If you were looking for a good quality stovetop, the internet or one of your friends might’ve suggested buying a dual fuel range. You were confused. What is a dual fuel range anyway? Well, it’s exactly what it sounds like, a range that is fueled by two types of fuel, usually gas and electricity. Can I say kitchen is my holy place?
I love spending time there and making delicious meals for my loved ones, including my cat. I feel very welcomed and comfy while cooking. Because I chose the right design, the right tools, and devices. I know what I need under my hand and buy things according to this list. A range (aka stove) is one of the kitchen essentials that I often use. It is not just me, everyone uses their stove the most.
It is important to have the right one to make the cooking process easy and fun. Of course, there are many types of ranges on the market, but we will talk about dual fuel ranges today. In the past, when you wanted to buy a new range, you had to choose between a gas range or an electric range. Your stove and oven would be fueled by either gas or electrics.
It is always a tough decision. Fortunately, you do not have to think as much about it since you have a new choice: dual fuel range! A dual fuel range offers you the opportunity to cook with both gas and electric fuel. It is an exciting choice. Let’s learn about it more: What is a dual fuel range? Is it worth investing for? How does a dual fuel range work? Let’s find out!
What Is a Dual Fuel Range?
A dual fuel range is an efficient range. It uses two types of fuel to heat: gas and electricity. Professionals consider it as the best cooking device to buy. Because it gives us both of the options instead of just one. It heats the cooktop with gas and oven with electricity or vice versa.
Some prefer using gas to heat the cooktop because you can control the temperature and use more cooking techniques like charring or roasting peppers. A dual fuel oven range uses either natural or propane gas. Some prefer electric ovens for dry and even heat. This way they can make heavenly dishes in the oven. Especially bakers love it.
Also Read: The Best Oven Thermometer – Choose the Best One
Gas vs. Electric
Everyone has a preference between these two. And the question is not just ‘Gas or Electric?’. The question has two sides: oven and stove. Would you rather have a stove fueled by gas or a stove fueled by electricity? And would you rather buy an oven fueled by gas or an oven fueled by electricity? There are upsides and downsides for each. Let’s talk about them.
Ovens: While gas ovens do not cook evenly, electric ones handle the situation like a champ. Gas ovens heat up fast and cost less, but they cook higher racks faster and lower racks slower. So, they are unevenly distributed. And you need to rotate your food from time to time. That is why I do not recommend using a gas-fueled oven. It is also really hard to clean.
The dual fuel range offers an electric convection oven. An electric oven cooks the food evenly the way you just like it. It is also often self-cleaning. Convection ovens contain a fan that helps with heat distribution. This is what saves us from rotating our food within the oven. Clearly, electric heating is the best for ovens. The only bad thing about electric ovens is when the power goes out, the oven stops.
Stoves: A stove should be comfortable to use. It should be safe, and stable. If you have a small kitchen, it should not take so much space. When we put aside these features, what fuel should we use for stoves? Which one is the best?
I will inform you about the things you need to know. You can decide which one is better for you. I will also state my idea below. Stoves that are fueled by gas heat up fast and offer you the control of the fire. Increasing and decreasing the temperature when you want is a big plus. This feature steals the hearts of chefs since they like to be in charge of cooking in every possible way.
After you turn the burner off, it cools down quickly. Even if you leave the food on the stove, it will not burn. It also offers the choice of different cooking techniques like I mentioned before. Having the fire under your command is a big plus. The only downside of gas stoves is it being difficult to clean. Electric stoves are easy to clean, unlike gas stoves.
It has an improved heat distribution. All you need to do is turn the knob. However, when you turn the burner off, you need to give it time to cool down. If you leave the food on the stove, it will probably burn even if you have turned the burner off, so watch out! Considering all these features, I prefer gas stoves because I like to control the temperature as I cook the food.
I can increase it or decrease it as much as the food needs. That is a big plus for me. So, gas stoves are faster and more efficient than electric stoves. A dual fuel range offers you the best two options in one device. A gas stove, and an electric oven. You do not have to sacrifice one or the other. You will have both.
Also Read: Best Electric Griddles to Buy – Make a Variety of Meals
Are There Any Disadvantages?
Of course. Everything has upsides and downsides. In this case, it is the cost and the installation of a dual fuel range. They are surely more expensive than others. The difference can go from a couple hundred to a few thousands. So, consider your budget before making a purchase. Moreover, you should consider whether you have a running natural gas line since this range needs a gas hook-up.
What We Should Look for in a Dual Fuel Range
Your dual fuel range comes with different sizes and different features. There are many options in the market you may feel confused about. At these times, you must look for the features that make a dual fuel range better than others. You may ask ‘What are these features?’. Here are the features:
- Multiple burners
- Electronically controlled oven
- Stovetop griddle
- Extra-low simmer function
A dual fuel range should have multiple burners. It can vary from 2 to 6, even more. How many do you need? For example, I do not use many burners at the same time, but I like to be prepared so I have 4 burners on my gas stove. That is enough for me. If you have a big family and if you cook many different dishes for each meal, you should consider the ones with 6 or more burners.
An electronically-controlled oven will make everything easy for you. As I mentioned, electrical ovens are the best for many reasons like heat distribution, self-cleaning, and more. The oven should also have a convection fan for optimal baking.
Should You Use a Dual Fuel Range?
If you know a thing or two about cooking and want the best option possible, you should use a dual fuel range. While a gas stove gives you the freedom to control the cooking process of your food, an electric oven offers you an evenly cooked dish. As a matter of fact, you do not have to be Gordon Ramsay to have this beauty in your kitchen! Even if you are a total beginner, you can get used to it quickly.
It is easy to use and very durable. Be sure that you have an electric outlet and gas hook-ups in your kitchen. If you want a device to maximize your cooking skills, this might be a good choice for you. If you spend or want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, you can invest in an expensive dual fuel range. No matter how often you use your range, it will not change. You can only make it better by learning all the features.
Also Read: Best Kitchen Torch – Reviews to Make Delicious Dishes
Things You Should Consider Before Buying a Dual Fuel Range
Put the features aside, what should you consider before buying a dual fuel range? It is important to have a range that meets your needs in every way. So, consider these firsts:
- How often do you cook?
- What kind of things do you cook?
- How much is your budget?
- Do you enjoy being in the kitchen?
Wrapping Up
When it comes to our kitchen, we gotta have the best to serve the best. And the best, in this case, is a dual fuel range that offers two types of heat: gas and electric. Isn’t it the time for an excellent product like this? Choose a dual fuel range, do a favor to yourself. So, now that you know “what is a dual fuel range?”, will you buy a dual fuel range, or did you already buy one? What do you think about it? Let me know in the comments.
The only question I still have is, can you get a gas oven and electric stovetop and vs versa? Once you choose one, will you be able to switch? For example, getting an electric oven and gas stovetop but electricity goes out. Can I then turn on a gas oven?