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Microwaves are a kitchen essential for many people, helping whip up fast meals or speed up the defrosting process of frozen goods. However, since the energy price cap rose at the beginning of April, some households in the UK have seen bills rise by as much as 54 percent.
Though the reasons behind the price cap rise are beyond our control, keeping track of how often you use certain household appliances can help to keep bills somewhat lower.
However, each household appliance uses a different amount of energy and thus adds a different sum to your monthly bill.
To determine exactly how much energy your microwave is using, and thus how much it costs to run, you need to understand its wattage.
Microwaves are rated in either Watts (W) or Kilowatts (kW) for commercial ovens. You can find this usually on the back of the machine or in the manual.
A standard microwave found in the home usually runs between 600w and 1000W, though this can vary.
Based on the April price cap rise in the UK, Sust-it.net has created an energy calculator that determines how much your microwave will use for certain periods of time.
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If your microwave's power output is 700w this will use:
81.7W translating to a cost of 2.29p when used for five minutes
245W translating to a cost of 6.86p when used for 15 minutes
490W translating to a cost of 13.72p when used for 30 minutes
For example, if you used your microwave for five minutes daily over the course of a year would cost approximately £8.30.
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If your microwave's power output is 800w this will use:
81.7W translating to a cost of 2.61p when used for five minutes
280W translating to a cost of 7.84p when used for 15 minutes
560W translating to a cost of 15.68p when used for 30 minutes
For example, if you used your microwave for five minutes daily over the course of a year would cost approximately £9.50.
If your microwave's power output is 800w this will use:
81.7W translating to a cost of 2.61p when used for five minutes
280W translating to a cost of 7.84p when used for 15 minutes
560W translating to a cost of 15.68p when used for 30 minutes
For example, if you used your microwave for five minutes daily over the course of a year would cost approximately £9.50.
Do you have any easy energy saving tips? Join the conversation in the comments section below
If your microwave's power output is 900w this will use:
105.0W translating to a cost of 2.94p when used for five minutes
315W translating to a cost of 8.82p when used for 15 minutes
630W translating to a cost of 17.64p when used for 30 minutes
For example, if you used your microwave for five minutes daily over the course of a year would cost approximately £10.73.
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Speaking previously to Jordan Chance, a heating expert from PlumbNation pointed out that while "microwaves are one of the most energy-efficient appliances" it depends on what you are using them for.
He explained: "Gas is a cheaper alternative to electricity and therefore cooking your soup on a gas hob is the cheapest option.”
Microwaves are efficient as they only heat the food itself rather than waste energy heating the air around them.
If you are looking to save energy being wasted from your microwave, a key tip is to turn them off at the plug after every use.
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