Gas vs. Electric Range: Which Is Better?

For this article, we specifically compared electric smoothtops and gas stoves because they make up the majority of what consumers see in stores. (Electric coil-top and induction ranges have a much smaller slice of the market.) And we found that in most cases, electric ranges have a serious leg up on the performance of gas ranges.

We compared results from the four most crucial tests we perform: high heat, low heat, baking, and broiling. And although performance varies from model to model, whether the range is gas or electric, our tests showed which type of fuel has the edge in each test.

Manufacturers of gas and electric ranges have been in a race for years to maximize the output of large burners, which you use to, for example, boil a big pot of water for pasta.

Which is faster? Electric, by a pretty big margin. Of the 72 electric smoothtop ranges currently in our ratings, nearly half earn the top rating of Excellent. Thirty-eight models earn a rating of Very Good. For gas, none earn the top rating of Excellent, although nearly 50 of the 86 models in our current ratings earn a rating of Very Good.

For all the emphasis placed on boiling water quickly, a range’s ability to maintain a low, steady simmer is arguably more important. Given enough time, any range will boil water. But there’s no cure for a cooktop with erratic simmering, which can scorch delicate sauces or melted chocolate in an instant.

Which simmers better? Here, electric ranges are again the winner. For electrics, slightly less than two-thirds earn the top rating of Excellent, with more than a dozen earning a Very Good score. Not a single model earns a rating of Fair or Poor. For gas, about three-quarters of models earn either an Excellent or a Very Good rating in this test, but 12 of the 86 models in our current ratings earn low ratings of either Fair or Poor.

Lofty cakes and evenly browned cookies aren’t a given, unless you have an oven that bakes evenly.

Which bakes better? It’s close, with gas narrowly getting the edge. For gas ranges, a little more than 70 percent of all models earn either an Excellent or a Very Good rating, and about a quarter earn a rating of Good. Just one model earns a rating of Fair, and none earned a Poor. For electrics, about two-thirds earn ratings of either Excellent or Very Good, and 30 percent or so earn a rating of Good. Just two earn a rating of Fair, while none earn a rating of Poor.

Some of the biggest performance differences we see between gas and electric ranges involve the broiler.

Which broils better? You may assume that—because they cook with a flame—gas broilers are better. But in our tests, they routinely underperform compared with their electric counterparts.

More than half of the electric ranges in our ratings earn a rating of Very Good or better for broiling, and nearly a quarter earn the top rating of Excellent. Three earn a rating of Poor. For gas, it’s a far bleaker picture. Around 15 percent earn a rating of Very Good or Excellent, and nearly 30 percent of all models earn a rating of Fair or Poor.

If you’re still undecided about which type of range is right for you, our range buying guide delves even deeper into the pros and cons of each. And below, we’ve highlighted six of the best gas and electric ranges from our tests. For more options, check out our full range ratings.