Gas stoves are great

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The recent approval of a ballot initiative in Washington state to protect natural gas access for consumers has me ruminating on the gas stove issue.

I have always supported broad consumer choice in energy, and consequently defended access to gas stoves on those grounds. Up until recently, that was as far as it went. I had never lived in a house with a gas stove, and therefore failed to realize why consumers often choose them. That changed earlier this year when I bought a house with a gas stove.

I get it now. It is a delight to cook on.

Pans on the stove heat up more quickly, and the heat feels more evenly distributed than it did on all of the electric stoves I've used before.

What I find most delightful is how tactile and visual it is. Turning the knob on the stovetop makes the flame bigger or smaller and the color of the flame changes as its temperature does. As I turn the knob, I can feel its effect on the size of the flame. I am no longer trying to gauge how hot the number five is versus the number nine on the dial. This visual cue for the temperature makes the whole experience better somehow.

The oven temperature is remarkably even, and it preheats quickly. This is especially useful when baking a large batch of cookies or cupcakes that take up much of the oven but are still ready at the same time.

Gas appliances can also be especially beneficial in a power outage since many can still be used in a power outage. Even though gas stoves usually use electricity for their igniters, they can also generally be lit with matches or a lighter. Forced electrification of appliances removes this backup as well.

People have different preferences. Consumers deserve choices that reflect these preferences. Some people prefer a flat electric stove top to the open flame of a gas stove. Others may share my preferences, but what is important is that government policy should not choose winners and losers in home appliances (or on any other issue). People should be free to choose an electric, gas, or induction cooktop, and regulations should not favor one of these choices over the others.

Attempts to ban residential natural gas connections, or specific gas appliances have been met with resistance from consumers. This has been especially true for efforts to ban access to gas stoves, which makes sense given that many people have a strong preference for cooking with them.

Ultimately, consumers should be able to choose the appliances that work best for them and their families.

A version of this article first appeared on Catalyst.