How Much Does It Cost to Run a Slow Cooker? (UK 2026)
Based on the active UK Ofgem price cap of 24.5p per kWh (1 January 2026 – 31 March 2026).
A typical 200W slow cooker costs £0.05 per hour of continuous use at current UK electricity rates (24.5p/kWh). For typical daily usage (7 hours runtime on Low/High, twice per week (average 2h daily across week)), it costs approximately £0.10 per day or £11.24 per year.
Manufacturer specs: Crock-Pot & Morphy Richards 3.5L to 6.5L oval slow cooker technical specifications (180W–240W)
* Includes 0.5W standby consumption outside active hours (£1.04/year).
How to Save Money Running a Slow Cooker
- Keep the glass lid on throughout cooking; removing the lid releases trapped steam and drops chamber temperature, adding 15–20 minutes to cook time.
- Fill the ceramic pot between one-half and two-thirds full for optimal thermodynamic heat transfer.
- Cook larger batches and freeze individual portions to maximize the output per kilowatt-hour of cooking.
- Use the "Low" setting (approx. 150W) for all-day cooking rather than the "High" setting (approx. 250W).
Alternative Appliances Compared
vs. Electric Oven (Slow Casserole)
View running cost →Simmering a stew in an electric oven for 4 hours consumes around 5 kWh, whereas a slow cooker uses just 1 kWh for 7 hours of cooking.
vs. Air Fryer
View running cost →Air fryers are ideal for quick crisp roasting, whereas slow cookers excel at tenderizing budget cuts of meat over hours with minimal electricity.
Slow Cooker Technical Power Profile
Source data: Crock-Pot & Morphy Richards 3.5L to 6.5L oval slow cooker technical specifications (180W–240W)
Frequently Asked Questions: Slow Cooker Electricity Costs
How much does it cost to run a slow cooker for 8 hours in the UK?â–¾
A typical 200W slow cooker consumes around 1.3 to 1.6 kWh over an 8-hour cooking cycle. At the 24.5p/kWh price cap, this costs between 32p and 39p total.
Is a slow cooker cheaper to run than an oven for casseroles?â–¾
Yes, dramatically. An oven consumes 2500W and uses roughly 4 to 6 times more electricity to braise a casserole over several hours compared to a well-insulated slow cooker.
Does a slow cooker stay on full power the entire 8 hours?â–¾
No. Once the ceramic crock reaches simmering temperature, the heating coil cycles intermittently to hold the temperature steady at around 80°C to 90°C.
Can a slow cooker save money on grocery bills too?â–¾
Yes. Slow cooking tenderizes tougher, more affordable cuts of beef and stewing lamb, helping households save on food ingredients as well as electricity.
Is it safe to leave a slow cooker on while at work?â–¾
Yes. Slow cookers are engineered specifically with heavy ceramic pots and low wattage elements for safe unattended operation.