When making your favorite Filipino dish on your reliable electric stove, you're probably not thinking about its wattage. But once you get your hands on the electric bill at the end of the month, you may want to reconsider.
We cannot deny that electric stoves are the best alternative for modern kitchens. Not only does it support different cooking techniques, but it is also much safer than its gas alternative. Nonetheless, using an electric stove may put a hole in your pocket when you think about its power consumption. So, how many watts does an electric stove really use?
In this detailed guide, we'll dig deep into the amount of electricity an electric stove consumes. Also, we will discuss how you can efficiently use your stove to reduce energy costs.
How Much Electricity Does an Electric Stove Use?
As its name suggests, an electric stove uses electricity to heat its coils. As the coils heat up, the electricity is met with a resistant force, resulting in heat transfer on the cooking surface and, eventually, the cookware.
But to better understand electric stove wattage, which is the amount of watts an electric stove draws in, there are two crucial terms you need to understand. They are:
- Nominal Power: This is the electric stove watt or power consumption rating indicated on your stove's packaging or user manual. It indicates the maximum power the stove draws in at maximum use.
But a stove doesn't always work at nominal power. In fact, as soon as the stove top heats up to maximum temperature, most shut down temporarily to prevent overheating the cookware and the coil. In other words, it's rare for electric stoves to draw their rated/nominal power.
- And that's where effective power comes into play. It is the actual energy use of a stove.
So, how do we calculate how much electricity an electric stove consumes? Well, here's the formula:
nominal power rating x the actual time the stove was used = actual electric stove wattage
Usually, a stove wattage ranges between 2,000 and 5,000 watts. In other words, if you continuously use your stove for an hour at nominal power, you'll use up 1kWh of electricity. That translates to 30 - 40kWh of power every month.
Another important factor to consider when calculating the amount of electricity your stove consumes is the amps used. Amps refer to the amount of electrons flowing through a circuit. In other words, it dictates the load your electric circuit can take.
Depending on your stove's model and size, it's most likely to draw in about 20 - 50 amps. However, the average amps an average single stove top uses is approximately 48 amps, while that of a regular oven is about 33 amps. Therefore, you must ensure your circuit can efficiently handle such loads before using these appliances.
Other vital factors to consider when estimating the amount of electricity your electric stoves use include:
Associated Power Use
The cooking technique used directly affects your electric stove wattage. For instance, if you're baking, you must factor in the power consumed during the preheating process. But if you're using the electric oven that comes with a gas alternative, it will use less energy.
Size and Number of Burners Used
The larger the stove, the more electricity it will use to heat the coils. Likewise, if you use multiple large burners simultaneously, the electric stove wattage will be higher.
Type of Cookware Used
And yes, we cannot forget about the cookware. Using flat-bottomed and well-sized cookware on burners with almost similar surface areas boosts energy efficiency. So, if you use a small pot on the stove's largest burner, you're wasting most of the stove's generated heat and consumed energy.
How Many Watts Do Different Stoves Use in a Year?
Have you been searching for a modern electric stove for your Filipino kitchen? If yes, you've probably come across the wide range of options available on the market. Although they all come with distinct sizes, designs, colors, and features, the ultimate deciding factor should be their electric stove wattage rating.
And if you're like most people, you want an appliance that will not send your electric bill shooting through the roof while catering to your cooking needs and interests. So, how many watts do different electric stove types consume in a year?
Well, we've already mentioned that the average electric stove draws in about 2,000 - 3,000 watts. So, if these stoves are active for one hour daily for 365 days, they would use approximately 730 - 1,095 kWh annually.
Here's a more detailed breakdown of the annual wattage consumption of different-sized stoves.
|
Stove Size |
Average wattage rating |
Wattage used per year |
|
Average apartment stoves |
3,000 - 4,000 watts |
1,095 - 1,460 kWh |
|
Regular home stoves |
6,000 - 8,000 watts |
2,190 - 2,920 kWh |
|
Commercial or large-sized stoves |
Over 12,000 watts |
Over 4,380 kWh |
Do note that the wattage estimates above are based on an hour of stove use each day for 365 days.
How Much Does it Cost to Run an Electric Stove?
