Is it cheaper to use gas or electricity to cook?

As the cost of living crisis bites, many Brits are doing all they can to make sure their lifestyles are as cost-effective as possible.

Cooking, one of life’s daily pleasures – or chores – is one of the key areas being targeted by those keen to save some cash.

Brits are prepping meals days in advance and cutting back on non-essential food items in a bid to lower monthly bills.

But what about the appliances you use to do your cooking?

Metro.co.uk asked the experts whether cooking using gas or electricity is cheaper.

Is it cheaper to cook using a gas or electric oven?

According to the experts, there is no ‘simple answer’ to this question.

Gareth Kloet, Go.Compare’s energy spokesperson told Metro.co.uk, that this is because ‘the efficiency of your cooking method and the time it takes have a big impact on the energy used, and therefore the cost.’

Jack Ferguson, energy saving expert at Quotezone.co.uk told Metro.co.uk that ‘on the whole’ electric ovens are more efficient than gas ones – using 40% less energy.

However, he pointed out that the unit cost of electricity is about three times that of gas (10.33p per KWH versus 34.04p per KWH) which means on average, a household using an electric oven will spend £50 more a year than a household using a gas oven.

Despite this, Ferguson said that because ovens cost ‘hundreds and hundreds of pounds to install, it wouldn’t be practical to change to a gas appliance unless your oven is at the end of its life.’

Is it cheaper to cook with a gas or an electric hob?

Ferguson said that the most energy efficient type of hob is an electric induction one.

However, he said that although electric induction hobs win in terms of actual usage, gas hobs cost around 9p per use, whereas electric hobs cost around 17p per use.

This means that on average, a person using a gas hob will save £34 a year compared to someone using an electric one.

Ferguson added: ‘Hobs are not an easy change either, so you probably have to stick with what you have until it needs replacing.’

Which are the cheapest appliances to run?

Both Kloet and Ferguson agreed that air fryers and microwaves-both of which use electricity – are more cost effective than traditional ovens.

Kloet said that this is because they ‘both typically use less electricity than traditional electric ovens, as they are quicker cooking methods and therefore take less time and less energy to cook the same food.’

He added that there is no need to preheat microwaves or, for the most part, air fryers, meaning more time and energy saved.

Additionally, air fryers, and microwaves are much cheaper to buy than ovens (both can be purchased for under £100) so are a lot cheaper to switch to than buying a new oven or hob.

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However, Ferguson pointed out that microwaves aren’t effective for all kinds of foods ‘and the result isn’t always as tasty as using an oven’.

He added that whilst air fryers use less energy than a conventional oven, ‘their smaller size can mean several batches are required which reduces the savings.

‘With the current price cap, a 1700-watt version could cost 29p to use for 30 minutes which isn’t a massive saving compared to a conventional oven.’

He continued: ‘The humble oven is probably one of the most used appliances in the home and when you have a larger number of people to feed, they are likely to be the most practical option.

‘Rather than writing them off, consider how and when to use them and try to get the most value from each use – cook other items at the same time when needed for example.’

Tips for using cooking appliances effectively

Kloet said that ‘whichever appliance you use, you should make sure you are using it as efficiently as possible.’

His tips for energy efficient cooking are:

• Always put lids on pans to limit heat loss
• If you can, batch-cook meals to limit the time your cooker (or appliance) is on
• Defrost food naturally and safely in the fridge, rather than relying on ovens or microwaves
• Use slow cookers, as their energy usage is lower
• Switch the oven off early – the retained heat will continue to cook your food

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