Someone asked in a comment to my previous post about using cast iron on a smooth top and here’s my response: Good question! Most owner’s manuals for the smooth top stoves will probably say not to use cast iron on them so always follow your manufacturer’s suggestions. We had a smooth top in Kentucky and I used cast iron on that for 9 years and didn’t seem to hurt it. In MO, we had a smooth top for 4.5 years and I used cast iron on that and it didn’t seem to hurt it. In both those houses, I hoped it would ruin them so I could replace the stove. Seriously, if I had a smooth top and did not want to ruin it and the instructions said not to use cast iron, I probably wouldn’t use it.
For those who have followed my blog for many years, you know that my quest in life seemed to be getting a gas stove. Now that I have a gas stove, my one quest seems to be moving back to MO but . . that’s not what this post is about.
As we’ve looked at places online, trying to figure out where we want to retire, so many of the houses have smooth top stoves. I had started to tell myself that maybe I could live with an electric stove. I don’t cook as much as I once did, if I ever can again, I’ll probably always do it outside on the camp stove we use now. The other day I was boiling something on the stove and I looked and it was a smidgen of an inch from boiling over. I jumped into action and turned the burner off. Really . . I was standing right there and turned it off. Instantly the heat source was off, the water stopped boiling, I had no mess to clean up. I said to myself . . I will never have anything but gas!
It would be one thing if we already had a house we loved and it didn’t have a gas stove but since we’re looking at houses and don’t even have a clue where we’re going to end up, I don’t want to have an electric stove and always wish I had a gas stove – ever again! We’ve seen a couple of houses that we liked (online) and one of my first questions to the realtor was “Is it possible to run a gas line to the stove?” Many times the answer has been yes . it’s on an outside wall and with a basement, it usually isn’t totally impossible. Other times, the stove is in the middle of the house and it’s not an easy fix. Those houses get marked off the list right away.
A gas stove isn’t important to everyone but it is very important to me.
Erin says
Well I have a smooth top electric stove .. was here not my choice.. I have Lodge cast iron cookware I love! No issues cooking on the smooth to stove. I also use my Canning items – I know I shouldn’t use those some day I will convert to gas! Soon! Almost 9 years I have been here. So time to start thinking about it! I do take care of my cookware and am careful when I heat my things up!
Donna says
The retirement move here listed gas stove as number 1 -other than price range of course. I can’t imagine cooking on anything else now. My retirement date is coming up soonish and I am so happy thinking about it.
Ranch Wife says
I live without a dishwasher. I live with a tiny kitchen with a water heater in the corner. I live in a home with 1 tiny bathroom. But live without a gas stove? Can’t do it. 🙂
Joanne says
I love gas – hate electric, so moved to new house (to me) with electric cook top. I just spent a lot of Mon to the kitcheney remodeling and have tried to like electric. I can run a gas line to the kitchen and as soon as I find that money tree I’m , that electric top is outta here.
Deborah Rhodes says
thanks Judy I may just pull out my cast iron and give it a go. Never cooked on gas so I am very comfortable with my electric.
Deborah Rhodes says
Thanks,I have never cooked on gas. So I will pull my cast iron out and give it a go
montanaclarks says
Deborah–I hate gas–the smell, the greasy film it leaves on your cabinets, etc. My stove is an electric flat top and I use cast iron cookware all the time. I’m careful and don’t scoot skillets/pots around, I pick them up so as not to scratch the surface.
