Most people will choose an electric stove over any other type, probably because of their easy clean-ups, zero gas leak chances, easier installation, and a slew of other reasons.

It can get a little confusing at times however, gas stoves do require electricity to turn on the ignitor or even to power the convection oven, so is the opposite true? Do electric stoves use gas?

Thumb through this article to find that out and more!

do electric stoves use gas

Do electric stoves use gas?

No. Electric stoves do not use any kind of gas.

An electric stove totally runs on electricity. Normally, when you turn on your stove, electricity runs through a thick coil wire of the heating element. The element then turns electricity into heat that in turn cooks your food.

How do electric stoves work?

The working mechanism of an electric stove is a little bit different.

Unlike gas stoves that produce a visible flame when ignited, electric stoves don’t have a flame.

They instead have a flattened spiral coil that heats up as electric current is passed through it.

red electric coil

Electric stoves have heating elements. On a stove top, the element sits right underneath your pan/pot. In the oven, the elements can be located either above or/and below the oven box.

Basically, when you turn on your stove, electricity flows through the thick coil wire of the heating element. The element then turns electricity into heat that in turn cooks your food.

The lack of a flame can make it a bit tricky to determine whether the stove is on and ready to be used. However, the spiral coils normally glow orange-ish or red-ish, indicating the intensity of the heat.

How do I know if my stove is electric or gas?

Telling an electric stove from a gas stove is not as complicated. You can easily tell if your stove is electric or gas just by observing some of its features.

So where do you start?

Well, first off, a gas stove requires a gas line to the house. If your home has a gas line, gas cylinders, or gas tanks, that’s how you know that your stove runs on gas.

Another factor that distinguishes an electric stove from a gas stove is the cooktops.

red glass cooktop coil

Electric stoves have smooth, glass or ceramic cooktops. The cooktops feature spiral coils. The coils can be exposed, allowing you to touch them easily or they can be hidden under ceramic glass on some models.

On the other hand, If your stove has burners and metal grates instead, that’s a clear indication that it runs on gas, natural or propane.

Stove low heat flame

You can also know if a stove is gas or electric by how it reacts to changes in the temperature settings.

Gas stoves are typically quick to respond to heat changes. They offer more precise temperature control than electric ones. When you adjust the cooking heat, a gas stove will more or less respond instantly.

On the other hand, electric stoves have a slower response time, especially when you are adjusting the temperature down or turning the heat off.

Do electric stoves give off gas?

No. Electric stoves do not produce any kind of gas.

Carbon monoxide and other gasses are a byproduct of burning hydrocarbons, i.e gasoline, diesel, natural gas, propane, and even wood and charcoal.

The gasses are usually colorless and odorless, making them hard to detect.

Electric stoves run on electricity. Electricity does not in any way produce carbon monoxide or any other gas. It’s for this reason that they are generally considered to be a green way of cooking.

electric cooktop (2)

Are electric stoves more efficient than gas stoves?

When it comes to energy efficiency, gas stoves have been proven to be more efficient than their electric counterparts.

This is because gas stoves heat up instantly, unlike electric stoves that require heat to first pass through the thick coil wires before finally heating up your pot.

Additionally, gas stoves respond quickly to changes in temperature settings. When you either lower or increase the heat on a gas stove, you’ll immediately see the changes.

Electric stoves on the other hand respond slowly to changes in temperature settings so they’ll take a little longer to heat up or cool down or change the cooking temperature. This makes them less efficient than gas stoves.

A gas stove will save you up to half of the operating costs. Also, it takes up to three times as much energy to produce and deliver electricity to your stove

Conclusion

Electric stoves do NOT use gas. They run on electricity.

When you turn on an electric stove, electricity runs through heating elements that convert electricity into heat. The heat is now what is normally used to cook your food.

You can easily determine if your stove is electric or gas by observing the cooktop. Gas stoves have burners and cast-iron grates.

On the other hand, electric stoves have spiral coils. The coils can be exposed or hidden underneath a glass ceramic, depending on the model.

Electric stoves are powered by electricity which makes it impossible for them to emit poisonous gasses.