Are gas appliances REALLY better than conventional appliances?
Now we’re cooking with gas!
We have al heard this expression, and it usually means that something has gone right. But is it really so much better to cook and heat and boil (and freeze!) with gas, compared to conventional electricity?
Gas home appliances:
When we are talking about using gas appliances in the home, a gas stove is usually the first thing that comes to mind. We often forget that there are many other appliances that have gas alternatives available. There are gas ovens, heaters, fireplaces, geysers and even fridges.
Now the question remains: Is gas really superior?
We’ll be looking at each appliance in turn, so let’s begin with the obvious one:
Gas stove and oven.
Many (ok, most) chefs and avid home cooks swear by a gas stove. The fact that the heat is immediate, means that you can regulate your cooking better and there is no chance of an electric stove plate overheating and burning your food because it heats up sporadically and irregularly. With gas, the flame is either there on not, and the heat is very much: “What you see is what you get.”
The downside of a gas stove top is the fact that you can’t really get a good low simmer on it. With the direct heat of the flame on your pot or pan, even the lowest setting can still burn your food. Things like pap or stew that require hours of low heat are better made on electric stove plates or in ovens/slow cookers.
Gas stoves are initially more expensive than conventional stove tops, but they do pay for themselves in the end, with gas being a much cheaper option to run with than electricity. Oh, and gas is also loadshedding proof!
Gas ovens on the other hand are a divisive matter. Many countries do use them and even locally they have a big following because the are once again cheaper to run and don’t rely on the power grid, but connoisseur bakers and pastry chefs still choose conventional convection ovens to do their prize-winning bakes in.
Read on about this debate and make up your own mind:
Gas stove with Electric oven – best of both worlds!
Gas geyser:
So, these have evolved and improved greatly, and we are a far cry form the dodgy campground gas geysers of decades ago. Now, gas geysers are as reliable and easy to operate as most conventional geysers, and they provide endless flows of hot water, on tap, immediately. This might be the one bonus of a gas geyser. If you have a big household who put a strain on your electric or solar geyser, gas is the way to go. With a gas geyser the hot water only runs out when the water itself runs out (or when the pilot light dies).
Gas geysers are more expensive and like conventional geysers they need to be professionally installed to be safe. There could also be storage and installation safety concerns if your geyser is indoors.
Gas heater/gas fireplace
Gas heaters are extremely effective and efficient ways to heat even the largest of living spaces. This is why so many restaurants and venues use free standing gas heaters to keep their patrons warm. In a home, a gas heater can be a great way to get immediate heat into a space without waiting for an oil-heater to heat up or a fireplace to be stoked. Gas heaters are however dangerous, as they reach extremely high temperatures and make use of what is essentially an open flame. This means that they are a fire risk, should something like a curtain blow over them, or should a child place something through the safety grill at the front. But, if used responsibly they are a wonderful and affordable way to heat your home.
Gas fireplaces also provide immediate heat and ambience to your home, even though they miss out on the real magic of a crackling fire. What does count in their favour is the fact that, like a gas stove, you can completely turn them off once you are done, which means you don’t have to hang around and douse your fireplace until its safe. You can simply flick the switch and go to bed.
Gas fridges and freezers
These are strange appliances that serve immensely important duties anywhere that doesn’t have stable electricity. This is basically what makes them better than conventional fridges in certain scenarios. A gas fridge or freezer allows you to keep things cold or frozen where otherwise you would not have that option. If you are as interested as we are in how they work, check out this explanation.
What we like most about gas appliances is that they give us options.
They allow you to have the luxuries of a hot meal, a shower and a cold drink in the most unlikely places, (or during rolling blackouts) but they don’t beat out the conventional appliances every day. Like all things in live, balance is key and before you decide what stove to buy, it’s best to do your own research, map your own needs and make up your own mind. We can only give you the information.
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