How much does a slow cooker cost to run?

Figures on this page are calculated from typical appliance wattages and the price per kWh you enter, not looked up from a bill. See how we calculate this.

What a slow cooker costs to run: typical 250 W, about $99 a year. Adjust the figures to your own usage and electricity price.

Wattage and running cost

Based on 6 h a day at $0.18/kWh, the US average. Change the hours and the price in the calculator above.

A slow cooker is the rare kitchen appliance that runs for hours yet costs very little, because its power draw is tiny. Most models use only 150 to 350 watts — less than many light bulbs put together — and they hold that low heat steadily inside a well-insulated pot. Even cooking a meal for eight hours, a slow cooker uses far less energy than an oven does in one, which is why it is one of the cheapest ways to cook a hot meal.

The maths is simple: a low, constant wattage over a long time still adds up to a small number of kilowatt-hours. A 250 W cooker running six hours uses 1.5 kWh — roughly the same as a single hot oven cycle, but for a whole batch of food. Because the pot is insulated and the lid stays on, almost none of that heat is wasted. Enter your cooker's wattage and typical cooking hours above to see the cost, and note how it compares with the oven for the same dish.

This makes the slow cooker a genuinely strategic appliance for a lower bill. Batch-cooking a week of dinners in one long, cheap session and then reheating single portions in the microwave avoids firing up the oven night after night. Few appliances deliver so much cooked food for so little electricity, which is why it is a favourite of budget-conscious kitchens.

Many slow cookers automatically drop to a lower 'keep warm' setting once the cooking cycle finishes, typically well under 100 W, so a dish left on warm for a couple of extra hours while everyone gets home barely moves the total. That is a genuine advantage over reheating later in an oven or on the hob, which starts from cold and needs a fresh burst of full power — the slow cooker's low, steady wattage works in its favour even after the food is technically done.

What a slow cooker costs in other countries

The figures above assume $0.18/kWh, the US average. A slow cooker does not change when it crosses a border — the price of the electricity it drinks does. Here is what its 548 kWh a year cost in the 14 countries with a page here, dearest first.

Each figure is in that country's own currency at its average all-taxes-included price; the dollar column is there so they can be set against each other. Ireland to Canada is a factor of 3.8 — same appliance, same hours, 3.8 times the bill. Follow a country for its real retailer tariffs and what makes up that price, or see the full electricity price comparison by country.

How to cut slow cooker running costs

• Use it instead of the oven for stews, soups and batches — far less energy for a hot meal.
• Keep the lid on; lifting it lets heat escape and lengthens cooking.
• Cook large batches and freeze portions to spread the low cost further.
• The 'low' setting uses less power than 'high' for dishes that can take the time.
• Don't preheat — slow cookers are designed to start cold.

Frequently asked questions