Wanda says
I hate this glass cook top stove . I like electric but hate these smooth tbings. First you can keep the temp on it goes off and on. If I want burner on high or I want it on high and red not cycle and go off. Can’t get anything fried cooked at all on this flat stove. Can’t regulate the tempature at all. Either It is not or to cold and takes forever My best friend did give me a hint. Have the pot only on part of burner leave the rest of burner open. That seems to help. Now for gas I use my outside butane cooker doesn’t beat up house and works . It is on side of bbq pit.
vivoaks says
The only time I ever had a gas stove was when I lived in a tiny apartment on Staten Island when I was in the Army. I’ve only used electric the rest of the time. The stove I have now has cast Iron burners, which I thought I’d love, but I couldn’t believe how long it takes to warm the darn thing up! Then once you get it hot, it takes forever to cool down!! I use it when I have to now, but I got one of those Nu-Wave cookers that’s basically a flat-top burner. You can only use certain types of cookware, but cast iron works well, so I use that now a lot more than the stove. It’s as quick as gas when changing the temperature, and is super easy to clean up. Not cheap, but it works well.
On another note, my old-world sesame bread is raising! Can’t wait till it’s done so I can see what it tastes like!! 🙂
Carolyn Sands says
When we moved to Texas, the stove had a glass cooktop. We were in the process of replacing the countertops and the stove had to be pulled out. Low and behold, there was a gas connection behind the electric stove. What a happy surprise! I went out and immediately bought a gas stove. When you’re looking at properties, I think it’s worth asking if there is a gas connection behind the stove. And maybe the current owners never looked behind their stove to see if there was a connection.
Nelle Coursey says
I like my electric stove and oven. I just know when to turn it off or down. I guess it is whatever you get used to. I grew up with a gas stove and had one for many years until we moved into this house. For some reason it seems cooler to me than the gas stove. Maybe it is in my head because I see the flame and think HOT. LOL
Rebecca in SoCal says
I love “cooking with gas”! And it’s not what I grew up with. I hate how long it takes to heat up an electric burner, and then there’s the immediate cool-down that you get with gas (as when you kept your pot from boiling over).
Okay, that’s a good thing about the house we’re in! (About the only other good thing is the rent.)
dezertsuz says
I’m with you, gas is WAY better. Sadly, it isn’t available where I live. Getting propane would be very expensive here, and natural gas simply isn’t an option. I’m stuck with electric, and it’s better than a pioneer fire, but I’d like the gas. Smooth top is never going to happen. I don’t want anything I will ruin the third time I use it. LOL
Maxi says
All my adult life I had cooked on gas stoves. Our move one year ago was to an area of all electric hones. The electric stove is something I will never like (except the ease of clean-up of the smooth top.) I use a pressure cooker often and could never adjust the heat to be just right (too high or too low.) Getting the INSTANT POT saved my sanity. Now I have three of them and use at least two every time I cook. My number one requirement was good internet. If we ever move again, gas cook stove will be right up there.
Ruth says
I grew up with a gas stovetop, used electric coil ranges in rentals, now have an electric smooth top. Visiting my daughter-in-law, she complained about how hot her gas range is. I looked at it and noticed that the flame is twice the size I grew up with, the metal frame holding the pan is farther from the flame, and heavier too. So these new gas ranges are more restaurant-style, for fast, quick cooking. Plus, she is short and has to stand on a small footstool so she can see into the big pot on the back of the stove. So she doesn’t like that gas range.
I wouldn’t either.
I should buy her an Instant Pot!!
Hannah says
Have you ever thought about an induction stove. Works like gas without the additional heat coming from under the pan. I have had both and currently have a gas stove but would be happy to have an induction cooktop.
Helene says
I’m reading through all the comments and finally Hannah mentioned induction. I’ve had it for about three years and I wouldn’t give it up for anything. It’s super fast, the temperature turn down is instant and the stove top will never burn you like the metal grates on a gas stove. Those stay hot forever. I can take a kettle with boiling water off the stove and put my hand on the burner right away. It’s still warm but you won’t burn yourself. And your cast iron pans work on them. It might be something to consider if you can’t find gas.
Liz A. says
I have to agree with Hannah and Helene — induction is definitely the way to go if you can’t have gas. LOVE my induction cooktop. Nothing cooks on to it, you can wipe it down as soon as you remove a pan. It heats up much quicker and keeps a more even temp than a regular electric cook top.