gas v electric cooker

[CiderMonkey]

We are thinking about getting an electric cooker when we finally get round to doing the kitchen. We currently have gas but I feel a lot of the heat goes to waste. Does anyone have an opinion of what is best? All views appreciated. Is one cheaper to run than the other, does one cook better?
thanks

[ali_alic]

We've just had a new kitchen and I went from being totally gas to gas hob, electric oven. The reason I have to have gas somewhere is that I remember the national power cuts (early 70's) and we were all huddled round the oven for heat, light and for cooking!! Its all in the upbringing!!

[gazzawazza]

When I'm cooking, I like to be able to actually SEE how much heat I have under a pan, I don't think you can do this with electricity.

[Richie1976]

A fan assisted electric oven and a gas hob is best.

[whiffey]

The conventional wisdom is that gas is more efficient and cheaper than electric. I love gas, you can 'see' how much heat you are applying. It's also much safer for an idiot like me, I once put my hand on a hot electric ring, streuth did it hurt !

[WendyS]

I totally agree with Richie in that a gas hob with a fan assisted electric oven is probably the best combination. Gas hobs are far more controllable than electric ones in that the moment you turn them down, they react. Electric hobs respond more slowly and will never see a professional Chef trying to cook on an electric hob.
A fan assisted electric oven (with an automatic facility) is very convenient and you have no worries about the gas not igniting when the automatic facility is being used.
I wouldn't risk going all electric. Future predictions about energy supply suggest that longer term the UK could be increasingly vulnerable to power cuts, and at least with a gas hob you can still boil water in a sausepan to make tea, and produce a variety of meals in saucepans & frying pans.
As to which method is cheaper I'm not sure. The secret is to remember to turn the control knob down to Low whatever type of power is used, rather than let everything boil away on high volume which doesn't cook it any quicker.

I currently have a built-in electric grill. I absolutely HATE it for grilling meat and found the foldaway gas grill on my old cooker much more effective, but it's almost impossible to get gas grills now in modern fitted kitchens.

[missmuppet]

I moved to a village without gas about 12 years ago. I have to have an electric cooker....I hate the hob!!!!! I'm ok with the oven and grill but the hob takes forever to cool down so when something is starting to boil you have to lift the pan off the hob to stop it from boiling over. Definately go with electric oven and gas hob.