▁are ▁the ▁most ▁common ▁today ▁in ▁western ▁countries . ▁They ▁are ▁equally ▁effective ▁and ▁safe , ▁and ▁the ▁choice ▁between ▁the ▁two ▁is ▁largely ▁a ▁matter ▁of ▁personal ▁preference ▁and ▁avail ability ▁of ▁util ities . ▁B ott led ▁gas ▁ranges ▁are ▁used ▁where ▁util ities ▁are ▁un available . ▁ ▁Modern ▁kitchen ▁st ov es ▁often ▁have ▁a ▁" st ov et op " ▁or ▁" cook top " ▁( American ▁English ; ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁" h ob " ▁in ▁British ▁English ) ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁an ▁o ven . ▁A ▁" drop - in ▁range " ▁is ▁a ▁combination ▁st ov et op - and - oven ▁unit ▁that ▁install s ▁in ▁a ▁kitchen ' s ▁lower ▁cabin ets ▁flush ▁with ▁the ▁counter top . ▁Most ▁modern ▁st ov es ▁come ▁in ▁a ▁unit ▁with ▁built - in ▁extract or ▁h ood s . ▁Professional ▁che fs ▁often ▁prefer ▁gas ▁st ov et ops , ▁for ▁they ▁allow ▁them ▁to ▁control ▁the ▁heat ▁more ▁fin ely ▁and ▁more ▁quickly . ▁ ▁Today ' s ▁major ▁br ands ▁offer ▁both ▁gas ▁and ▁electric ▁st ov es , ▁and ▁many ▁also ▁offer ▁dual - f uel ▁ranges ▁combining ▁a ▁gas ▁st ov et op ▁and ▁an ▁electric ▁o ven . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁Early ▁kitchen ▁st ov es ▁ ▁Early ▁cl ay ▁st ov es ▁that ▁en closed ▁the ▁fire ▁completely , ▁were ▁known ▁from ▁the ▁Chinese ▁Q in ▁D ynast y ▁( 2 2 1 ▁B CE – 2 0 6