UK Energy
Savings

If you have mains gas and electricity at your home you have the choice of an electric cooker or a gas cooker – But which is best?

Many people choose the type of cooker based on what they have had before. Some people swear by an electric and would never consider anything else and others feel the same about gas.
So here are some consideration to help you make an informed choice about the cooker that’s right for you.

Cost of running an electric cooker compared to the costs of running a gas cooker

Generally, an electric cooker will use less energy than a gas cooker and you will end up using fewer units than with a gas.  However, a gas unit is a lot cheaper than electricity which means that an electric cooker will cost you more money.

To give you a rough idea if you use your cooker for an 80 minutes a day then over a year a gas cooker will cost less than £20 to run compared to an electric cooker which will cost more than £50.  This is a £30 saving each year which over say a 10 year life of the appliance would be £300.

Whichever type of cooker you have its well worth comparing energy prices to make sure you get the best deal for your gas or electricity.

Cooking experience

It’s not just about money when comparing types of cooker as there are some considerations that are worth bearing in mind.

Hobs heat availability

Gas hobs deliver heat almost instantly compared to electric hobs which take a short while to heat up

Oven heat distribution

Many electric ovens are fan assisted which means that the heat is distributed evenly around the oven.  Gas ovens generally do not have fans so it can be argued that they do not heat up so evenly.  It can also be argued that electric ovens are more controllable in terms of temperature.

Solar panels

If you have solar panels then you may be generating spare electricity when you cook, especially in the summer months.  This means that this ‘free’ electricity could help offset the additional costs of running an electric oven [more about solar]

Installation

Gas appliances have to, by law, be installed by a GasSafe registered engineer and the costs to install will be higher than an electric oven.  You should also check that you have the required points in place for your chosen fuel.