5 Reasons Why Gas Is The Best Choice For Your Home
If you’re building a new home or renovating, chances are you’re deciding which energy source is best for your kitchen. From whipping up fast, mid-week meals for the family to impressing guests with flavour-packed dishes at the weekend, gas allows you to do it all. The team at Houzz Australia spoke to the Australian Gas Networks team to find out why natural gas consistently comes out on top among professional chefs and homeowners when it relates to powering the most important room in your home.
1. Better Flame Control
There are practical reasons why professional chefs prefer cooking with gas – it gives precise temperature control and even heat distribution for perfect cooking results every time. It’s more convenient too. With gas, you can fine-tune the flame to go from a high heat for stir frying to a low heat for gentle simmering – all in an instant. There’s no waiting for the cooktop to cool down or juggling pots around to inactive burners so your delicate sauces don’t burn as the element cools down. As a gas flame heats both the bottom and the sides of the pan, there is a more even heat distribution, without any of the cold spots you’d typically get when cooking on an electric cooktop. In addition, gas cooktops are safer than electric ones – once you switch the flame off, it goes out immediately and the cooktop rapidly cools down.
2. Instant Heat
Gas is immediate – when you ignite a gas burner, the heat comes on straight away, unlike electric cooktops, which can take several minutes to heat up to the same temperature. Not having to wait for the element to warm up can save you serious time when you’re cooking. Gas responds immediately to changes in temperature too; you can take a rapid boil down to a simmering temperature on the spot, without running the risk of spoiling what’s inside the pan with a protracted high heat. Gas ovens adjust faster than electric models too – most pre-heat in a fraction of the time of an electric oven. And when you turn up or dial down the temperature of a gas oven, it heats up or cools down fast. Gas ovens can be fan-operated or non-fan assisted. If your gas oven has a fan, food will cook faster and at a lower temperature compared with a model without a fan, saving you time and potentially lowering your energy costs.
3. More Cooking Flexibility
Unlike other types of cooktops, such as induction, you don’t need to spend a fortune upgrading to special cookware – with gas, you can use any type of pot or pan on your cooktop. Love your stir fries? Woks are specially designed to be used over an open flame, which is another good reason to opt for a gas cooktop. Gas offers other versatile cooking options too; use the open flame to toast, char and flambé like a pro. Or give meat and vegetables that smoky, charred effect you can only get from cooking with an open flame.
4. Food Tastes Better
Gas ovens produce a moister heat than electric models, which helps prevent roasts and baked dishes from drying out. As a result, food comes out of the oven moist, tender and full of flavour. Many bakers also prefer cooking with gas as the more humid heat can help prevent bread and pie crusts from over-browning or burning.
5. You’re Not Reliant On The Grid
Power blackout in your area? Not a problem. With gas, you can still cook, heat your home, and enjoy that lovely hot bath. Gas can be cheaper to run than electricity too. On average a customer in Victoria will save $682* per year compared to grid electricity when connected to natural gas for cooking, hot water and heating.
One of the reasons why we are considered Wagga’s best builder, is our high quality standard inclusions. SMEG appliances come standard in all of our homes and includes a 900mm stainless steel freestanding cooker, with a gas cook top and electric oven, a 900mm stainless steel ducted range hood, and a 600mm stainless steel dishwasher. We would only want the best in our home, so why wouldn’t you? To get started on your dream home contact us today on 6921 9988, and ask us about our Wagga house & land packages and Wagga land we currently have available!
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