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I personally prefer gas for the aesthics but I have used some of the higher end induction cooktops and they can be both more responsive and more powerful than all but the most "industrial grade" of home gas ranges (like BlueStar). If your pancakes have not come out nicely on an induction range I suspect it is has more to do with low quality / incompatible pans.
In my experience smooth top electric ranges (even the newers "halogen" ones) are both fragile and finicky but I know some folks love the look of a seamless surface.
I like the look of an electric smooth top, but enjoy cooking with gas. I prefer the precision of the settings I can choose, (particularly to simmer), and when I turn the heat off, I want it immediately off.
Gas of course! I'd NEVER have a smooth top electric because some of them won't take the weight of a full canner. And.... I'd never have a regular electric stove because I've discovered it is possible to burn out the ceramic connectors where the burners plug in. Besides, gas burners give greater control.
I had always used gas until I moved to Knoxville where our house did not have gas connections in the kitchen. Loved gas. In CA we had a gas range and gas oven, but switched to electric oven because my wife liked the baking in electric better.
The first electric stove we had was the regular coil type burner. Just a comment to LivingDeadGirl..the ceramic connectors can burn out, but its usually from the element being loose and arcing. They are easy to replace and not that expensive. Gas ranges can have the electric sparkers go out.
We now have a glass top electric range and I find the burner control is very close to gas as far as response to burner control. As far as not strong enough to support large pots, all I can say is I have never had an issue. During the summer I can a lot, as well as my once a year chili verde feast that comes out about 6 gallons.
As a home inspector, I see a lot of different ranges/ovens. I would probably go for one that has a gas cooktop and an electric oven (if I ever run a gas line to the kitchen.
Here is a photo from a home inspection where someone took a hammer to the cooktop (it was a foreclosure).
Last edited by Barking Spider; 03-02-2012 at 12:48 PM..
Reason: spelling
Oh man, Barking Spider, I wish mine looked like that! In my heart of hearts I know I should want gas, but honestly my last electric smooth top was great. I used my big pressure canner on it with no problems. It heated up very quickly and it was great. Easy to clean too. My current smooth top came with this house and it's just awful and I hate it. Hubby has warned me not to break the top just to get a new stove, but it's so tempting! LOL! We don't have gas here and my preference would be a really good quality smooth top.
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