Why Choose a Propane Gas Stove?

Written on: December 25, 2023

Propane ranges and cooktops offer a superior cooking experience.

Whether you love to cook a gourmet meal for the family or want to get dinner prepared quickly and without scorching the food, propane ranges, cooktops and other gas-fired products offer superior performance.

At Seymour Oil & Propane, we speak to many propane delivery customers in Southbury, Oxford, Beacon Falls and other Connecticut communities about whether today’s propane stoves are a worthwhile — and safe — investment.

What are the benefits of propane stoves?

In a recent survey of professional chefs, a whopping 96% said they preferred cooking with gas over electricity. And propane ranges are among the highest-performing products around.

Consider these advantages of propane stoves:

• They produce practically virtually instant heat once their powerful propane flame lights up.
• You can precisely adjust the temperature instead of being stuck with an electric range’s pre-set temperatures.
• While electric stoves tend to require flat bottom pans and skillets, propane stoves can accommodate pans of just about any shape.
• You can sear and flambé food more easily with a propane stove.
• Many propane stoves have long center burners for griddles or grill pans, which make cooking pancakes, burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches and steaks a cinch.

Are propane stoves safe?

There has been a lot of public discussion in the last year about the safety of gas stoves. Much of this discussion has been driven by medical studies that have linked gas cooking with indoor air pollutants and respiratory illnesses. Most of these studies limit their description of their subjects to “gas stoves,” but there is a significant difference between a stove powered by natural gas and one powered by propane.

One point of concern in these studies is methane, which can leak from natural gas stoves. But propane contains no methane, so you don’t need to worry about this issue.

There is also the concern of particulate matter. These are microscopic solids or liquid droplets that can cause health problems when inhaled. All cooking generates particulate matter, whether it involves a propane, natural gas or electric appliance. The best way to prevent the accumulation of particulate matter and other combustion by-products is to always use your stove hood fan (or open a nearby window) when cooking.

Please also note that, while many studies have linked gas cooking with respiratory issues, others have found the opposite. A Lancet Respiratory Medicine abstract found “no evidence of an association between the use of gas as a cooking fuel and either asthma symptoms or asthma diagnosis.”

Are electric stoves safer than propane stoves?

Electric stoves have their own safety concerns, particularly when it comes to burn and fire risks.

Whereas propane ranges will cool down fairly quickly after you turn off their flame, an electric element can stay dangerously hot for quite a while after you turn it off. More troubling is the fire risk from electric stoves. A 2020 study from the National Fire Protection Association study found that electric ranges cause household fires at a rate 2.6 times greater than gas ranges, civilian injuries at a rate 4.8 times higher, and civilian deaths at a rate 3.4 times higher.

If you have any other questions about gas stoves and other propane equipment, feel free to contact the Seymour Oil & Propane team. We’re always happy to help.