I've been using a GE radiant heat stove for the past 6 years and do like it a lot. Clean up is so much easier being a sealed unit. Plus caked-on stuff can scraped off with a razor blade.
Radiant heat (Smooth tops) got a bad rap when they first came out because they were slow to heat up. That's not an issue any more.
All in all I still do miss gas. If I were to build again, I'd probably pay to have a tank installed, running my stove, hot water, and grill off of it. I also like the fact that a gas range will work during a power outage. In addition, I would get a convection oven.
If you are already set up for gas, I'd say do it, otherwise stick to electric which is not all that bad. Overall, cooking accounts for such a small portion of your overall energy use.
Consumer Reports recommendations in your $ range:
Gas - GE JGBP85WEJ, Hotpoint RGB745WEH
Electric - Kenmore 9611/9641, Hotpoint RB757WH & GE JBP35WH
Radiant heat (Smooth tops) got a bad rap when they first came out because they were slow to heat up. That's not an issue any more.
All in all I still do miss gas. If I were to build again, I'd probably pay to have a tank installed, running my stove, hot water, and grill off of it. I also like the fact that a gas range will work during a power outage. In addition, I would get a convection oven.
If you are already set up for gas, I'd say do it, otherwise stick to electric which is not all that bad. Overall, cooking accounts for such a small portion of your overall energy use.
Consumer Reports recommendations in your $ range:
Gas - GE JGBP85WEJ, Hotpoint RGB745WEH
Electric - Kenmore 9611/9641, Hotpoint RB757WH & GE JBP35WH