How to Choose an Oven: Gas, Electric or Dual Fuel?
Choosing the right oven type is a decision that shapes your cooking experience for years. The choice between gas, electric and dual fuel depends on how you cook, what your kitchen setup allows, and your priorities around running costs, performance and convenience. This guide explains each option in detail for Australian buyers.
Gas Ovens
Gas ovens use a burner at the base of the oven cavity. Heat rises naturally, creating a hot base and cooler top — useful for some baking but less even overall than fan-forced electric. Gas provides instant heat and instant cooling when the burner turns off, giving you good control over temperature changes.
Advantages of Gas Ovens
- Lower running costs than electric in most Australian gas markets
- Quick response to temperature changes
- Works during power outages (most ignite with a match if needed)
- Moist heat — gas combustion produces water vapour, which can benefit some roasting
Disadvantages of Gas Ovens
- Less even heat distribution than fan-forced electric
- Requires a gas connection
- Not suitable for precise baking that relies on even heat (soufflés, macarons, multi-tray baking)
Electric Fan-Forced Ovens
Electric fan-forced (convection) ovens use heating elements combined with a fan that circulates hot air evenly throughout the cavity. This delivers consistent temperatures across all rack positions, faster cooking (reduce temperature by 15–20°C vs conventional) and excellent results for baking, roasting and multi-tray cooking.
Advantages of Electric Fan-Forced Ovens
- Even heat distribution across all rack positions
- Ideal for multi-tray baking (biscuits, roasting vegetables)
- More cooking functions (grill, fan-grill, fan bake, top heat only, etc.)
- Pyrolytic self-cleaning available on most mid-premium models
- No gas connection required
Disadvantages of Electric Fan-Forced Ovens
- Higher running costs than gas in most markets
- Loses heat immediately when power goes off
- Drier heat — some roasting results prefer the moisture of gas
Dual Fuel Ovens
Dual fuel freestanding ovens combine a gas cooktop with an electric fan-forced oven. This is considered by many cooks the best-of-both-worlds option — the instant-response gas burners preferred by most cooks on the cooktop, combined with the even, controllable heat of an electric fan-forced oven below.
Advantages of Dual Fuel
- Gas cooktop performance (flame, instant response) with electric oven performance (even heat)
- Favoured by serious home cooks
- Available in 60cm and 90cm freestanding formats
Disadvantages of Dual Fuel
- Requires both gas and 15A power connections
- More expensive than gas-only or electric-only
- Not available in built-in format (cooktop and oven are sold separately for built-in)
Freestanding vs Built-In
Freestanding ovens combine the oven and cooktop in one unit that sits on the floor — easier to install, flexible placement and available in 60cm and 90cm. Built-in ovens are installed in cabinetry with a separate cooktop mounted in the bench — cleaner look, more layout flexibility, easier ergonomics.
What We Recommend
For everyday family cooking: a 60cm or 90cm electric fan-forced freestanding oven. For passionate home cooks with gas: 90cm dual fuel freestanding. For apartment kitchens with no gas: 60cm electric fan-forced built-in with a matching induction cooktop.
Find Your Oven at Oceania Appliances
We stock gas, electric and dual fuel ovens from Westinghouse, Fisher & Paykel, Smeg, Electrolux, Bosch and more. Free delivery across Sydney. Visit 2/14 Centre Place, Wetherill Park (open 7 days, 10am–8pm), call or WhatsApp 0422 489 492, or email support@oceaniaappliances.com.au.