fan.

Drying

Even though the gas oven produces moist heat to make food, the electric oven produces dry heat. The dry heat is not ideal for baking and cooking cakes but can be perfect for other culinary options such as drying fruits and dehydrating meat. It is perfect when you want to achieve crispiness.

Price

When it comes to price, the purchase price for an electric oven is cheaper compared to the oven gas. Similarly, you won’t incur a lot of installation costs compared to the gas oven.

Get the Most Out of Your Oven

After reading the specialties what type of oven would you prefer? If you want an energy-efficient, easy to use, install and budget-friendly oven, you can check the best electric ovens in Malaysia. You can check out the Khind 52L Electric Oven.

Khind 52L Electric Oven is one of the best oven brands in terms of price, ease of installation and use, and is energy-efficient. You don’t need to worry about high electricity bills. Some of the key features linked to the electric oven include: tempered glass door, convection fan, 120 minutes timer and stay on function, multiple heat selection-top, bottom or both, and rotisserie function (known as spit-roasting). Electric oven Malaysia review has more benefits than the gas oven.

Khind 52L Electric Oven.

Final Word

In a nutshell, an electric oven or gas oven is an excellent kitchen appliance to have. Even though they have differences in terms of energy consumption, source of energy, and technology, they all perform similar functions.

If you are operating on a low budget, you can check AiYOYO 12L Electric Oven. Besides the low price, this unit has other functions that can be beneficial for small-sized families.

If you have any comments or concerns about this gas vs electric oven article, don’t hesitate to drop us a comment!

Choose an oven based on your needs. If you plan to achieve an even temperature for cooking, go for an electric oven. If you want immediate heat once the oven is turned on, the gas oven is the best fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better – Electric Oven or Gas Oven?

An electric oven is better than a gas oven because it is easy to install and use, it is energy-efficient, produces even temperature for cooking, and is low priced. At the same time, the electric heat does not lose heat faster compared to a gas oven. The gas oven is difficult to use and install. At the same time, you have to spare the installation fees.

Does a gas oven cook the same as an electric oven?

No, the gas oven produces moist heat hence perfect for baking and cooking cakes. Electric oven makes dry heat which is best for drying fruits and making crispy dishes. Similarly, the electric oven produces even cooking temperatures. The gas oven has an unstable cooking temperature. 

About The Author

Shervon

Shervon

What's a housewife without her cooking utensils and cleaning tools to keep the house in good order? Happily married with 2 cheeky kids, Mrs Housewife spends nearly 24/7 of her time around her trusty kitchen appliances or cleaning equipment well enough to know the ins and outs of those items (some say she's too obsessed with baking, cooking & cleaning for the family, and wonder if she's married to those appliances instead of her husband).

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