What's better using the oven or the microwave oven (electricity usage)

Alphamare

Want to bake banana bread to use up old bananas. Only enough for one loaf. I have been using the oven setting in the microwave recently for heating or cooking small items. I think it may be better electricity consumption than heating the while oven? I am not that money saving yet that I can do many things I stove at once. Most of my cooking is on top. Do need to do a stroganoff today but that's on the stove top, would you have the bread in the oven or microwave? Doing a roast in a couple days maybe I should do the bread then?

Popperwell

Well I was told that A microwave uses less energy compared to a main oven...probably also because they are smaller inside. Then again are using the microwaven or combi feature. Someone asked if a mini oven is cost effective and got some positive responses and I posted a link to a site about them and the overal answer was "Yes!"

Does this help at all?

http://what2ask.com.au/general/combinoven.html

Alphamare

Thank you that did help! It is a combi oven microwave. I would be afraid to put the metal bread tin in it though, so I'll have to rethink that I guess. I did think it probably used less power. I guess what I should do is hope the bananas hang on until Sunday and they can go in the oven with the roast. Or will that make it taste funny?

Uniscots97

It wont taste funny just use up all available space in your oven when its on.

snowleopard61

Just out of interest, does anyone know whether a microwave oven uses less energy minute for minute than a conventional oven - or an electrical hob plate for that matter - or whether the energy-saving happens only because the microwave cooks very quickly? I'm interested to know this because I find it convenient to cook, say, pasta or rice in the microwave, but it isn't actually quicker.

Popperwell

Good question. Now if only I had the answer. I bet someone will, if I could think how to ask in the right way there is probably a website. I wonder if the consumer magazine "Which" would have any idea?

HappyMJ

snowleopard61 wrote: »

Just out of interest, does anyone know whether a microwave oven uses less energy minute for minute than a conventional oven - or an electrical hob plate for that matter - or whether the energy-saving happens only because the microwave cooks very quickly? I'm interested to know this because I find it convenient to cook, say, pasta or rice in the microwave, but it isn't actually quicker.

The difference is a fraction of a penny. Use whichever is most convenient.

One might use 0.1kWh and another might use 0.11kWh. The difference is so small it's not worth worrying about.

joedenise

Alphamare wrote: »

Thank you that did help! It is a combi oven microwave. I would be afraid to put the metal bread tin in it though, so I'll have to rethink that I guess. I did think it probably used less power. I guess what I should do is hope the bananas hang on until Sunday and they can go in the oven with the roast. Or will that make it taste funny?

I've got a really old combi-microwave and there isn't a problem with using metal in it.

Denise

zippychick

as this has dropped down OS, ive moved it to Electricity board, in case someone can help you work it out over here

ZIp

Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere (please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

Richie-from-the-Boro

joedenise wrote: »

I've got a really old combi-microwave and there isn't a problem with using metal in it.

Denise

In the combination cycles of a combination oven - The whole design characteristic of microwave energy is that it is reflected by metal .. .. a microwave bounced by metal will be absorbed by the magnetron and will eventually kill it. It is the case as evidenced by people in this thread, that many many years of sterling use can be had from a microwave oven with a properly engineered shelf.

- its not so much metal, but the shape, thickness and type of metal
- for example a thin metal might in addition to sparking from its sharp edge, set fire
- where a well rounded stainless steel or aluminium spoon will neither spark nor set fire
- obversely a fork where voltage concentrates at the tips will cause a [dielectric breakdown of air] sparks
- a cold-rolled steel amongst others will absorb microwave energy and create arching

The manufacturers metal rack however, is specifically designed to arrange the bounced waves in such a designed and engineered way as to minimise the amount of bounced waves hitting the magnetron. While minimising the amount of bounced microwaves will help prolong the life of a magnetron, some will indeed land and be absorbed reducing the life of the magnetron unit.

Put that into context then and :

- leaving a well rounded teaspoon in a cup will reduce but not by much
- doing the same with some varieties of cold-rolled will be reflected and cause arching
- specific varieties of cold rolled indeed the oven itself is made from cold rolled and will be absorbed

NOTE01 : Put a metal bowl on a metal plate and you can arc-weld it, the quickest way to completely kill a microwave is to use it with nothing at all in it. Brains have been developing metal containers and dish [es] with an additional plastic coating material for microwave use for years.

NOTE02 : I bet you wish you hadn't asked joedenise !