Crockpots/Slow Cookers - Energy Efficient?

**Libby** · 01-05-2010, 08:50 PM

Not sure where to put this so I've started the thread here. If this is the wrong spot, please move it to the correct one.

Just wondering...I see all these wonderful recipes done in crockpots and keep hearing how wonderfully easy it is to use them but are they energy efficient to leave them on all day while they do their magic?

Just wondering.

**Debbie-cat** · 01-05-2010, 08:56 PM

According to sabrelvssammy .... Our resident electric knowledge queen... A crockpot uses .3 kWh of electricity and In my area a kwh is approx. 5 cents. So yes, they are pretty cheap to use.

**shoiji** · 01-05-2010, 09:02 PM

Energyboomer website also thinks it is cheaper than using an electric burner on a stove top. Love using them since it is cheaper than using an oven or burner for me.

**Contrary Housewife** · 01-05-2010, 09:45 PM

Don't know if it is cheaper, but it is a LOT cooler to use a crockpot in summer rather than the stove or oven.

**Mckeekitty** · 01-05-2010, 09:57 PM

Indeed, slow cookers are VERY economical, especially the newer, more efficient ones. Before I purchased my slow cooker, I did some research on their energy usage in comparison to running our gas oven. Hands down, a slow cooker running for 10 hours used less energy than an oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 01-05-2010, 10:23 PM

I'd love to get back to using a slow cooker because in the winter time, that amount of energy savings is very beneficial to us. However, my lack of desire to make crockpot GF dinners is outweighed by the warmth of my oven when I'm baking chicken, turkey breasts, etc.

**frugrrl** · 01-05-2010, 10:27 PM

It certainly is a lot cheaper than being too tired at the end of the day to make dinner and then going out to eat.

**Libby** · 01-05-2010, 10:27 PM

Thanks everyone

Just wondering where they stood with the hydro rates etc. We have a gas stove and my dad prefers to cook with it vs letting me make soup in the CP all day long on low. Now I can say its more cost effective! I think ours isn't as energy efficient as the newer ones as its about 20 yrs old?!

DC - thanks for the stats!

MTTB - GF dinners? What are those?

ETA - GF = gluten free?

**MomToTwoBoys** · 01-05-2010, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by Libby

Thanks everyone

Just wondering where they stood with the hydro rates etc. We have a gas stove and my dad prefers to cook with it vs letting me make soup in the CP all day long on low. Now I can say its more cost effective! I think ours isn't as energy efficient as the newer ones as its about 20 yrs old?!

DC - thanks for the stats!

MTTB - GF dinners? What are those?

ETA - GF = gluten free?

GF = gluten free

I have a website that offers gluten free crockpot meals. I might just get the cookbook when I go to the mall on Thursday and be done with it. Besided, a lot of my cookbooks I have now are tailored for our old diet.

**sinopa27** · 01-05-2010, 11:41 PM

Libby, go treat yourself to a good crockpot. Walmart has a beautiful one for $17. I was thinking about getting a few as presents.

**Libby** · 01-06-2010, 12:45 AM

I can buy it no problem. Using it will be my challenge...my dad prefers to cook via gas stove top. I may just have to fish out the ancient one and giver a go!

It's soup season after all!

**2ndGenGranola** · 01-06-2010, 07:50 AM

Personally, I do not believe they are that big of a $$ saver. I plugged mine into my meter that measures electrical use (kill-a-watt) and all my models on high pulled the same current as an electrical space heater. Low was a little better but still not what I put in the $$ saving category.

When I am checking my meter numbers daily it does show up.

I do use mine so I don't have to "babysit" pots on the stove and can work with the kids. They do make many cuts of meat more tender. They do make an ez supper. In the summer they do not heat up the house which does save in other ways.

**sabrelvssammy** · 01-06-2010, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by Debbie-cat

According to sabrelvssammy .... Our resident electric knowledge queen... A crockpot uses .3 kWh of electricity and In my area a kwh is approx. 5 cents. So yes, they are pretty cheap to use.

well that's what MINE uses...to find out exactly you either need a 'kill-a-watt meter' or if like me you are even too cheap to buy one of those you can go go a website called:

michaelbluejay.com (sorry i don't know how to do links...i can't be perfect in EVERY way can i..?...lol).....

on the back/bottom/somewhere on your pot will be the wattage...take that number and put it into the calculators on the site... you can calculate by wattage, numbers of hrs or mins that you use the item and all kinds of goodies... there are items listed already for you and if your particular item is not listed just find an item that has the same amount of wattage and substitute it ..

some pots are bigger and use more wattage.... i found out with a few of my appliances...like for example my rice/veggie steamer i was using (a big 'ole boy) was using a certain amount of wattage...i found another smaller one at st vinny's for $2 so i bought it and it uses 1/2 the amount of power that the other did...i kept my originial for backup in case the smaller one ever goes down...(i burn up my steamers from over-usage.....)...i guess thats a good thing anyway...

anyway...you can find out what all your kw users are costing you on this site...

**Grainlady** · 01-06-2010, 09:48 AM

I agree with 2ndGenGranola. I checked small appliances with a Kill-a-Watt meter for the REAL use numbers, otherwise it's just a good (or bad) guess based on static numbers.

It also depends on type and size of your cooker, and how full you load it. Whether you use cold items... Age of your appliance can also make a difference in energy use. Are you a frequent lid-lifter? That will cause a temperature drop and the slow-cooker will use more energy because of that. But that doesn't mean it's not a good appliance to use - especially if you can cook large portions of meat that will be used for many meals/uses. If you run the slow-cooker longer than is necessary for the food to cook, that's NEVER energy efficient.

Better cooking methods for energy use would be to use quick methods, like stir-fry, quick pan frying, and microwaving.

Use the smallest appliance possible, which typically use less energy. I have a Convection/Microwave and use it more than my oven. I can bake a loaf of bread in 20-minutes, or two loaves in 25-minutes and NO preheating - what a great energy saver.... I can use the Convection feature and cut baking time by 25-50-percent for most things. Use a toaster oven for small items. My best method is to use a Solar Oven - energy cost - FREE!

I have Saladmaster Stainless Steel Cookware, purchased in 1976 - before the Crock-Pot was a common household appliance - and I can cook in it like most people do a slow-cooker. When I cook roast beef, potatoes, wedges of cabbage, celery and carrots in the bottom of the Dutch Oven, I can also bake a graham cracker cake on a rack under the dome lid covering the Dutch Oven. On top of the dome lid I can cook another dish (like meatloaf), which may be reheated and used the next day, so this is a really efficient use of energy - even better than a slow-cooker because of the stackable features.

**kimmy4433** · 01-06-2010, 10:17 AM

I am not sure how much mine costs to run, and I think it is a 4qt...let me look...ok could not find the size, but I did find this...120V AC, 60HZ, 210W. Not sure how to really figure it out, but @ 1.68 KW I am sure it is cheaper then my gas oven...infact I know it is cheaper then my oven. Gas here in Michigan (as I am sure everywhere else too) is really high. I try to save on my gas bill as much as possible. Even if I run a small electric space heater in my livingroom with all of the doors shut in the house, that is cheaper then turning the temp up to 68.