Comments on: Now I’m cooking with gas!

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:56:25 +0000

I know I’m behind the times by responding to this post now. I’ve been out of town for 9 days, so I’m really out of touch! But I did want to offer my vote for electric stoves. I’ve had opportunity several times to cook with gas — and I always burn the food! But the point I wanted to make was my love for a glass-top electric stove. We had one when we lived in Germany and our current home had a glass-top electric when we bought it. The oven is also convection — which I have learned to love! It’s very handy when you want to cook with dishes stacked on the racks — everything cooks evenly.

By: Sharon Seibert

Sharon Seibert — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:58:22 +0000

To roast marshmallows, you can hold the marshmallow on a fork. I also have used a metal skewer. Really, any point will do. We have gotten marshmallow on the stove, but it wipes off well. Depending on how you like your marshmallows, you may wish to remove the metal grate that covers the burner. Incidentally, don’t forget that metal does heat up quickly, and you could burn your fingers – or something else. Recently, I had three blisters on my lower lip because I ate the marshmallow remnants off the fork too soon after assembling my s’more. Very silly. I should have waited longer, but I got a good laugh at myself.

Tell Mark that I said, “Hello.”

By: Becka

Becka — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:22:52 +0000

Sharon,
When my son, Mark, saw the new stove his comment was “now you can roast peppers over the flame like they do on cooking shows.” I haven’t tried it yet, nor have I ever tried toasting marshmallows. I guess I was always afraid that I might get some melted marshmallow on the stove top! Do you hold the marshmallow on a fork?

By: Sharon

Sharon — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:53:44 +0000

Hee hee, I just was reminded of another benefit to a gas stove – toasted marshmallows year round. I’m eating a lovely s’more right now.

By: Sharon Seibert

Sharon Seibert — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:38:04 +0000

I was afraid of gas until we moved to a house with gas. I’m not afraid of it now, and I love it. Don’t want to think of having to go back to electric ever again. Electric is SO SLOW!!! I did have a hard time baking cookies with gas, but I think I’ve figured it out now. My first several batches spread too thin. After some research, I now add a bit more flour and/or chill my dough before baking.

By: Ann Larson

Ann Larson — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:47:47 +0000

I prefer electric but it’s all I’ve known. The “fire” and “smell” of gas doesn’t sound pleasant! Controling the heat sounds like a good idea. But…I’ve never heard of an electric stove “blowing up!” I’m happy for you!

By: Marilyn Donnell

Marilyn Donnell — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 06:25:58 +0000

There are pros and cons for each, but the biggest negative for me when I had to cook with gas was the smell. I know the gasman said if it was installed properly you couldn’t smell a thing. But I can always smell it and it makes me sick just to be in the kitchen.

I wondered about the comment on ‘suffered with electric’? At least there is no electricial smell.

By: Alice Fleshman

Alice Fleshman — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:39:15 +0000

I grew up using a gas stove and when I got married our first apartment had an electric stove. I burned many a meal before I learned how to control the heat. Every house since then has had electric but I still prefer gas. My husband does not like the smell of a gas range but I like the fact that when you turn it off it does not keep cooking.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:30:53 +0000

I too, prefer gas, but have only had it myself once while a poor grad student! I love that when you turn it off, it’s off. I spent a year in Africa in the 80s (I was a teen) and we had a gas range that had to be lit each time. Not so much fun. I was scared of it. ) I’m sorry to admit that I laughed about your detector batteries.

By: Nate

Nate — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:14:22 +0000

I love cooking with gas, but prefer baking with electric. There is much more control when cooking with gas, and the baking is much more even with electric. I love using my parents Duel-Fuel Range.

By: Sandy Stock

Sandy Stock — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:20:07 +0000

I had a gas stove only once but definitely preferred it to electric. When you turn it on, you have heat; when you turn it off, the heat is gone. Sounds right to me!

By: Rela

Rela — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:54:44 +0000

I got a gas stove last Oct. LOVE it!!! We had my dad come over and cut out the extra space needed as the old electric range was a drop in like yours. Our first meal using the stove was eggs also! I love the control and the even temperatures it provides. Tim loves watching the oven voom when it’s baking.

By: Rob

Rob — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:51:33 +0000

Most definitely gas. I have suffered with Electric in each of the 3 places Brenda and I have lived. If I could get a restaurant size range that holds a full size sheet pan in the oven and has a salamander on top I would be in hog heaven!!!

By: Becka

Becka — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:40:37 +0000

Bet,
I think what I like about gas is the control. This range even has a simmer burner which has an extremely low flame for simmering without scorching. It also is better for canning. I don’t do large amounts of canning any more, but I do like to can a few things and it’s really not good for some electric ranges.
We had to cut out the cabinets because this range is 4″ wider and it goes all the way to the floor. The other was a drop in and sat on a platform (about the depth of a typical stove drawer) that was mounted underneath the stove. I think it’s a pretty typical installation in a lot of builder homes. Fortunately I didn’t lose any space inside the cabinets, just the 4″ of counter space on top. The vertical walls of the cabinet nearest to the stove were offset–probably just in case someone wanted to get a larger stove sometime.
We do have a carbon monoxide detector just in case there would be a problem.
The battery typically runs low in the middle of the night and the cats go berserk and Rob and I both have heart failure!

By: Danette

Danette — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:20:36 +0000

Yay for a gas range! I have a combination range with gas burners and a convection electric oven. This was Tim’s gift to me when we needed a new range. He told me that I would never want to go back to electric burners if I’d experienced gas. I’m still a little afraid of “fire” but I guess that it’s good for me to remain cautious so I don’t burn down the house with a tea towel.

By: Elizabeth Fitch

Elizabeth Fitch — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:19:42 +0000

I LOVE gas. We’ve had to use electric at times, because that was the stove that came with the rental. However, the burners kept going out. Before we left for Korea, our stove was down to two burners (in preparation for Korea where we had only two burners to start with, I suppose.) Currently, I have electric, but I, too, hope to end up with gas!!

By: Dawn

Dawn — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:35:25 +0000

Definitely Gas!!

By: Bet

Bet — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:26:23 +0000

I’ve never cooked on a gas stove–I’ve always been a little afraid of it. But I have a gas water heater in my house, so I guess I should be as afraid of that as a gas stove. I’m carbon monoxide phobic!

I’ve always wondered what it is about gas stoves that make them the choice of professional chefs. Is it the control over the heat that is the key? What do you like about cooking with gas?

Why did you have to cut out cabinets–to fit the gas range in? Is it significantly larger? or does the cutting have to do with the gas line? You can tell by my questions that I’m gas-range ignorant!

By: Deb

Deb — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:59:42 +0000

Becka, I’ve never really cooked with gas except a couple of times in my aunt’s apartment. In fact, my memories of her apartment always include a gas leak smell. To me it was always scary…like it would make me die in my sleep! LOL! I’d much prefer electric!