Electric ovens have been around for at least a century by now. Still, it’s easy to assume that these ovens use a lot of electricity and will push their power bills through the roof. But how much power do they consume in reality?
Yes, electric ovens consume a lot of electricity. They use an average of 2.3 kWh an hour. In terms of dollars and cents, you’ll pay about $0.30 to run your oven per hour, depending on energy costs in your area. Still, manufacturers continue to produce increasingly energy-efficient models each year, and you can take several steps to waste less power when using your electric oven.
Understanding the electricity consumption of your oven can be pretty confusing, but don’t worry. This guide will help you look through the numbers to know how much power your oven uses and what you can do to keep that number as low as possible.
Does Using An Oven Use A Lot Of Electricity?
Yes, you consume a lot of electricity whenever you use electric ovens. That is because the appliance needs a lot of electricity to produce the high temperatures that you need to bake, broil, or otherwise cook your food.
Whenever you run your oven, it’ll send electricity through its heating elements. Those elements have high electrical resistance, causing them to become red-hot and increase your oven’s temperature.
Electric ovens are among several ‘heavy draw’ electrical appliances in your home. It requires such a high flow of electricity to function that even the wall socket is different.
Unlike other appliances, you need a special 220-volt wall socket to power your oven. That’s double the voltage compared to standard 110-volt sockets you’d use for any other appliance at home.
Still, the high electricity consumption is only if you’re using electric ovens. Gas models don’t use as much power.
That’s right! Even gas ovens consume electricity, but not as much. These kinds of ovens produce heat by burning gas instead of consuming electricity.
However, gas ovens still need a small amount of electrical power to start the gas burning and run parts like the electronic control board and oven lights.
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How Much Electricity Does An Oven Use?
So, how much electricity does your oven use, exactly?
A typical household electric oven typically consumes approximately 2.3-2.5 kWh under normal usage.
Let’s suppose you were to use that oven for an hour a day. In that case, you’re looking at approximately 75 kWh of electricity consumption a month.
Still, you must never forget that electric ovens consume power at different levels. For example, a larger oven will use more energy to raise its temperature.
Plus, using the self-cleaning feature (if your oven has it) requires much more electricity to reach the extreme temperatures necessary (e.g. up to 6 kWh instead of the usual 2.3-2.5 kWh)
But what does that mean in terms of dollars and cents?
You can expect to pay around $0.30 or more for each hour that you use your electric oven. But, of course, the final price you pay will depend on how much electricity costs wherever you live. The reality is that energy costs differ between locations. Some homeowners also rely on solar power more than a municipal power supply.
Indirect Electricity Usage
Whether you have a gas or electric oven, you should also know that it can consume electricity indirectly.
Let’s suppose you keep your home cool using air conditioning. Then, whenever you use your oven, the overall temperature in your kitchen will rise.
As a result, your AC system will have to work harder to cool your kitchen. Unfortunately, it’ll add to your regular electricity usage in doing so.
How Does Electricity Work In An Oven?
Gas and electric ovens both consume electricity to power components like:
- Electronic control boards
- Control panels
- And fans
However, these two types of ovens differ mainly in producing heat.
Gas ovens produce heat using gas burners. Electric models, however, rely on heating elements that consume plenty of electricity for every second that they’re on.
The higher your selected cooking temperature, the more electricity those heating elements will consume.
How Can You Save Energy When Using An Oven?
There’s no question about it: electric ovens consume a lot of electricity. Still, there are plenty of ways you can use your oven more efficiently to avoid wasting power unnecessarily.
For example, you can:
- Cook more, but less often: There’s a lot of space inside your oven. With a little bit of planning, you can cook several different meals inside simultaneously. Also, you’ll use less electricity overall by doing things in batches.
- Avoid opening the door: Your oven loses heat whenever you open the door to peek inside. It’ll need more electricity to regain that lost heat. So, keep the door closed and just peek through the glass to check on your food.
- Regular maintenance: All appliances will work more efficiently when you maintain them regularly. When it comes to ovens, that means cleaning the mess inside from time to time. For example, leftover food residue will ‘steal’ heat, so removing them prevents your oven from having to work extra hard.
- Use glass and ceramic cookware: Glass and ceramic cookware might cost a little extra, but they’re worthwhile investments. They distribute heat more efficiently to cook your food, so your oven won’t have to work as hard to get the job done.
- Piggyback your self-cleaning: The self-cleaning mode is popular on modern ovens, but they require extreme temperatures to work. You’ll waste power if you start the self-cleaning process at room temperature. Instead, wait until the oven is hot after cooking, then start the self-cleaning mode immediately afterwards. That’ll piggyback on the heat you’ve already used and reach self-cleaning temperatures quicker.
How Do You Buy An Energy-Efficient Oven?
Another way to reduce electricity usage is to be more mindful when you’re shopping for a new oven. Manufacturers these days produce oven models that are much more efficient than they’ve ever been.
Even among those models, some are more energy-efficient than others.
Here’s how you can find them:
- Buy a convection oven: Convection ovens have a fan and exhaust system that you won’t find on standard models. Those components improve airflow, cooking your meals more effectively while using less electricity.
- Choose a self-cleaning oven: This is an excellent idea regardless of whether or not you use the self-cleaning feature. Self-cleaning ovens come with better insulation, making them more efficient at retaining heat. That makes them more energy-efficient overall.
- Look for energy-efficient labels: Check for ENERGY STAR and Energy Guide labels on the oven you want to buy. These labels will assure you that you’re purchasing the most energy-efficient oven available on the market.
- Check the wattage: You’ll likely find more than one energy-efficient oven model you want to buy. How do you break the tie and choose one over the other? You can compare their wattage. That’ll tell you precisely how much electricity each model consumes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are a few additional questions and answers to help you understand oven electricity consumption:
Does A Gas Oven Use Electricity?
Yes, gas ovens also require electricity. However, they only need a fraction of the electrical power of an electric oven model. Gas ovens need electricity to power components like main control boards, control panels, lights, and fans.
Is It More Energy-Efficient To Leave Oven On?
Yes, it’s more energy-efficient to leave your oven on if you’re cooking several meals at a time. By doing that, your oven won’t waste electricity by preheating itself again and again. Instead, leaving it on for short periods will keep the oven hot so you can begin cooking the next meal straight away.
Is A Gas Oven More Energy Efficient?
Yes, overall, a gas stove is more energy-efficient than a gas model. However, gas ovens aren’t as convenient as electric ones as you’ll have to run a gas line into your home. That gas line also means paying a separate bill each month, while an electric model just adds to your existing power bill.
Are Electric Ovens Energy-Efficient?
Yes, electric ovens are energy efficient, and they’re becoming even more so as time goes on. That’s because oven manufacturers understand that customers are becoming much more energy-conscious. So, they compete by releasing increasingly energy-efficient models every year.
Are Electric Ovens Expensive To Use?
Electric ovens are not necessarily expensive to use. Firstly, invest in a more energy-efficient oven model, even if it costs more upfront. Those models will save you money in the long run. Besides that, learn to use your oven more efficiently to avoid unnecessarily adding to your power bill.