There are lots of Recipes for using Slow Cookers these days, for many meals that people would never have used a Slow Cooker for before.
I am trying one today, a Roast Chicken in the Slow Cooker for 8 hours with the promise of tender meat and a crispy skin.
But how much does it cost in Electricity for 8 hours?
I saw one statement that says: “The average 3.5 litre slow cooker uses about 1.3 kWh of electricity to power eight hours of cooking”.
That sounds a reasonable figure, but is that at the Auto setting, or High or Low?
Another website states: “”Slow cookers can also be an energy-efficient option – they use just a little more energy than a traditional light bulb … A slow cooker uses approximately 0.7kWh over the eight hours. ”
But again, at what setting?
I found a better answer, where they say that using the Low Setting only for 8 hours, used 768 watts of power. That was calculated at 0.4 amps by 8 hours, using 3.2 amps total, or 0.768 kWh.
So, using the Low setting for an 8 hour cooking time, the power used comes to 0.768kWh. (96 watts per hour)
My Roast Chicken would therefore cost me just under 9 cents to cook, if done during a sunny day (I have solar panels), or 16 cents if I cooked it at night, paying full price for my Electricity. (Australian costs)
But, I am assuming that MY Slow Cooker used the same power that their one does.
I began to look at Retailer Websites, that sell Slow Cookers, but they don’t seem to give much information on actual power consumption for individual units.
I did find another that says: “For 6 hours on a low setting, the total use is 900 watts”. (150 watts per hour)
So that shows a 50% increase on cost for that one.
Maybe, once ours finishes, I will turn it over and see what the power rating is…
NOTE:
Whilst looking for Energy ratings for Slow Cookers I did come across this piece of information, that I have never known…
“Do not operate slow cooker when placed directly onto a bench top.”
“Place a heat proof mat or chopping board underneath to protect the surface.”
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