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Original poster

Connect gas to kitchen or stick to induction?

36 replies

Evergreen101 · 04/10/2023 07:13

Bought a new house where the kitchen extension does not have a gas connection because the boiler/gas hub is on the other side of the property and the previous owners had an electric range cooker.

I know there is a long debate over induction vs. gas stoves, but personally I have always much preferred gas over induction. If money/time/effort were no object, I would 100% do what it took to get a gas cooker. But alas, money/time/effort are objects indeed.

So the options I'm seeing are:

Option A: Get the gas plumbed through, either the outside of the property along the walls or through the internal walls somehow (I don't want to rip up floorboards and the kitchen counter). I'm getting more quotes from gas specialists but the one I have so far says it's probably £3000-4000 of cost. Downside is of course the aesthetic and challenges with going through walls etc.

Option B: Suck it up and get an electric range cooker. This would be ~£5000 more than the range cooker I already have. The issue is that the gap in the kitchen is 120 cm and I can't find a cheaper induction range cooker than Bertazzoni or Mercury (cheapest model is £5500). I've scoured ebay and gumtree and can't find any used either. If you know of any cheaper brands that do a 120 cm electric range cooker, let me know!

What would you do? Are there other options I'm not seeing here?

OP posts:
BigDahliaFan · 04/10/2023 07:20

Do you want a range cooker? Couldn’t you replace with a normal oven and induction hob and fill the gap with a cupboard, or put 2 ovens side by side? A kitchen fitter could do that.

I cook a lot and like cooking and am quite happy with our Neff induction hob.

for anything like grilling aubergine or peppers that I might have done on the gas flame, I do on the gas bbq…..

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 04/10/2023 07:22

In other European countries, people seem to have gas cannisters in a cupboard or underneath the counter. The place I just stayed at had a range with 1 electric ring and 3 gas, running from a cannister.

I'm not sure if that would be an option here.

Original poster
Evergreen101 · 04/10/2023 07:44

I looked into getting a hob and extra kitchen cabinet, but the kitchen that is already there is from John Lewis of Hungerford and it's very pricey + long lead time to get an extra section made. In the end I think that would be the same cost as option B plus the extra lead time

Gas canister could be an option.. but is it a hassle to have to change every few months/year?

OP posts:
SuperLoudPoppingAction · 04/10/2023 07:52

You do have to change them and they're heavy. And you need to make sure you swap the gas jets over to the correct ones (cooker should come with them) so it doesn't switch off from a simmer.

Budget wise, this would be the option I would go for because I don't have funds for more.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 04/10/2023 07:59

We moved last year from a house with an induction hob to a house with a range cooker with gas hob.

I would do anything to have an induction hob but unfortunately we've been advised that we would have to have the kitchen rewired in order to have the power for an induction hob. Which we will do when we can afford a new kitchen, but that won't be for several years.

When I first had my induction hob installed it took me a while to get used to how to use it, but after 3 or 4 months I wouldn't be without it. I've been using the gas hob here for a year now and still have it.

deplorabelle · 04/10/2023 08:04

Cooking on an open gas flame exposes you to a lot of indoor air pollution so it would be a no to gas from me.

When we switched from gas stove to induction hob I had a noticeable improvement in my asthma symptoms. Induction is also quicker and nicer to cook on.

Sgtmajormummy · 04/10/2023 08:05

You could have your (2) gas canisters outside and pipe it through to your kitchen. That way they get delivered and you only need to switch over when one canister is empty.
A bit rough and ready but cheap.

Pfpppl · 04/10/2023 08:14

Could you have 2 60cm built under ovens in the 120cm gap and an induction hob over the top? You would need carcasses for the ovens, but they aren't on show much so you might be able to get away with something similar to your existing kitchen from a different company?

Sgtmajormummy · 04/10/2023 08:17

SMEG do 120 cm induction range cookers in the 4000 price region.
Not as pretty as Bertazzoni, though…

TerfTalking · 04/10/2023 08:18

I’m with you OP, there’s a reason professional chefs prefer gas.

I was going to suggest my range brand Ilve, but mines gas and only a 900, I was shocked by the price of induction in a 1200. Just Wow.

have you had a local Safe gas engineer up to give you a quote? A plumber and heating engineer? I think if it’s a forever house I would consider an internal supply under the floors. If it’s not, I’d suck up the electric.

loislovesstewie · 04/10/2023 08:21

If you have a gap of 120cm you need to check the clearance for the appliance. So despite having 120 cm you might need a clearance of 5cm on each side; I found this out when I bought my electric range cooker, if I bought one where the clearance wasn't correct I was advised that the warranty might be invalid if the appliance went wrong. Some models don't worry about the side clearance as they are on legs so air circulates underneath and that is OK, but please read the info provided thoroughly before you buy.

loislovesstewie · 04/10/2023 08:26

I bought mine from Curry's BTW, it was about 1500 quid.

