How much do cooking appliances cost to run?

Electric oven, hob, air fryer, slow cooker and microwave: how much do they cost to use and when's best to use them?

Many of us will be unsure about the energy our kitchen appliances use, not certain which is best for preparing different types of food, and how swapping one for another might affect our energy bills.

Most households are continually looking for ways to save amid high energy bills, expensive fuel costs and rising inflation.

Joanna O’Loan, at Energy Saving Trust, says: “Saving energy when cooking is all about using the best appliance for the job and this will depend on what you’re cooking and how many people you’re cooking for.

“There are ways to be more energy-efficient with whatever appliance you choose, from avoiding opening the oven door until the food is ready, to microwaving leftovers. All of these small changes can help reduce energy usage, cut carbon emissions and save money on your energy bills.”

We reveal the running costs for five popular cooking appliances as calculated by Energy Saving Trust, so you know which appliance to switch on when you’re preparing your next meal. Plus, we outline extra energy-saving tips when cooking in the kitchen.

Best for batch cooking: electric oven, typical cost per use of 27p

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, so when cooking large quantities – for example, when batch cooking or cooking for a large group - using your oven could be the best value for money.

Top tip: Avoid opening the door any more than necessary while the oven is on to keep in hot air and reduce wasted energy.

Best for quick meals: gas or electric hob, typical cost per use 1p-2p

Using the hob is typically quite cheap, as generally you won’t need to have a hob on for very long to prepare meals, such as pasta or an omelette. Using a gas hob does produce more direct carbon emissions than an electric hob, so if you’re just using it to reheat a meal you might want to consider using a microwave instead in order to reduce your carbon footprint.

Top tip: Remember to cover your saucepan with a lid to keep heat in and reduce wasted energy.

Best for busy schedules: slow cooker, typical cost per use 26p

Designed to cook food gradually over a long period of time, slow cookers can be a convenient way to cook if you have a busy schedule. Think casseroles, stews and tagines, and in fact you can make most things in a slow cooker, from soup to cake.

Top tip: To save energy, try to avoid leaving them on longer than necessary or use a “low” setting if you’ll be out for longer.

Best for one or two people: air fryer, typical cost per use 7p

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 for the same meal. This makes it ideal for preparing smaller quantities of food, such as for one or two people.

For example, in a recent episode of Jamie Oliver’s “Jamie’s £1 Wonders”, it showed the comparative costs of two different ways to cook two salmon fillets - around 5p in an air fryer and 21p in an electric oven.

Top tip: Avoid opening the compartment any more than necessary to avoid letting out heat and wasting energy.

Best for reheating and quick cooking: microwave, typical cost per use 4p

Instead of heating the air, your microwave directly heats the food. This means your microwave will cook and reheat food very quickly and so its cost per use is likely to be lower than many other cooking appliances.

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 is a good way to keep your energy bills down.

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