Dual fuel stoves, which are rapidly growing in popularity, resolve one of life’s most pressing questions. You might ask “paper or plastic?”, “Ginger or Maryann?” and now, “gas or electric?” There are things people love about both gas and electric stoves and things they don’t love so much. So, what if you could combine the good parts of both? A dual fuel range does just that.

What Exactly is a Dual Fuel Range?

As you might guess from the name, a duel fuel range uses both gas and electricity for cooking. Typically the cooktop (burners) will be gas-fueled, while the oven is electric. In most cases, the oven operates using convection technology. Convection ovens, sometimes called fan-assisted ovens, uses a fan to circulate the air inside the oven during the cooking process.

Why is Dual Fuel Better?

Most people prefer to use gas burners to cook their food because the ability to control the heat is instantaneous. When you adjust the temperature on an electric burner, the time between turning the dial and the burner cooling significantly is substantial, especially if something is burning. With gas, turning the control up or down results in instant temperature change. So why don’t people simply prefer gas ranges? Well, gas ovens are notorious for being unpredictable and unable to hold a steady temperature. Gas cooktop + electric oven = the best of both worlds: duel fuel!

Which Dual Fuel Stoves are Best?

The Dacor Discovery IQ range won the “Best of CES 2014” award at this year’s Consumer Electronic Showcase, which is a pretty big achievement. The judges liked this product because its electronic control system features an Android interface, which you can operate and control from anywhere via your smartphone. This model also allows you to run Android apps from your range’s control panel, in case you get bored while stirring your food! As you might expect, this model is quite expensive, but not all duo fuel ranges are. There are many nice models available from GE, Frigidaire, KitchenAid and other well-known appliance manufacturers. These products are available in standard sizes of 30”, 36”, 48” and 60.”

One thing to keep in mind is that duel fuel ranges require both gas and electrical connections. Most homes are constructed with one or the other, so you may need to call in a technician from Complete Appliance Repair to make this modification. Contact them, and let their experienced professionals explain how a dual fuel range might work for you and how to incorporate one into your kitchen design!