Slow Cooker Power Consumption

bargainisg8 on 13/12/2021 - 09:51
Last edited 13/12/2021 - 10:04 by 1 other user

I wanted to understand the slow cooker power consumption. Go easy if something not right. :)

For example, this unit from Amazon says 1200 watts (1.2 kWh) and let's say you want to cook for 4 hours, is it going use 4.8 kWh? or Am I missing something? I read in this article (https://www.smh.com.au/money/saving/is-a-slow-cooker-a-money…) that Slow Cookers are energy efficient but as per the math, it's taking a lot higher. Words of wisdom, anyone please….

https://www.amazon.com.au/Russell-Hobbs-4443BSS-3-5L-Cooker/…

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  DemocracyManifest on 13/12/2021 - 09:54

  +1

  It's going to use less power than a stove/oven, and the chances of ruining your food are lower depending on what you are cooking and if you don't have time to stand around and watch it for 3 hours or so. It's more effective as the heat is contained well and theres no leak of heat. Our oven in our rental has a poor seal and its always continuously heating up. Good in winter, awful in summer. The cost savings across your household budget are considerable. I have a pressure cooker/slow cooker all-in-one (Phillips) and its great

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  Archi on 13/12/2021 - 09:56

  +3

  1200 watts would be peak power, not what it will use consistently throughout the 4 hours of cooking.

  • 

    aoeueoa on 13/12/2021 - 10:01

    It probably has a high and low setting. 1200w will be used when the heating element is triggered on (at the start, then intermittently when the temp drops below a threshold).

    It'll use less energy if the cooker can keep temp for longer - being in a warmer room, being kept in a foam box, or insulated with a towel for eg. Some of these tihngs might be advised against by the manual.

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  Stopback on 13/12/2021 - 10:00

  +2

  you def want a energy monitoring plug to confirm - but as other said its based on how efficient the slow cooker is

  Sealed designs would be more efficient as less heat would leave the unit

  But consider the fact you may run a slow cooker for longer than it is needed verus another device - not a big difference but a waste of energy

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  SBOB on 13/12/2021 - 10:07

  +2

  this unit from Amazon says 1200 watts (1.2 kWh)

  it would have either a simple deadband operation or a smarter PID control of the element (most likely simple deadband thermostat heat control)

  Element on - 1200 W use
  Element off - minimal W use

  The element would be on most of the time when coming up to temperature, but only on very rarely/briefly when at temperature, so would likely use 1200W for only a small percentage of the usual 4-8 hour cooking time
  (plus, you're heating a small vessel, compared to a large oven)

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  pinchies on 13/12/2021 - 10:15

  Simple answer:
  No. After getting up to temperature, the heating element will switch on and on just as needed to maintain temperature. Hence the power consumption will not be 1200W all the time while in use.

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  dust on 13/12/2021 - 10:23

  +10

  If you want to save money on electricity for cooking your dinners have you considered using the barbie at a local park instead?

  • 

    avoidfullprice on 13/12/2021 - 10:28

    +2

    What a good thread that was

  • 

    Stopback on 13/12/2021 - 10:40

    or a solar powered oven

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  avoidfullprice on 13/12/2021 - 10:27

  When I was slow cooking ribs in winter, 300W on average?

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  bargainisg8 on 13/12/2021 - 10:45

  Thanks all, great responses.

  So I can go for Slow Cooker.
  SirMurduck also mentioned all in one Pressure Cooker, intrigued by that too.

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    MeesusEff on 13/12/2021 - 12:00

    Get a multi function one that slow cooks and pressure cooks (Phillip all in one goes on sale quite frequently). Pressure cooking gets you similar results to slow cooking so so much faster. I made lamb shank stew last night from frozen lamb shanks, 10 Min prep, 1 hr cook time (probably didn't need that long but to be safe) and it was falling off the bone.

    • 

      dust on 13/12/2021 - 13:14

      1 hr cook time

      Does this include the pre-heating time? Sounds way too fast if so, especially if the lamb shanks were frozen.

      • 

        MeesusEff on 13/12/2021 - 16:50

        Well I set it to saute so I could "brown" the outside while I was chopping up the other stuff, set 1 hr cook time, maybe takes a few more minutes to get to pressure as it's already quite hot. I did saute again after to reduce the sauce a bit but I broke the lamb up to check and it was 100% cooked already.

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  mapax on 13/12/2021 - 11:44

  Have you looked at any other sow cookers aside from the R.H.? The one I have is far lower wattage than that.

  • 

    bargainisg8 on 13/12/2021 - 11:50

    Which one do u have?

    • 

      mapax on 13/12/2021 - 12:49

      An old cookwell that I got for free. It’s 180 watts.

      • 

        eug on 13/12/2021 - 13:33

        Lower wattage just means it'll take longer to heat up. Once it reaches the right temperature, a more powerful one will just cycle on and off to maintain the temperature.