Why Do Electric Stoves Take So Long?

Why Do Electric Stoves Take So Long?

If you have ever changed from a gas stove to an electric stove, there is no doubt you noticed that an electric stove takes too long.

If you compare the two, it may appear like the electric stove is taking an eternity, especially if you are in a hurry and you are stuck with the electric stove.

Although this is a frustrating issue, not many people understand the reasons that dictate the situation.

So, what is the problem with electric stoves? Why do electric stoves take so long? 

This is due to their low wattage (10,000 watts) and the heat transfer is only at the bottom of the cookware .They have a much lower wattage. Consequently, if 1000 watts electric stove should be compared with a gas stove, the electric stove will appear too slow to heat.

Wattage is the main culprit in this apparent long time taken by electric stoves to cook.

It’s easy to have a gas stove whose wattage is 10,000 watts. However, electric stoves have a much lower wattage.

Additionally, heat generated by a gas stove rises towards the sides instead of an electric stove whose heat transfer is only on the bottom of the cookware.

Why Causes The Glaringly Slow Cooking In Electric Stoves?

It’s indisputable that you noticed the difference in terms of time taken to cook if you have ever used both electric and gas stoves.

Electric stoves seems slower than gas stoves. On the other hand, gas stoves strike out as swift and convenient to do your cooking.

There are several things that contribute to the slowness of electric stoves.

But as already pointed out, the higher output wattage for gas stoves places them at an advantage over electric stoves.

So how can an electric stove ever compete with a gas stove that spits out heat in an immense manner?

To combat the slowness of an electric stove, you can buy a stove with a higher wattage. Because watts are behind the slowness, you will see results if you invest more money in more watts.

Are Electric Stoves Better Than Gas Stoves?

Yes. To start, the cost alone is way lower than a gas stove. Indeed, with about $680, you will get yourself an electric stove.

This is nowhere near what you would pay for a gas stove. Although a gas stove is more durable, its durability may not mean a thing when you consider how unsafe it is to cook.

Concerning safety, electric stoves are the safest, especially for those not so keen on an organized kitchen.

Once you switch off your electric stove, it can be used as a countertop. It’s less vulnerable to accidents and fire hazards.

Just think of the many fires that started when a roll of paper towels accidentally wound up on a gas stove! This alone can be the antidote you need to avoid gas stoves.

When it comes to cleaning, electric stoves are the easiest. You only need to do a few swipes and wipes, and then you are good to go.

On the other hand, you want to be extra careful with gas stoves. If food or waterfall or splash on the burner, the holes seem to be ready for clogging.

When they are clogged, you can be sure of a problem with the way gas heats your cookware.

Without daily wiping and unclogging of these stoves, you may never get any peace in the use.

Electric stoves do not have any dangerous smells. On the contrary, gas stoves are a live bomb that can explode at any time.

This is not the kind of stove that you want to light and leave it alone to cook your food as you do other things. You need to monitor the way the gas burns all the time.

Compare this with the convenience you get with the electric stove where you only need to switch it on and grab your preferred daily, waiting for your food to cook.

The seriousness of the safety issues related to gas stoves can be seen when the subways are littered with posters reminding you of what to do if you smell gas.

This should tell you that gas stoves are a potential danger.

The potential danger of a gas leak and follow-up explosions may not be worth the convenience advertised by gas stove patriots.

Since electric stoves(Amazon Link) are safer to cook with, peradventure you have seniors, children, or anyone whose motor control functions are compromised consider an electric stove.

However, it’s good to be realistic. It’s not cheap to run an electric stove. This thing can eat into your pocket like ants.

If you are one of those people who eat every meal from their kitchen, you will definitely see a significant difference when you switch to an electric stove.

However, if you do not eat much from your kitchen, there might not be too much difference to notice.

How Do I Cook Well With An Electric Stove?

When cooking with an electric stove, you need to be extra careful. This is especially so if you are using an electric stove for the first time.

The burners have the potential to wreak havoc on you anytime. Consequently, you want to pay extra carefulness to them to avoid unwanted results that may land you in a hospital bed.

According to Joshua Sauer of Avenue Restaurant, New Jersey, “no one who ever owned an electric stove and has never burnt themselves at least once.”

This argument becomes very obvious since an electric stove doesn’t have any warning like a gas stove.

For instance, there is no smell, no sound, and no flame. This is a recipe for trouble if you are not keen.

Luckily, newer models can notify you when you have a burner that is on. However, older models do not have any indications or notifications.

