Why I swear by a gas stove…and why I'm considering switching to induction ♨️

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Are you in the gas stove or electric (induction) stove club? I’m firmly in the gas stove club, and I think most chefs and culinary professionals are in that camp. I equate it to the difference between driving manual or automatic. Manual gives the driver much more control and allows you to change gears and driving speed almost instantaneously.

Driving automatic, although simpler in some ways, takes away some of the control and ability to instantaneously make adjustments on the road and driving speed.

When I cook, I enjoy switching from a low flame to a very high flame instantaneously. With induction it's all more gradual and I feel I lose some control when cooking.

My daughter has an induction stove; today I am at her place so that's what I'm using. It's not a game changer, but it does take away some of your control when cooking.

Until today I'd never thought about the environmental implications of one or the other but it turns out that cooking with gas does the environment no favors. Burning gas releases greenhouse gasses, including carbon dioxide and methane; not a good thing.

Additionally, exposure over many years to gas is a leading cause of many forms of asthma.

The Economist says that “This year New York City will ban gas in some new buildings.” and that “the Inflation Reduction Act offers incentives for consumers to switch to electric stoves, like those to encourage electric cars….Around 38% of American households have gas stoves, although that varies among states. Proponents say that they are cheaper and more efficient than electric alternatives —and even that food cooked on them tastes better. The gas industry has good pr. “Cooking with gas”, an advertising slogan from the 1930s, is baked into the American psyche. The American Gas Association, a trade group, publishes recipes on cookingwithgas.org. In sponsored social-media posts, influencers rave about their gas stoves.

I love the expression cooking with gas and it's one I use all the time. Who knew that it stemmed back to an American advertising slogan from the 1930s for gas stoves!