It's impossible to tell how much electricity your electric stove or other home appliances consume by looking at your monthly electric bill. But what if we tell you that you can actually do this even without your power bill?
But first, you must determine the cost per unit of electricity in your region. In the Philippines, Meralco's March 2024 Update report showed that the cost of electricity per unit stands at ₱11.9397.
With that in mind, the average cost of running a regular stove in a Filipino home would be ₱23.8794 - ₱59.6985 for every hour. Likewise, running the same stove an hour daily for a month would amount to ₱716.382 - ₱1790.995. In a year, that would add up to ₱8596.584 - ₱21,491.94.
But of course, there's always the option of using an energy-efficient model to help you reduce these costs.
Does an Electric Stove Use A Lot of Electricity?
Based on the numbers quoted above, there's no denying that electric stoves are high-wattage appliances. And we've not yet included:
- Different cooking techniques.
- Amps drawn.
- Size of stove.
- Number of burners used.
- Even the particular cookware.
Likewise, we cannot overlook energy-efficient models. So, let's go ahead and tackle the elephant in the room: does an energy-efficient stove consume a lot of electricity? Well, the answer lies in its energy-efficiency rating. Usually denoted in letters ranging from A to G, this rating implies how efficient the stove is in terms of electric stove wattage.
In that case, if a stove has an 'A' energy-efficiency rating, it means it will save you the most money and electric consumption. One with a 'G' rating will save you some coins, but less than that with an 'A,' 'B,' or even a 'C' rating.
How Much Energy Does an Electric Stove Use?
Depending on the size of the unit, an electric stove will use around 3 and 5 kilowatts of energy. As a matter of fact, the average stove takes in about 3.5 kilowatts of power. But that depends on how frequently you use it. For example, if a family cooks three meals daily, the stove will consume more energy than a family that only uses the stove twice or thrice a week.
Another vital factor to consider when gauging the energy the electric stove consumes is the size and number of stove tops used at any particular moment. The standard electric stovetop uses around six and ten amps. But for energy-efficient models, the stovetops can use as little as 4.5 amps. Of course, this value depends on how long you use the stovetop and how many you use in a specific period.
How to Reduce the Cost of Running Your Electric Stove?
Now that you have an idea of how much electricity your electric stove uses and its average running costs, let's discuss some effective methods to reduce those numbers. No one wants to end up with a huge electric bill at the end of the month after enjoying their favorite electric stove and oven meals/snacks.
So one way to keep your electric stove power costs is to use it sparingly. That means avoiding using it as often as you usually would, especially if the stove has a gas alternative. In this case, you can opt to use gas to cook your everyday meals but use the electric stove and oven for special occasions or techniques like baking or sauteing.
Another common tip to save energy costs when using an electric cook is to turn it on to the maximum setting immediately after you start using it. That way, when you're about to finish cooking, you can turn off the stovetop early to use the retained heat before it dispels.
However, embracing solar energy is the most practical approach to cutting costs when running an electric stove. Here, you'll use a renewable energy source to power all your home's appliances, including the stove.
But if you don't have the budget yet to embrace an eco-friendly home, you can always start bit by bit. For example, buying the BLUETTI AC180 portable power station can comfortably power your electric stove and ten other devices. It also comes with a 1,152Wh capacity and can recharge using solar, AC, generator, or the car.
Alternatively, if you want a larger unit, you can always go for the BLUETTI AC200MAX Expandable Power Station. Apart from its huge 2,048Wh capacity and seven recharge options, this unit also comes with smart control features, accessible via the BLUETTI app.
Elevate your electric stove experience by pairing any of these remarkable units with a BLUETTI solar panel. Whether you want a portable option or one that comes with a home battery backup like the BLUETTI AC300 +B300, the possibilities are limitless and cost-effective.
Final Thoughts
High electric costs can be a real headache for any Filipino homeowner. But with the right guidance and tools, you can easily put such stresses to rest. But it all starts with knowing how much electricity your electric stove and oven consume every time you use it.
Once you have this value in mind, you can easily find ways to manage its use to reduce running costs. And that includes embracing alternative electricity sources to support your electric stove cooking joys. Check out BLUETTI's list of remarkable solar solutions if you want to transform your home into an eco-friendly haven.
