How to save energy and cut cooking costs at home

How to save energy and cut cooking costs at home Image source, Getty Images By Sue Quinn Published 3 hours ago A jacket potato cooked in the oven can use more than 40 times as much energy as one cooked in a microwave. Meanwhile, switching your dishwasher to its eco setting could cut energy and water use by around 30%. If you're looking for simple ways to reduce household bills, experts say a few small changes in the kitchen can make a surprisingly big difference.

Use your oven less The cost of cooking involves more than just the price of the ingredients. Things like your hob, kettle and fridge all add to your energy bills. Ditching the oven is a great place to start because you're not only heating your food, you're also heating a big metal box, says Prof Sarah Bridle from York University. "Using the oven only on special occasions is the single most impactful thing an individual can do [to reduce cooking-related energy use]."

Low-energy appliances that save money Microwaves, slow cookers, electric pressure cookers and air fryers all consume significantly less energy than ovens. But each one has its own strengths. Microwaves These are great for defrosting and reheating food and drink, as well as cooking vegetables. Slow cookers Ideal for cooking curries , stews and soups , slow cookers use about the same energy as a traditional (non-LED) lightbulb, says Dr Christian Reynolds from the Centre for Food Policy at City University, London.

Electric pressure cookers These considerably shorten cooking time – perfect for dried beans or making tough cuts of meat like brisket soft and tender in under an hour. Air fryers Cooking in an electric oven costs more than double what it costs to cook in an air fryer. But remember they're also smaller, so you might have to run it multiple times depending on how much you need to cook. Make your oven work smarter If you do use the oven, try: Turning it off 5-10 minutes before the end of the cooking time – the food will finish in the residual heat (great for dishes like casseroles , pies , roasted vegetables , shepherd's pie , and lasagne ) Cooking in bulk , as opposed to a single item at a time, will maximise the value you get for the energy spend Hunker down in the kitchen where it's already warm rather than heating other rooms in the house Mix and match your appliances You can save money by making your other appliances work harder, too.

Microwave then crisp : Part-cook potatoes or veg in the microwave, then finish in an oven or air fryer to crisp up Hob then slow cooker : Brown meat first for flavour, then transfer to the slow cooker Bulk-bake potatoes : Jab, salt and bake once, then microwave to reheat later Related stories Frozen, tinned or fresh: Which foods are better for you? Published 8 October Eating when you're not hungry? Experts explain why it happens and what can help Published 23 July Yellow sticker recipes: The budget cooking trick that actually saves money Published 6 May Put a lid on it Cooking on the hob?

Put a lid on to trap heat – it can cut energy use by about 30%, says Dr Reynolds. His other quick wins: Always use the right size pan . "Filling up a 20-litre pan to cook pasta for one is a waste of money," he says Boil water in an electric kettle . These are more energy efficient than a pan on an conventional electric hob. Extra points for boiling enough to make several cups of tea then pouring the rest in a vacuum flask to keep hot for later Look after your fridge-freezer Fridge-freezers account for 13% of household energy bills, says the Energy Saving Trust , external .

Keep it running efficiently by: Letting hot food cool before refrigerating Defrosting food in the fridge (it helps keep the temperature down) Not leaving the door open Keeping the temperature between 3C and 5C (37-41F). You can check this by leaving a thermometer in a glass of water on the middle shelf for 12 hours or overnight Defrosting your fridge-freezer regularly – it has to work harder when covered in ice Use your dishwasher Dishwashers use energy to heat water and run cleaning cycles, but there are several ways to reduce those costs.

Try... Running one fewer load a week : It could save £14 a year, says the Energy Saving Trust Wait until it's full to run it Use the eco setting even though it takes longer : Consumer group Which? says it uses 30% less energy and water compared to the main programme What to look for in a new appliance If something breaks or you need to upgrade, check the energy label and choose the best-rated model for your budget and requirements. Consider: Induction hobs : They're typically the most energy efficient, says the Energy Saving Trust Gas hobs : Might be cheaper to run but can compromise air quality , external Slow cookers : These start at about £20 which you can make back quite quickly in savings How different cooking methods compare Baked potato Oven (120 minutes) = 6.07kWh Microwave (10 minutes) = 0.14 kWh Half microwave (five minutes), half oven (30 minutes plus 15 minutes warm-up) = 2.34kWh Boiling water for one cup of tea Electric kettle (2 minutes) = 0.07kWh Pan on electric hob (5 minutes) = 0.18kWh Microwave (4 minutes) = 0.05kWh Induction hob kettle/pan (2 minutes) = 0.14kWh Reheating stew Electric hob (12 minutes) = 0.43kWh Oven (45 minutes) = 2.27kWh Microwave (8 minutes) = 0.11kWh Induction hob (5 minutes) = 0.35 kWh Porridge Microwave (5 minutes) = 0.07kWh Electric hob (10 minutes) = 0.36kWh Induction hob (5 minutes) = 0.35 kWh Source: Based on data from Prof Bridle and on Wattage numbers from Supplementary Data of supplementary table of Frankowska et al , external .

Final takeaway If you want to save money, try using your oven less, be smart with your fridge-freezer and switch up how you cook. You won't notice a significant drop in your costs right away, but being savvy long term could make a real difference. Originally published March 2022. Updated October 2026. Want more? Visit BBC Food on Instagram , external , Facebook , external and Pinterest , external or watch the latest Food TV programmes on BBC iPlayer .

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