Energy Saving Trust shares cooking appliance costs and best usage times so you can roast and toast without the cost
The festive period is here and many people will be cooking more than usual, using more energy. If you’re unsure about how much energy your kitchen appliances use, or which is most cost effective when cooking for a crowd, Energy Saving Trust is sharing the latest data to help you prepare your festive feasts.
Joanna O’Loan, knowledge manager at Energy Saving Trust, said:”The best way to save energy when cooking over the festive period is to use the most suitable appliance for the meal and the number of guests. Simple changes, like keeping the oven door shut while cooking and using the microwave for reheating leftovers, can significantly cut down on energy use, lower carbon emissions and save you money on your energy bills this Christmas.”
Electric oven – best for batch cooking and hosting
Typical cost per use for a family meal: £0.43
If you’re hosting over the festive period, your electric oven could be the best value for money. Ovens are generally bigger than other cooking appliances, meaning they require more energy to heat up. This means a typical electric oven can be the most expensive cooking appliance to run, however, their larger size means you can fit a lot of food in at once. This is particularly useful for batch cooking or preparing meals for a large group, such as your Christmas dinner or New Year buffet!
Top tip: Avoid opening the door any more than necessary while the oven is on to keep in hot air and reduce wasted energy.
Gas or electric hob – best for quick meals
Typical cost per use: £0.20 – £0.22
Using the hob is usually quite economical, as you typically won’t need it on for long to prepare meals, like a delicious turkey curry from Christmas dinner leftovers. A gas hob does produce more direct carbon emissions than an electric one. So, if you’re just reheating a meal, consider using a microwave instead to reduce your carbon footprint.
Top tip: Remember to cover your saucepan with a lid to keep heat in and reduce wasted energy.
Slow cooker – best for busy schedules
Typical cost per use: £0.34
Designed to cook food gradually over a long period of time, slow cookers can be a convenient way to cook, even with a busy schedule during the festive season. This could be a great option for preparing meals for larger groups of people while you’re having fun.
Whether on the low or high setting, slow cookers use the same energy to cook a meal, but cooking on low is ideal if you need to leave it longer, saving energy compared to the high setting.
Air fryer – best for 1-2 people
Typical cost per use: £0.14 – £0.17
An air fryer works like a small conventional fan oven. Because of its small size, using an air fryer can often be cheaper than using your oven to cook the same meal. This makes it ideal for preparing smaller quantities of food for one or two people. Perfect for baking a camembert in!
Top tip: As when using a regular oven, avoid opening the compartment any more than necessary to avoid letting out heat and wasting energy.
Microwave – best for reheating and quick cooking
Typical cost per use: £0.04
Instead of heating the surrounding air, your microwave directly heats the food. This means your microwave will cook and reheat food very quickly and its cost per use is likely to be lower than many other cooking appliances. Ideal for warming up leftovers from your festive meals.
Top tip: If you’re preparing a large meal, batch cooking in a full oven and then reheating portions as you need them in the microwave can be a good way to keep your energy bills down.
