Electric vs. Gas Stove: Which One Truly Offers More Efficiency?

The debate between electric and gas stoves is always lively. But when you're preparing your signature beef Bourguignon or paella, you likely don't think about saving energy or money. Still, you could be cutting costs every time you cook these dishes—or any others—if you use an energy-efficient stove.

You may have compared prices of budget-friendly electric models at your local appliance store, but simply looking at the upfront cost won't reveal how much you'll really spend in the long term.

Both gas and electric stoves typically fall within a similar price range, depending on the brand and model. On average, you’ll pay between $650 and $2,800 for an electric stove, and $800 to $2,300 for a gas stove, according to Consumer Reports. While opting for a less expensive electric stove might save you money upfront, the operating costs will increase the more you use it.

The California Energy Commission states that most Americans currently use electric stoves, potentially missing out on significant energy savings. Turn to the next page to discover how switching to gas could help reduce your annual energy costs.

How Do They Operate?

To grasp why gas appliances can save you money compared to electric models, it's essential to understand how each uses energy.

With a gas stove, natural gas flows into the stove from the main gas line in your home. It travels to the burner, where it combines with air in a mixing tube.

As the gas-air mixture is released through the burner holes, it combines with additional air. The ignition system ignites the mixture, producing a blue flame. Adjusting the burner control knob regulates the gas flow to the burner—higher settings release more gas.

How Gas and Electric Stoves Heat Up

Gas stoves feature one of two ignition systems: a pilot light or an electronic ignition system. A pilot light is a small blue flame that constantly burns near the burner. Since it's always on, it consumes more gas than an electronic ignition system, which only sparks (you’ll hear a clicking sound) when you turn the burner on.

With an electric stove, electricity flows to a wire within the coils on the cooktop. For smooth-top stoves, the coil is located beneath the surface. Turning the dial on the stove sends electricity to the coil, causing it to heat up. You'll notice the cooktop turning bright orange when electricity is flowing. The more you turn the dial, the more electricity reaches the coil, making it hotter—but the temperature control isn’t as precise as with gas stoves.

Which One Is More Efficient?

In the energy efficiency race, gas comes out on top. It takes approximately three times as much energy to generate and deliver electricity to your stove. The California Energy Commission states that using a gas stove will cost you less than half of what an electric stove would cost to operate (assuming you have an electronic ignition and not a pilot light).

While the government's Energy Star program, which evaluates home appliances for energy efficiency, doesn’t include ranges, purchasing a gas stove and following our energy-saving tips (see sidebar) can help reduce your annual spending.

The total amount on your annual energy bill depends on how much time you spend cooking, but according to energy provider MGE, you can expect to pay about $2.34 per month to operate a gas stove without a pilot light (based on a gas rate of $1 per therm, or 100,000 BTU). In comparison, an electric stove will cost around $5.94 per month (at an electric rate of $.14 per kilowatt hour).

Gas Stoves Are Simple to Operate, Too

Gas stoves might also have the upper hand when it comes to ease of use. While electric stoves sometimes heat up faster, the precise temperature control provided by gas ranges is a significant advantage. Additionally, electric burners can retain heat for a longer period, meaning that a pot left on the stove could continue cooking and eventually burn, even if the heat is turned off.

Gas and electric stoves are often similar in price, but the energy efficiency of a typical gas stove will save you money over time. So, go ahead and enjoy yourself in the kitchen while being eco-friendly!

Are Gas Stoves Safe?

There are additional aspects to consider when choosing a new stove. Numerous observational studies have delved into this topic, but there is no clear consensus among the findings.

For one, any appliance that uses gas in the home has the potential to produce carbon monoxide. To minimize this risk, ensure your stove is well-maintained and make it a habit to turn on your range hood as soon as you begin cooking [source: New York Times].

In 1992, researchers from Duke University and the EPA suggested that nitrogen dioxide emissions from a gas stove might increase the likelihood of children developing respiratory issues. Later, in 2013, another study indicated that gas stoves contribute to approximately 12.7 percent of childhood asthma cases in the United States [source: Scientific American].

These findings have sparked several calls to ban gas stoves nationwide. However, the American Gas Association challenges the data and continues to defend the safety of gas cooktops to this day.