Kitchen appliances - how to make better use of them

Air fryers, slow cookers, ovens and microwaves - which of these are more efficient?

Slow Cookers : around 5p per hour
It is one of the most energy-efficient ways to cook. Left on all day, slowly cooking a beef casserole - it will use the same amount of energy as a lightbulb.

An average slow cooker will usually use about 1.2kW over the course of 8 hours, which equates to only around 162.5w per hour, which works out at just 5 pence per hour.

Microwaves - around 1.98p every 5 minutes (23.8p per hour)
These are not as versatile as a conventional oven but for small food heating tasks - they are much more efficient.

An average 700w microwave will use about 0.058kWh of energy and if on for only 5 minutes will only cost around 1.98p.

Air Fryers - around 5p every 10 minutes (30p per hour)
These are much more energy-efficient than most convection ovens because they cook food much faster. Recent research has shown that cooking in an air fryer costs about half the price of cooking in an oven.

An average air fryer wattage is 1kW, meaning that using an air fryer for around ten minutes would use up to around 0.16kWh of energy. This will cost around 5p on average.

Hobs (Gas/Electric/Induction) - 17p every 15 minutes (68p per hour)
An induction hob uses energy more efficiently than a gas or electric ceramic hob regardless of whether you're gently heating up soup, simmering chickpeas for hours, or bringing pasta to a boil. This is because no energy is wasted heating the space around the pan.

Electric hobs are your next best bet in terms of efficiency because when you're cooking with gas, a significant amount of heat is lost to heating up your kitchen, rather than your food. However, electricity is more expensive than gas, so a gas hob may save you a few pounds a year.

The average wattage of an electric hob is 2kW, meaning an electric hob runs at around 0.5kWh if it's on for 15 minutes. This will cost about 17 pence per use.

Ovens (Gas/Electric) - 34p every 20 minutes (£1.02 per hour)
Gas is cheaper than electricity, but electricity is more efficient. But if you're reheating food, the Energy Saving Trust recommends using a microwave, particularly if it has a good energy rating.

If you do have to use an oven, there are ways to maximise your energy efficiency. For example, refrain from storing baking trays inside the oven when cooking, as they block the airflow. Also, cleaning your oven regularly helps maintain more effective heat distribution.