MNetcurtains · 04/10/2023 08:35

I'm a recent, enthusiastic convert to induction (formerly a gas hob diehard).

One thing I've found about using gas canisters (holiday home) is the lack of pressure you get. Particularly noticeable when attempting to stir fry or boil pasta.

BackToRealMe · 04/10/2023 08:53

There's no way back from induction for me. Currently in a property with gas. I hate it, so much heat goes into waste and there's more chance of a fire.

BackToRealMe · 04/10/2023 08:53

oh, and hot handles

greenacrylicpaint · 04/10/2023 08:54

keep the electtic hob

gas is not very healthy/it's polluting the air indoors with fine particles.

Kittensat36 · 04/10/2023 08:55

I wish I could afford to replace my induction hob, I hate it. It either doesn't cook or incinerates. I thought I was just being impatient, so turned the heat down and waited, but that cabbage would not boil.

I bake a lot, but have never managed caramel because just As the syrup is 2-3° from where I need it, there's a faint click and the ring goes dark. The sugar drops off the boil and I cannot get it back. Turning the heat up/putting the lid on simply involved an eruption of boiling liquid.

GrumpyPanda · 04/10/2023 09:22

If it's about having multiple ovens you could also look at a larger combi microwave. Sharp has a 40l model that comes with shelves as well as a turntable; my mum's on her second identical model and it gets used way more than the regular oven.

Re induction, as a matter of fact professional chefs are converting in droves once they're over the initial apprehension. At my current place I was faced with the same choice. Space was at a premium and gas would have eaten into it (greater distance from walls on kitchen installation required - might want to check on that with your existing kitchen.) The extra cookware is a nuisance but otherwise the only thing that's missing is being able to char aubergine etc over an open flame.

Sgtmajormummy · 04/10/2023 09:23

MNetcurtains · 04/10/2023 08:35

I'm a recent, enthusiastic convert to induction (formerly a gas hob diehard).

One thing I've found about using gas canisters (holiday home) is the lack of pressure you get. Particularly noticeable when attempting to stir fry or boil pasta.

I agree, the gas pressure from canisters is disappointing, more so as the canister empties.
You also have to get your burner nozzles converted from mains gas to canister, a quick but unmissable fix.

JassyRadlett · 04/10/2023 09:29

I'd go with induction if you possibly can. Healthier, as others have said, and will save both the hassle of having it installed now and then the hassle of having a pointless gas connection in the future as the gas grid becomes obsolete. Though the latter really depends on how long you want to live there.

MNetcurtains · 04/10/2023 09:33

Edit: Oops, OP has already ruled this out.😬

Bingo!:

https://www.appliancecentre.co.uk/pc/cookers/range-cookers/induction-range-cookers/

LovelyDaaling · 04/10/2023 11:14

Gas hobs (all the ones I've ever owned) were pigs to clean. That alone was enough to convert me to induction.

What exactly don't you like about induction?

LovelyDaaling · 04/10/2023 11:19

Kittensat36 · 04/10/2023 08:55

I wish I could afford to replace my induction hob, I hate it. It either doesn't cook or incinerates. I thought I was just being impatient, so turned the heat down and waited, but that cabbage would not boil.

I bake a lot, but have never managed caramel because just As the syrup is 2-3° from where I need it, there's a faint click and the ring goes dark. The sugar drops off the boil and I cannot get it back. Turning the heat up/putting the lid on simply involved an eruption of boiling liquid.

The caramel problem might be just down to your hob. I've made it several times without issues (Neff hob).

deplorabelle · 04/10/2023 11:31

Kittensat36 · 04/10/2023 08:55

I wish I could afford to replace my induction hob, I hate it. It either doesn't cook or incinerates. I thought I was just being impatient, so turned the heat down and waited, but that cabbage would not boil.

I bake a lot, but have never managed caramel because just As the syrup is 2-3° from where I need it, there's a faint click and the ring goes dark. The sugar drops off the boil and I cannot get it back. Turning the heat up/putting the lid on simply involved an eruption of boiling liquid.

That hob sounds faulty - doesn't match my experience of induction at all; I find it very responsive though the touch controls are harder to use than turning knobs for gas.

If it's working correctly you could try cookware with a thicker base because thin base pans will burn much more readily.

parietal · 04/10/2023 11:37

Ceramic hobs and induction hobs often look the same but ceramic is a lot cheaper. It is also slow and crap and does exactly what @Kittensat36 is describing

A proper induction hob with good pans (IKEA does v good cheap ones) is excellent with better control than gas for both low and high heat and much easier to clean.

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