Is a gas or electric stove better for the environment?

With so many different types of stoves on the market today, it can be hard to choose which one is best for in your kitchen.

One of the most important considerations is their impact on the environment. Many homeowners wonder: is a gas or electric stove better for the environment?

An electric stove is better for the environment than a gas stove. Unlike electric stoves, gas stoves produce carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and formaldehyde. These compounds are harmful to the environment and your health.

According to the EPA, indoor air is about two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. Contaminants from gas stoves are one of the driving factors of this pollution.

Here’s a little more information on each of the main pollutants from gas stoves if you’re interested.

Nitrogen Dioxide

Nitrogen dioxide is a greenhouse gas that exacerbates climate change when it travels into the atmosphere. It’s made up of small particles called particulate matter that are dangerous to your health.

Homes with gas stoves produce up to 400% more nitrogen dioxide than homes with electric stoves, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute.

Too much nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere can lead to acid rain which is especially harmful to forests.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) doesn’t directly contribute to global warming. But when it gets in the atmosphere it prolongs the life of other greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change.

CO is also hazardous to your health, even in small concentrations. That’s why many homes are required to have carbon monoxide detectors.

Too much carbon monoxide can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. This reduces the flow of oxygen to the brain, which can lead to symptoms ranging from disorientation to death.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde (CH2O) is made up of hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon. In the atmosphere it can break down into carbon monoxide, accelerating climate change.

While it’s good to know about the environmental impact of your stove, you might have other questions.

Do I want a gas or electric stove? What are the pros and cons of each one? Are gas stoves safe? Is it cheaper to use a gas or electric stove? The list goes on...

We’ll answer these questions and more so you can make an informed decision on which stove is right for you.

Let’s start with the pros and cons.

Gas Stove Pros

PLFW 750

Doesn’t take time to warm up
Can change the heat intensity immediately
Preheats faster than an electric oven
Cooks your food more evenly than an electric stove
Allows you to cook a wide variety of food
Great for grilling, frying, and Asian cooking
Works even when your power is out
Cost-effective

Gas Stove Cons

Requires gas line installation
Can be dangerous if the gas is left on
Older gas stoves may have a pilot light that has to be lit all the time
Sometimes the burner won't light
Produces harmful contaminants such as carbon monoxide and formaldehyde
Difficult to clean thanks to grill grates and burner covers

Electric Stove Pros

PLFW 544

Doesn’t produce as much heat as a gas stove
Easier to clean than a gas stove
Doesn’t get as hot as a gas stove
Not ideal for constant frying, grilling, or Asian cooking
Doesn’t require a gas supply
Easy to install - most homes can accommodate electric stoves
Easy to power on and off
Not as expensive to install as gas stoves

Electric Stove Cons

Can burn yourself easy; you can’t always tell if it’s on by looking at the coils
Can’t use when the power goes on
New electric stoves can be quite pricey
Use about three times as much energy as a gas stove
Can be quite expensive over time due to high energy consumption
If the power goes out, so does the stove
Doesn’t heat as evenly as a gas stove

Is a gas stove safe?

Gas stoves are incredibly safe as long as you have adequate ventilation in your home. We recommend purchasing a range hood over your gas stove. It will vent out the harmful contaminants as well as grease and smoke from your kitchen.

Be sure to turn your gas stove off completely after use. If it’s left on for too long, this can be a fire hazard or lead to severe health issues.

Do gas stoves cause cancer?

The cancer risk is incredibly low when running a gas stove. Gas stoves produce the carcinogen benzene, but not enough of it to be dangerous. Still, it’s important to vent contaminants to the outside with a professional range hood.

Is it cheaper to use a gas stove or electric?

In the long term, it’s cheaper to use a gas stove. Gas stoves might cost more to purchase and install, but they are much less expensive in the long term than electric stoves. It costs about three times as much to run an electric stove.

If you don’t cook often, you won’t notice a massive difference in the cost. But if you cook every day or multiple times a day, a gas stove is a smart long-term investment.

Which is better: cooking with gas or electricity?

The answer to this question will be different for everyone. Gas ranges and electric ranges have unique pros and cons.

Generally, if you cook often and can afford to install a gas line, a gas range is the way to go. But it’s important to have great ventilation in your home like a range hood. If you don’t cook often and want to be more environmentally friendly, an electric stove is your best bet. But it will cost more over time than running a gas stove.

We hope you found your answer to ‘Is a gas or electric stove better for the environment?’ All in all, electric stoves are better for the environment.

If you’re wondering which stove is right for you, there is no "one size fits all" answer. But we hope this guides you to the right decision based on your kitchen setup and cooking habits.

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