THE cheapest way to cook has been revealed and it could help you to slash your energy bills.
Slow cookers have soared in popularity as shoppers look for cheaper, energy efficient ways of cooking.
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Many households have been using energy-saving hacks since electricity prices went up from around 17p per kWh to 34p per kWh.
Among those hacks, homeowners have been switching out certain vampire appliances like a slow cooker – but are they actually more energy efficient?
Consumer champion Which? compared slow cookers and induction hobs against one another to see which one used less energy.
Emily Seymour, Which? energy editor, said: “There has been a big surge of interest in slow cookers in recent months as millions of households across the country are feeling the pressures of the cost of living crisis.
“Slow cookers are said to use less energy than a lightbulb. However if you’re thinking of buying one to help save energy
The experts cooked a vegetable stew and a beef stew on each appliance and recorded how long they took to cook and how much energy they used.
Using the slow cooker to cook the soup cost 31p, more than three times the cost of using the induction hop, at just 9p.
The induction hob also took just 26 minutes, while the slow cooker took 182 minutes.
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Which? also found it was cheaper to cook beef stew on the induction hob, where it took just 97 minutes and cost 23p.
The stew took 244 minutes to cook in the slow cooker and cost 45.
The slow cooker Which? used was rated at 320W, while the induction hob was 7.2kW – or 7,200W.
So while the slow cooker needed less power, it was used for much longer so it ended up costing more.
Of course, this would only be a cheaper alternative if you had an induction hob at home already.
Having to fork out for one would be more than likely to offset any potential savings.
The savings will also depend on factors such as what you’re cooking, how often you use it and which model you have.
Air fryers are also an energy efficient way to make a meal.
For example, if you used a 900-watt air fryer for 20 minutes, it would cost about 10p per meal .
But remember that the purchasing cost could be anywhere between £30 and £300.
Which? previously revealed the cheapest way to cook popular food including chips and jacket potato.
Plus, we spoke to energy experts at USwitch to find out the cheapest way to cook a meal.
We also listed here how much appliances can cost you as you move to save more money around the house.
We also explained here whether air fryers are cheaper than running ovens in general terms.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