If you can, tell whether the burner is on or off, place your hand a few inches above it. If it is hot, you will not need to touch it to feel the heat.

Alternatively, you may place clean pans and pots on hot burners when cooking to avoid these particular ones.

Additionally, you need to be extra sure that all burners are turned off. This may mean that you squat down to have a clear look at the burner dials.

Remember, if you leave a burner on when it is not in use, you are burning some dollars, and the reality will catch up with you when the bills start coming.

Can I Preheat My Food?

With regard to electric stoves, preheating is an art you may want to learn. Since a burner takes too long to heat (about 15 minutes), it’s advisable to preheat your burners as you prepare your food.

You can use this time to chop your onions as you wait for your burner to heat up. Always make a habit of first turning your burners on and then going to work.

As your stove gets ready, you are also getting ready with your preparations.

If there is any need to preheat your Dutch oven or cast-iron skillet, your electric stove will do that for you.

Prior to beginning cooking, a 350 degree Fahrenheit will suffice to bring it up to temp.

Since it’s not easy to maintain high heat when using an electric stove, preheating your cookware this way will ensure that your food cooks in a more even manner.

For instance, before putting water into a pot to boil, use an electric kettle to heat your water and then pour it out into the pot to boil.

This will be a sure way to speed up the process significantly.

If you opt to put a pot of cold water on your electric stove, you will have to wait for a long time before the water boils.

If you feel that this is too much time to wait, pre-boil the water using an electric kettle.

This will ensure that your water is boiled in a few minutes, avoiding any possibility of waiting all night to cook your pasta.

How Do I Adjust Heat If I Need Instant Response From An Electric Stove?

If you want to change the heat, practice caution to increase or decrease the heat gradually, giving the electric stove time to adjust.

This is not like the simple life of a gas stove where you turn the heat up and get an instant increase in temperature.

On the other hand, tuning a gas stove lower will heat an instant decrease in temperature.

Since electric burners need time to adjust to the temperature.

If you want to simmer a pot of soup, don’t crank the heat instantly to a higher setting since this can make the soup too hot and make it boil over.

Instead, go slow by starting low and working your way up slowly. If you wish to lower the heat quickly, let two burners be on once.

Since you cannot instantly change the heat from a low setting to a high setting and get results in an electric stove, have one burner at a lower heat setting and the other at a higher heat setting.

If you want to swap temperature like burning homemade caramel, change your pot from one burner to the other as your heat diversity demands.

With these two burners, you will seamlessly move between low and high heat.

Which Stove Is Easier To Install?

An electric stove is easier to install. Regardless of where you live, it’s highly probable that there is electricity.

Consequently, with electricity, it should not be hard to operate an electric stove since it only requires you to the plugin.

However, note that most electric stoves require to be plugged in a 240-volt power outlet.

When it comes to gas stoves, they require a gas line. It’s possible to power a stove using butane, propane, or even liquefied petroleum gas.

However, many stoves run on natural gas, requiring a gas line to the house.

Depending on your area of residence, getting a gas line might be the deal-breaker. For instance, in remote areas, gas lines are not guaranteed.

Does Gas Stoves Offer Precise Temperature Control?

Yes. Gas stoves offer precise energy controls. There is a big difference in terms of how gas and an electric stove respond to temperature changes.

Gas stoves respond instantaneously as opposed to electric stoves. This makes gas stoves easy to use when cooing some dishes.

If you choose to use an electric stove for cooking some meals, it will not be cost-effective as you will need to light two burners to enhance temperature changing.

If you want to adjust the temperature down using an electric stove, it will be an upward task.

It takes time for the already heated plate to cool down even after the heat has been reduced.

In addition to this, there sure are some dishes an electric stove can never cook.

For instance, you will not want to try charring, flambéing, and toasting on an electric stove.

Experienced chefs know that some of the things a gas stove can do can never be done using an electric stove.

Are There Health Concerns Associated With Gas Stoves?

Yes. Gas stoves are associated with several health complications due to the toxic gases they produce. Air pollution and asthma are leading health concerns.

Therefore, as you choose your preferred stove, it is best to consider convenience and health implications.

Conclusion

Electric stoves take too long to heat due to their low wattage. Unlike their counterparts, the gas stoves, electric stoves come with low wattage and seem to drag to come to heat.

Since it may seem tiresome to wait for an electric stove to heat up, you can learn the trick of preheating and also heating water with an electric kettle.

Once you learn these tricks, you will find that electric stoves are not bad at all. There are many instances where their convenience surpasses that of gas stoves.