Choosing the right stove is more complicated. Get the pros and cons of gas, electric, and induction.
Oh, for the good old days when choosing a stove meant comparing brands, features, and prices. Today, the decision-making process includes a thorny issue: whether to go with a gas or electric stove or an induction cooktop, which is a type of electric range. The question stems from growing concerns about the health, safety, and environmental aspects of gas stoves.
Professional and home chefs in the U.S. have long preferred gas ranges, says Melissa Haber, senior vice president at EuroChef USA, based in Edgewood, N.Y. Seventy-six percent of restaurants across the country use gas in their kitchens, according to a survey conducted by the National Restaurant Association in 2022. Cooks in various settings say gas stoves heat up more quickly and offer better temperature control than most electric stoves. But evidence is growing that gas stoves can be harmful to humans and the environment.
