An electric stove can be a bit more difficult to use than a gas stove. While gas stoves use live fire to heat evenly and efficiently, electric stoves are slow to heat up and cool down. Therefore, you may burn whatever it is you’re attempting to cook. Need some advice? Here are a few tips for a better electric stove cooking experience.
Cooking on an Electric Stove
Electricity runs through a circuit, heating a coil or plate, on an electric stove. The more you turn the dial, more electricity runs, and the hotter the stove top becomes. An external coil on older stove tops glows orange when hot. Newer, flat ceramic glass-top stoves instead have an internal element which lights red over the heated area.
When cooking on an electric stove, you must first understand the temperature settings. Simmer, 50° – 80°, is best to warm food rather than cook it. Low, 80° – 100°, is best for stir fry, eggs, and seafood as it retains moisture while cooking. Medium, 100° – 150°, is best for vegetables and meat. A high setting, 150° – 260°, is best for red meat. It can take up to 15 minutes for an electric stove to heat up, so preheating is advised. Prepare your ingredients while the burner is turned up. Since electric burners take more time to adjust, avoid setting the dial to a really high temperature or low temperature too quickly. Change it gradually so it can adjust. Finally, if you need something charred, place it directly on the burner. This will give you the same results as an open flame.
Looking for an Electrician in Ellicott City?
Since 1986, Tim Kyle Electric, Heating & Cooling has been providing residential and commercial electrical services to clients in Maryland and Pennsylvania. We value honesty, respect, and integrity, which is why we have up-front pricing and require our employees to pass drug and background tests before working with us. Our services include new installation and remodeling, emergency standby power, recessed lighting, and small and large commercial projects. For more information or for a free estimate, click here!