Is this how much it cost to boil potatoes using gas?

ScotKiwi_2

Hi, this is my first post.

I've moved into new rented flat which has a gas cooker (my old one was electric).

I'm worried about how much the gas costs and have been trying to measure it. Yesterday I took a gas meter reading before and after boiling a small pan of potatoes (water already boiled in kettle) and this used 3 units of gas.

3 metric units of gas works out at 34kWh and at roughly 4pence a kwh is £1.36.

Does it really cost £1.36 to boil a small pan of potatoes?

I haven't turned the (gas) heating on yet because I'm worried about how much it will cost and I'm on a low income. I also want to cook more meals as this is healthier but the cost of it is stopping me.

Any thoughts welcome.

ollski

Aore you sure it was 3 units and not 3/10 of 1 unit?

John_3:16

This does seem high.

You could boil a pan on a small electric ring running at about 1800watt.

This would cost under 20p running around 20mins I think, Gas is always seen to be cheaper so the maths may be wrong on you calcs.

Cheaper would be use less water in the pan, people often use to much water to cook their veg. Don,t let the pan boil dry though.

ScotKiwi_2

I'm only reading the black numbers on the meter and it was 10689 now it's 10692. Actually about 5 min after switching off the gas it was 10691 with 9 in the red numbers. But today it's moved to 10692 with 6 in the red numbers.

I'm not using any other gas appliance. I do have gas central heating which is not on but there is a pilot light on constantly I was told which may cost about £12 a year.

If my gas really is this high and I cook a meal with potatoes, some veg and something either on the stove or in the oven that's a lot of gas and money just for one meal.

bengasman

ScotKiwi wrote: »

...3 metric units of gas works out at 34kWh and at roughly 4pence a kwh is £1.36.

Not a chance.
Not worth worrying about though, as however much it uses, leccie costs are more than twice the cost of gas.

Bronnie

Get yourself one of these from Asda. You can cook everything on one ring then. Meat and gravy in the bottom pan , spuds in the middle and veg in the top for example. Just need time it right, like adding the veg layer just before the end of cooking time. More nutritious to cook your veg this way too!

rogerblack

Others have mentioned electricity is twice the cost of gas.
This is slightly misleading for gas rings, as with them, half the heat misses the pan, and goes to heat the room.
Electric are a bit more efficient, with induction rings being over 90%.

As with any fuel, halve the potatos, Add enough water to just cover them completely, bring to the boil, and then cover and turn right down, so they just simmer, with a little bubbling, and not much steam.
They will not cook significantly faster if you keep them boiling, but will use a lot more power.

pothole50

Or get yourself a pressure cooker and do all your veg at once.

macman

A gas ring cannot possibly use that amount of gas. Gas is less efficient, but then it's about a third of the cost of electricity.

vax2002

pothole50 wrote: »

Or get yourself a pressure cooker and do all your veg at once.

A long forgotten way of saving lots of Gas

daveyjp

34kwh for 10 minutes use? No way. 34 kwh of electricity will boil a kettle for 11 hours and our gas fire on full for almost 6 hours.