When I moved into a new home with an aging stove, I had to decide. As a lifelong user of gas-powered stoves, I expected to go with gas again. As a home tech reporter who covers large appliances and is well-versed in the proven air-quality and health risks associated with using gas indoors, I had second thoughts.
I was a gas stove purist -- until I wasn't. Alessandro Citterio/Getty Images
I'm a lifelong sufferer of asthma, one of the ailments thought to be exacerbated by natural gas stove use. What's more, my new kitchen is somewhat isolated from the rest of the house, which creates ventilation challenges. In the end, I settled on a Samsung smart induction stove. While I knew I'd miss the tactile nature of cooking over a flame, it just didn't seem worth the risk.
I switched to a smart induction stove, and I couldn't be happier. CNET/Samsung
After more than a year of use, peace of mind about my kitchen's air quality is just one of many reasons I'm pleased with the switch. It's faster, safer, cleaner and more energy efficient. Plus, the stove's smart connectivity recently saved me hours of driving.
I have no intention of going back to gas. Here are the four big reasons why.
1. Air quality factored most in my decision
There's legitimate concern about the effect of gas stoves on air quality. Brett Tyron
What pushed me to move on from gas has nothing to do with cooking. Study after study has shown that natural gas stoves pose a real risk of environmental contamination. While the scuttlebutt over whether gas stoves are safe and what regulatory guardrails should be in place has largely quieted, the science remains.
Gas stoves are shown to leak more than previously thought and those leaks have been shown to cause respiratory issues, particularly in children. As a lifelong sufferer of asthma and the owner of a new but not-so-well-ventilated kitchen, it didn't seem worth the risk, even if most agree that more research is needed.
... continue reading