IâÂÂve had both and for a good many years I had gas at home and propane here in the mountains. The only difference I know about is propane is more expensive. IâÂÂve heard people say propane cooks hotter but I never could see any difference. If I cook at my DD on her gas stove itâÂÂs the same as cooking in my kitchen with propane.

There's no difference in the method of cooking. I've only had propane at elevation and natural gas at sea level, and in very different appliances, though went right from the first to the second. Better stove (gas), potentially putting out more BTUs and lower elevation made for slightly faster cooking, OTOH, the things I was used to cooking didn't come out as well with different pots.

I've used both kinds of gas, coil electric and induction, and several types in the categories. For me, the cookware makes by far the biggest difference.

The main difference between natural gas and propane is that if you convert from gas to LP, there's generally a loss of BTUs. They have to step down the output because the LP is under pressure, or something like that. I've heard, though I don't know this for a fact, that stoves designed for LP are made with equivalent heat output to the same model made for gas.

Does it matter? Only if you're a wok snob or want to fry a steak charred on the outside and raw on the inside. If you're like a normal Asian mamma with a wok and if you pan fry steaks you like them caramelized on the outside and somewhat cooked inside, you probably won't notice the heat difference. Unless you're moving from sea level to above 4500 feet, which also knocks back the heat. If you notice a difference, it'll probably be in how long it takes to boil water. And you'll only notice that if you're watching. You know what happens to watched pots...

I have both natural gas and induction. I hardly ever use the gas. Really, only when I actively want to heat the air, like grilling sausages or tortillas, or using the flames as in charring a pepper. A well powered induction cooktop can't be beat. If you have the electricity, it's something to at least look into. The method for induction, and the cookware, is very different, however--I use my pots differently even though they're cast iron and I used them on gas before I got the induction, and they're perfectly suited to induction. There's a learning process. With switching to LP--I'm assuming you're moving--there will be so many other differences in a new kitchen, I don't think you'll really notice much.

It cooks the same or no real noticeable difference. As for making the change, I'm not sure which is cheaper but I'll tell you this, Propane will do a better job when it is cold/windy as it will put out more heat than natural gas.But I've found that on days where it is particuarily cold or windy you may have some problems where has with a propane rig you'd probalby be okay. Of course if it's too cold you'll never get the propane to light, but you probably won't be BBQing in those temperatures anyway.

All other things being equal, pound for pound (or however you want to measure it) propane is more energy dense than natural gas. Which means that you'll use less propane than natural gas to, say, bring a pot of water to the boil. On the flip side, a stove with a burner rated at, say, 10,000 BTUs will bring a that same pot of water to a boil regardless of the fuel source because it's the rating of the burner that matters. Now if a burner is rated at 10,000 BTUs using natural gas and 12,000 BTUs using propane, then propane will bring that pot of water to the boil faster.

Fuel for cooking typically is a fraction of a home's energy consumption. The biggie is heat followed by hot water. There you have to do the math comparing the cost of propane and natural gas.

Thanks everyone!

I also have natural gas at home and propane in the mountains.
Not much difference...just the quality of the stoves.

Propane prices have jumped significantly over the past few years and is quite expensive now. We have a propane fireplace that I use to heat the main rooms with but now the electric heat pump is cheaper. I will use the fireplace for ambiance only this winter.
Natural gas is much cheaper too than propane although it's not in my area.

Okay - this is probably a dumb question but do you have to buy a special cooktop made to be used with propane?

Hi,
I have natural gas on the mainland and propane on the island. Other than the range top on the island is far superior I don't think there is much difference. Some cook and range tops are manufactured for either gas or propane and some require an adaptor for propane. Ask your appliance store which is the case for the appliance you are selecting.
MJ

Not really I know when I ordered my cook top I told them we needed propane and it came with a separate orifice that DH changed with no problems. My new dryer on the other hand I had to have the propane company come out and change it. DH changed it in the old dryer but they changed the law so it cost 85 bucks to have some guy traipse thought my house so DH could tell him how to do it. Also any appliance that has been converted has to have an official sticker placed on it where the connection line comes out. Our tankless water heaters came set up for propane no conversion necessary. Just make sure when you order appliances that you tell them you will be using propane.

Thanks!

Re the cooktop: You do have to have your cooktop set up for Propane. If it comes made for propane it's more likely to have an equivalent output. Usually, if you adapt a natural gas stove to propane you lose some of the BTUs output. But even if it puts out less overall heat it'll cook just fine. That's what I was trying to say last night in a more verbose and confusing way. :)

For an old stove, a competent plumber will be able to get parts to convert from one to the other.

dcarch

dcarch, depending on what you mean by 'old', I am going to disagree. I suppose I may not have found a competent plumber, but I spent hours with appliance guys and Kitchenaid and Google etc.

If by 'old', you meant a 1950s stove, then you probably wouldn't even need a plumber. I suspect the same applies if we are talking some nice expensive open burner modern stove. However, if you are talking sealed burner stoves and needing conversion to propane, it is a different story. Unfortunately, other than a modified pressure regulator, the only gas control one has is the orifice for each burner. You will get a propane replacement kit with supposedly appropriate orifices for your burners. If they are not exactly right to give appropriate flame, you need to find other orifices and most specific sizes are not available. There are special micro drill bits that can be used on undersized orifices and it might be possible to find a plumber with such a kit, but perhaps not.

In any case, an appropriate flame will not likely be one that would respond to the movement of your burner knob and you may find that max flame could be reached at a half on position. If you can find a stove built for propae it would be a good idea to get it.