The cost of cooking Christmas dinner: 41% increase in households using slow cooker
Households are increasingly turning to air fryers and slow cookers to make Christmas dinner in a bid to reduce festive energy bills[1]
A fifth of households (19%) will use an air fryer this Christmas, almost double the proportion last year, while the use of slow cookers is up two fifths (41%)[1]
The use of ovens, hobs and microwaves are down compared to last year, with fewer households using grills and toasters[1]
One in three households (36%) will reduce spending on Christmas this year due to high energy bills[2]
Nearly one in ten people (9%) will invite themselves to stay with friends or relatives over the holiday period to save money on heating[3]
Uswitch.com offers tips on how households can save energy this Christmas by using more efficient cooking methods.
Three million households will use a slow cooker to make Christmas dinner this year to save money on their energy bills — up 41% compared to last year[1], reveals research from Uswitch.com, the comparison and switching service.
Households are increasingly turning to energy-efficient appliances in the kitchen to save money on energy[1].
Air fryers use a similar amount of power as ovens, but reduce energy costs by cooking food in half the time. Nearly a fifth of households (19%) are planning to use one to cook Christmas dinner this year, nearly double the number who used one in 2022[1].
With usage of slow cookers and air fryers on the rise, 4% fewer households will use an oven for their festive meal compared to last year. However, ovens still remain the most popular method of cooking a roast, with 83% of households planning to use one on Christmas Day[1].
The number of households planning to use the microwave has fallen by 6%, despite them being an efficient cooking appliance[1].
| Appliance | Last year | This year | Increase/decrease |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air fryer | 9% | 19% | 96% |
| Slow cooker | 9% | 12% | 41% |
| Food steamer | 10% | 10% | -2% |
| Oven | 87% | 83% | -4% |
| Hob | 58% | 54% | -6% |
| Microwave | 43% | 40% | -6% |
An average household of four people should spend about £2.82 on energy to cook Christmas dinner this year, with the costs of cooking a 5kg turkey at 160oC in a fan oven for three and a half hours being around £1.89[4]. Last Christmas, cooking the same meal would have cost £3.60[4].
Air fryers usually offer large energy savings compared to a traditional oven when cooking simple meals. With so many ingredients in a Christmas dinner, it’s the one time the whole oven is being used, making it more energy-efficient.
One in three households (36%) will reduce spending on Christmas this year due to high energy bills[2].
Meanwhile, nearly one in ten people (9%) will invite themselves to stay with friends or relatives over the holiday period to save money on heating[3].
Uswitch’s free app Utrack links to a home smart meter to help consumers understand their home energy consumption this winter, monitor when they are using the most power and find ways to cut costs around the home.
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com, comments: “Households have spent the past two years cutting down their energy use, and this Christmas will be no different.
“Nearly a fifth of households plan to use air fryers to reduce their energy consumption on Christmas Day — double the number from last year.
“Appliances like air fryers, slow cookers and microwaves are usually the most energy-efficient kitchen devices to cook with, especially if you’re not making enough food to fill the whole of the oven.
“Christmas is one of the few times of year when households use the whole oven, meaning it can work out to be more cost-effective on the big day.
“Households looking for an easy way to see how much energy they are using during and after the festive period can download Utrack, a free mobile app that lets consumers connect to their smart meter and track their energy use.”
Track your energy usage with Utrack by Uswitch here.
About Uswitch
Uswitch is one of the UK’s top comparison websites for home services switching, including energy, broadband and mobiles.
More people go to Uswitch to switch their energy, broadband and mobile than any other site, and we have saved consumers over £2.7 billion off their bills since we launched in September 2000.
Free mobile app Utrack also helps households manage their home energy usage and make potential savings.
Uswitch is part of RVU, a group of online brands with a mission to empower consumers to make more confident home services, insurance and financial decisions.
Notes
Research conducted online by Opinium, 3rd November to 7th November 2023, among 2,000 UK adults, weighted to be nationally representative.
1. Respondents were asked ‘When your household prepares the Christmas meal, which of the following did you use last year and will use this year to cook the food for Christmas dinner? Please select all that apply’. Full results below. 12% of 28.2 million households = 3.4 million.
2. Respondents were asked ‘Are you planning to do any of the following to help pay your energy bills this winter?’ Referring to reducing spending on Christmas this year, 14% said ‘I have done this recently to help pay energy bills’, 22% said ‘I am planning to do so this winter to help pay energy bills’, 51% said ‘N/A I have not done this’, 14% said ‘N/A does not apply to me’.
3. Respondents were asked ‘For the upcoming holiday period, please indicate which of the following things, if any, you are planning on doing?’ Referring to inviting yourself to stay with friends or relatives over the holiday period specifically to save money on heating, 9% said yes, 64% said no, 8% said no, 20% said not applicable.
4. A 5kg turkey will take 3.5 hours to cook. Assume a 2kW fan oven. 2kW x 3.5 x £0.27/kWh = £1.89. See table in release. Assumes that turkey is cooked first, then left to rest for 30 minutes, while parsnips, stuffing and pigs in blankets cook with the roast potatoes. 4 hours total oven time + hob time + microwave time = £2.82. The same appliances and timings with energy costs of £0.34/kWh last year = £3.60.
| Appliance | Last year | This year | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air fryer | 9% | 19% | 96% |
| Slow cooker | 9% | 12% | 41% |
| Cake mixer | 5% | 7% | 33% |
| Coffee maker | 9% | 11% | 28% |
| Toastie maker | 2% | 2% | 22% |
| Blender | 10% | 12% | 12% |
| Breadmaker | 2% | 2% | 4% |
| Kettle | 34% | 36% | 4% |
| Food steamer | 10% | 10% | -2% |
| Oven | 87% | 83% | -4% |
| Hob | 58% | 54% | -6% |
| Microwave | 43% | 40% | -6% |
| Grill machine | 3% | 2% | -6% |
| Toaster | 4% | 3% | -11% |