The bottom line is this: both gas and electric stoves can create harmful indoor air pollutants.
Appliances that run on electricity do not produce carbon monoxide.
A small amount of smoke or odor can be normal, especially the first time a new range or oven is used. It is caused by the heating of new parts, insulating materials, a protective coating of oil that is used in the manufacturing process, and/or the tape used in shipping. It should dissipate after the first few uses.
Leaving an oven on could lead to serious health risks and ultimately death. Leaving an electric oven on and unattended can lead to serious burns or a house fire. If a gas oven is left on and unattended, carbon monoxide poisoning can occur, as can serious burns or fire.
From a health perspective, electric stoves are generally considered to be healthier due to their lack of emissions that can affect indoor air quality. However, proper ventilation is essential regardless of the stove type, especially when using gas.
The bottom line is this: both gas and electric stoves can create harmful indoor air pollutants.
Both options are safe, but electric stoves do not emit combustion gases, making them slightly better for indoor air quality.
Do not use a gas or electric oven or surface units for heating. A gas oven may go out or not burn well, leading to carbon monoxide poisoning. An electric oven is not designed for space heating. Do not burn outdoor barbecue materials such as charcoal briquettes inside—even in a fireplace.
Electric Ovens
If you've got an electric oven, it's usually not as big a deal. Electric ovens are basically just big resistors, so running them for a long time usually has no risk of functional damage. But there's still a risk if something that can catch fire is left inside or nearby.
The heat coming from an oven left on for prolonged times can also cause damage to temperature dials and other items nearby. The damage to temperature dials can lead to electrical malfunctions, challenge the oven to work effectively, or, even worse, a fire.
❗Fumes from the Oven
While no chemicals are used during the self clean cycle and fumes from burning food debris are not harmful to breathe, they are very unpleasant to smell. A self cleaning oven can stink up your house easily without proper kitchen ventilation.
While there are many causes, electrical fires can smell like “burning plastic” or “burning rubber” as the plastic insulation surrounding copper wires inside the walls starts to heat and melt, releasing strong unpleasant chemical odors. If the electrical fire progresses, you may begin to smell wood burning as well.
Chemical Smell
This issue is most common with the new ovens. The insulation around the oven cavity is getting exposed to extreme heat for the first time, that is why there is a chemical smell. To fix this problem, you have to “burn in” your oven.
While both gas and electric ovens can produce pollutants such as particulate matter and formaldehyde during regular use, self-cleaning ovens have the potential to emit the highest levels of airborne pollutants.
Since electric ranges don't use or give off gas, odors coming from them could be caused by caked-on food debris or insulating materials, new parts, tape or a protective coating of oil used in the manufacturing process (if the range is new).
House Fire
While electric ranges do not risk carbon monoxide poisoning, they come with their own dangers — house fires. When used for prolonged periods, electric ovens can overheat and malfunction.
Your electric oven doesn't run the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, so you might be tempted to gather the family around and re-create the scene from “Little House on the Prairie,” where the Ingalls family huddled around the stove to stay warm. Trust us; there are better alternatives for heating your room.
It's Dangerous
Depending on the temperature you use, leaving the stove on too long can melt temperature dials. In a scarier scenario, the longer an electric stove runs unattended, the greater the chance of an electrical breakdown and possible fire.
One of the most important precautions to take when adding an oven to your home is to make sure you have the proper ventilation. Ventilation is necessary for an oven to function properly, even if it's built into the wall.
During cooking, electric stoves can emit 3x as much carbon dioxide as gas stoves, which again is a gas known to harm our planet. To their credit, the electric stove does not emit gas when idle so there are more health benefits to you and your family.
The answer depends on what type of cooking you're doing. If you ask a trained chef, many say they prefer gas because it helps them achieve high heat faster. However, bakers tend to prefer electric models because they distribute heat more evenly and are easier to clean and maintain.
Disadvantages of an Electric Oven
As noted earlier, electric ovens can take a long time to heat up, extending the cooking time by potentially up to 30 minutes. It also retains its heat for a long period of time, making adjusting temperature tricky at times.
Home cooks who favour built-in steam ovens say they like the way they can lock in fresh flavours and create healthy dishes with ease. The moist air within the steam cavity means food is succulent and juicy once cooked.
If you asked someone at random—especially a professional chef—whether they prefer gas or electric stoves, chances are they'd say gas. Cooking is a precise art, and gas stoves offer the kind of control you need to get your dishes just right.