Everyday moneysaving

stefano

Like a lot of people, I cook a lot of pasta, and usually use the gas stove. But the other day I started thinking: is it cheaper to boil 1.5l of water in a kettle or gas stove?

MotiMoo

Not doing any calculations or any sort of science really I would say a kettle, based on the fact that the element is located within the vessel and there is less heat loss than on an open cooker top.

I would be very interested to read proper answers however as I don't have running hot water and boil a kettle to wash my dishes.

stefano

Someone must have the maths ready, maybe Martin himself.

Fruball

I don't know but if you fill the kettle/pan with water in the morning, it will have come up to room temperature by the time you want to heat it thereby being much warmer than it was when it came out of the tap

trolleyrun

Several answers on this page

http://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-2452,00.html

ragz_2

That's more about which is more efficient...
I don't know which is cheaper, gas or electric?

meritaten

Kettle and stove. I get the pan and put in a little water then boil the kettle and add that. this because putting boiling water in a cold pan will mean you have to bring back up to the boil. takes much less time than a full pan of cold water (and boy is the water cold here this time of year!)

TravellingAbuela

I don't know for sure either! However I am with meritaten on this one. It is quicker to boil a kettle full of water than a pan full of water! So I too boil the kettle and, meanwhile, put a little cold water in the pan to bring it up to heat in readiness for the boiling water from the kettle.

Where's an expert when you need one!!

stefano

I agree that pot and kettle is the quickest way, but if one does it 3 times a week, that would be 150 a year, and with energy costs always rising, every little helps.

chinagirl

I choose GAS :beer:, as electricity is dearer than gas. I try to avoid using kettle to boil water for cooking.

My reason for coming to this conclusion is that I pay more per month for electric than gas, even though during the winter months our gas central heating is ramped up to 'warp factor 9' , the water is heated throughout the year by gas, and we have a gas hob. I also conciously try to turn off electrical products, eg chargers, lights when not in use, but still the electric bill gets higher:mad:.
Therefore i conclude Gas is far cheaper to use for anything than Elec.
(I admit a far from scientific conclusion, but I'm standing by it )

stefano

I would concur a few years ago gas would have been cheaper than electricity as far as unit costs were, but lately gas prices have increased at a far steeper pace than electricity.
Someone should have the stats on energy consumption.