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Serious About Cooking? 5 Reasons Why Gas is the Way to Go
Beloved by chefs and home cooks, gas is guaranteed to make your food taste better & take your cooking to the next level
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If you’re building a new home or renovating, chances are you’re deciding which energy source is best for your kitchen. From whipping up fast, mid-week meals for the family to impressing guests with flavour-packed dishes at the weekend, gas allows you to do it all.
We chatted with the team at Australian Gas Networks to find out why natural gas consistently comes out on top among professional chefs and homeowners when it relates to powering the most important room in your home.
We chatted with the team at Australian Gas Networks to find out why natural gas consistently comes out on top among professional chefs and homeowners when it relates to powering the most important room in your home.
1. Better flame control
There are practical reasons why professional chefs prefer cooking with gas – it gives precise temperature control and even heat distribution for perfect cooking results every time.
It’s more convenient too. With gas, you can fine-tune the flame to go from a high heat for stir frying to a low heat for gentle simmering – all in an instant. There’s no waiting for the cooktop to cool down or juggling pots around to inactive burners so your delicate sauces don’t burn as the element cools down.
As a gas flame heats both the bottom and the sides of the pan, there is a more even heat distribution, without any of the cold spots you’d typically get when cooking on an electric cooktop.
In addition, gas cooktops are safer than electric ones – once you switch the flame off, it goes out immediately and the cooktop rapidly cools down.
There are practical reasons why professional chefs prefer cooking with gas – it gives precise temperature control and even heat distribution for perfect cooking results every time.
It’s more convenient too. With gas, you can fine-tune the flame to go from a high heat for stir frying to a low heat for gentle simmering – all in an instant. There’s no waiting for the cooktop to cool down or juggling pots around to inactive burners so your delicate sauces don’t burn as the element cools down.
As a gas flame heats both the bottom and the sides of the pan, there is a more even heat distribution, without any of the cold spots you’d typically get when cooking on an electric cooktop.
In addition, gas cooktops are safer than electric ones – once you switch the flame off, it goes out immediately and the cooktop rapidly cools down.
2. Instant heat
Gas is immediate – when you ignite a gas burner, the heat comes on straight away, unlike electric cooktops, which can take several minutes to heat up to the same temperature. Not having to wait for the element to warm up can save you serious time when you’re cooking.
Gas responds immediately to changes in temperature too; you can take a rapid boil down to a simmering temperature on the spot, without running the risk of spoiling what’s inside the pan with a protracted high heat.
Gas ovens adjust faster than electric models too – most pre-heat in a fraction of the time of an electric oven. And when you turn up or dial down the temperature of a gas oven, it heats up or cools down fast.
Gas ovens can be fan-operated or non-fan assisted. If your gas oven has a fan, food will cook faster and at a lower temperature compared with a model without a fan, saving you time and potentially lowering your energy costs.
Gas is immediate – when you ignite a gas burner, the heat comes on straight away, unlike electric cooktops, which can take several minutes to heat up to the same temperature. Not having to wait for the element to warm up can save you serious time when you’re cooking.
Gas responds immediately to changes in temperature too; you can take a rapid boil down to a simmering temperature on the spot, without running the risk of spoiling what’s inside the pan with a protracted high heat.
Gas ovens adjust faster than electric models too – most pre-heat in a fraction of the time of an electric oven. And when you turn up or dial down the temperature of a gas oven, it heats up or cools down fast.
Gas ovens can be fan-operated or non-fan assisted. If your gas oven has a fan, food will cook faster and at a lower temperature compared with a model without a fan, saving you time and potentially lowering your energy costs.
3. More cooking flexibility
Unlike other types of cooktops, such as induction, you don’t need to spend a fortune upgrading to special cookware – with gas, you can use any type of pot or pan on your cooktop.
Love your stir fries? Woks are specially designed to be used over an open flame, which is another good reason to opt for a gas cooktop.
Gas offers other versatile cooking options too; use the open flame to toast, char and flambé like a pro. Or give meat and vegetables that smoky, charred effect you can only get from cooking with an open flame.
Unlike other types of cooktops, such as induction, you don’t need to spend a fortune upgrading to special cookware – with gas, you can use any type of pot or pan on your cooktop.
Love your stir fries? Woks are specially designed to be used over an open flame, which is another good reason to opt for a gas cooktop.
Gas offers other versatile cooking options too; use the open flame to toast, char and flambé like a pro. Or give meat and vegetables that smoky, charred effect you can only get from cooking with an open flame.
4. Food tastes better
Gas ovens produce a moister heat than electric models, which helps prevent roasts and baked dishes from drying out. As a result, food comes out of the oven moist, tender and full of flavour.
Many bakers also prefer cooking with gas as the more humid heat can help prevent bread and pie crusts from over-browning or burning.
Gas ovens produce a moister heat than electric models, which helps prevent roasts and baked dishes from drying out. As a result, food comes out of the oven moist, tender and full of flavour.
Many bakers also prefer cooking with gas as the more humid heat can help prevent bread and pie crusts from over-browning or burning.
5. You’re not reliant on the grid
Power blackout in your area? Not a problem. With gas, you can still cook, heat your home, and enjoy that lovely hot bath.
Gas can be cheaper to run than electricity too. On average a customer in Victoria will save $682* per year compared to grid electricity when connected to natural gas for cooking, hot water and heating.
Find out how much you could save by switching to gas with Australian Gas Networks’ cost calculator.
More: Find out if natural gas is available in your area and how to connect your home by visiting the Australian Gas Networks’ website here.
Tell us: Do you love cooking with gas?
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
*Average South Australian and Victorian households on standard tariffs as at 1 July 2018. Consumption for cooking and hot water: 19Gj for natural gas or 4.77Mwh electricity. Consumption for ducted heating: 25Gj for natural gas or 1.98Mwh electricity.
Power blackout in your area? Not a problem. With gas, you can still cook, heat your home, and enjoy that lovely hot bath.
Gas can be cheaper to run than electricity too. On average a customer in Victoria will save $682* per year compared to grid electricity when connected to natural gas for cooking, hot water and heating.
Find out how much you could save by switching to gas with Australian Gas Networks’ cost calculator.
More: Find out if natural gas is available in your area and how to connect your home by visiting the Australian Gas Networks’ website here.
Tell us: Do you love cooking with gas?
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
*Average South Australian and Victorian households on standard tariffs as at 1 July 2018. Consumption for cooking and hot water: 19Gj for natural gas or 4.77Mwh electricity. Consumption for ducted heating: 25Gj for natural gas or 1.98Mwh electricity.
We’re one of the nation’s largest natural gas distribution companies, serving over 1.3 million consumers in... Read More
We’re one of the nation’s largest natural gas distribution companies, serving over 1.3 million consumers in... Read More
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I like cooking with gas, seriously don't like cleaning gas cooktops.
An electric cooktop also gives you extra benchtop space as the surface is flat and easy to clean and wipe. However I agree that gas heats quicker and more consistently.
I have an electric oven and induction cooktop. I love the induction. Most pots and pans now also work with induction. I did not need to replace mine. I find the heat is very instant and great for temp control. Perfect for poached eggs and melting chocolate. It is also easy to clean and the flat surface gives extra bench space .