Cost of boiling water in kettle vs gas hob

hubb

Sea_Shell said:

I recently did this "not so scientific" experiment if it helps.   From the PoV of cooking pasta, and which was best for getting the pot boiling, before adding the pasta (obviously you'd then continue to cook it on the hob)



To try and answer the question of which is cheaper (for me) to boil 1 litre of water, electric kettle or pan on a gas hob.

1 litre in the kettle (3kw), took 2 mins, so used 100w.   0.1 of a kw.   Our tariff* is 17.48pkwh, so by that method it cost 1.75p

Now we are able to monitor the gas used (as no pilot light now** to affect the usage), I boiled 1 litre of water in one of our medium (Tefal style) pans on the medium ring, which took 5.5 mins and used 0.3kw, so 3 times as much in energy terms.

However, the price of gas is (currently) much cheaper, only 3.2pkwh, so would have only cost just under 1p.   

So if you want to "save the planet" use a kettle.
If you want to "save money" use a gas hob.

* tariff is inc VAT.
** Recently had a new system boiler fitted.


So there you have it.    A "real world" but loosely scientific experiment.

Which means i'll continue to just boil in the pan if i'm cooking pasta etc. but I'm not going to be faffing around with pans if I want a cup of tea!!!

Its gas wholesale prices that are much more expensive due to the hike, not electric. 

hubb

haveabreak said:

Hello,

Give the recent increase in gas prices I wanted to find out which is now the cheaper method to boil 500ml of water, gas hob vs electric kettle?

Does anyone know how can I do calculation or a calculator website? I can get the electric and gas tarrif from my supplier. And find the output for my kettle and gas hob I suppose - but OK to go with assumptions.

Thanks

We have this question already covered by a thread I started only last week. No need to post twice.

Ultrasonic

hubb said:

Sea_Shell said:

I recently did this "not so scientific" experiment if it helps.   From the PoV of cooking pasta, and which was best for getting the pot boiling, before adding the pasta (obviously you'd then continue to cook it on the hob)



To try and answer the question of which is cheaper (for me) to boil 1 litre of water, electric kettle or pan on a gas hob.

1 litre in the kettle (3kw), took 2 mins, so used 100w.   0.1 of a kw.   Our tariff* is 17.48pkwh, so by that method it cost 1.75p

Now we are able to monitor the gas used (as no pilot light now** to affect the usage), I boiled 1 litre of water in one of our medium (Tefal style) pans on the medium ring, which took 5.5 mins and used 0.3kw, so 3 times as much in energy terms.

However, the price of gas is (currently) much cheaper, only 3.2pkwh, so would have only cost just under 1p.   

So if you want to "save the planet" use a kettle.
If you want to "save money" use a gas hob.

* tariff is inc VAT.
** Recently had a new system boiler fitted.


So there you have it.    A "real world" but loosely scientific experiment.

Which means i'll continue to just boil in the pan if i'm cooking pasta etc. but I'm not going to be faffing around with pans if I want a cup of tea!!!

Its gas wholesale prices that are much more expensive due to the hike, not electric. 

Did you maybe quote the wrong post? I can't see anything it what you have quoted that you might be trying to correct?

[Deleted User]

Do it in a vacuum.

Sea_Shell

Ultrasonic said:

Sea_Shell said:

I recently did this "not so scientific" experiment if it helps.   From the PoV of cooking pasta, and which was best for getting the pot boiling, before adding the pasta (obviously you'd then continue to cook it on the hob)



To try and answer the question of which is cheaper (for me) to boil 1 litre of water, electric kettle or pan on a gas hob.

1 litre in the kettle (3kw), took 2 mins, so used 100w.   0.1 of a kw.   Our tariff* is 17.48pkwh, so by that method it cost 1.75p

Now we are able to monitor the gas used (as no pilot light now** to affect the usage), I boiled 1 litre of water in one of our medium (Tefal style) pans on the medium ring, which took 5.5 mins and used 0.3kw, so 3 times as much in energy terms.

However, the price of gas is (currently) much cheaper, only 3.2pkwh, so would have only cost just under 1p.   

So if you want to "save the planet" use a kettle.
If you want to "save money" use a gas hob.

* tariff is inc VAT.
** Recently had a new system boiler fitted.


So there you have it.    A "real world" but loosely scientific experiment.

Which means i'll continue to just boil in the pan if i'm cooking pasta etc. but I'm not going to be faffing around with pans if I want a cup of tea!!!

Another point in favour of gas in the above example is that it has also heated up the saucepan. When you poor boiling water from a kettle into a cold pan it is immediately cooled down by the cold pan, and more gas has to be used to heat up the pan and get the water back to boiling.

The key advantage of the electric kettle is that it is faster. 

I agree, there are other factors to consider, and the cold pan would be one.   

Petriix said:

Obviously there's a significant additional factor which is that the extra energy lost when boiling the gas kettle is still potentially useful in the colder months and will directly save you having to run the heating that little bit more.

In my case this is compounded by having solar panels. So we run the electric kettle when it's sun and the gas kettle when it's not.

Yes, the "overspill" heat from the pan on the gas is not "wasted" in the winter, as it will help to heat the kitchen.


It's like using the oven (however fuelled).   Do you leave the door open once you've finished cooking to allow the heat to escape quickly, or keep the door closed so the heat gradually seeps out and dissipates.   

Norman_Castle

DeletedUser said:

Do it in a vacuum.

I don't fit in a vacuum.

[Deleted User]

Norman_Castle said:

DeletedUser said:

Do it in a vacuum.

I don't fit in a vacuum.

Get a bigger vacuum!

coffeehound

DeletedUser said:

Norman_Castle said:

DeletedUser said:

Do it in a vacuum.

I don't fit in a vacuum.

Get a bigger vacuum!

Think Nasa have got a spacious one, though the rental fees could outway the fuel savings


Srsly tho, has anyone heard of vacuum frying?  It apparently causes the fat to boil at much lower temperatures so giving crispy tasty food without the acrylamide production.  Looking forward to that technology becoming available . .

Sea_Shell

coffeehound said:

DeletedUser said:

Norman_Castle said:

DeletedUser said:

Do it in a vacuum.

I don't fit in a vacuum.

Get a bigger vacuum!

Think Nasa have got a spacious one, though the rental fees could outway the fuel savings

I've seen that on TV I think?

An experiment dropping a bowling ball and some feathers at the same time, and they fall at the same rate!!

Mind    Blown!!!!

Bubba_Shaboo

Sea_Shell said:

coffeehound said:

DeletedUser said:

Norman_Castle said:

DeletedUser said:

Do it in a vacuum.

I don't fit in a vacuum.

Get a bigger vacuum!

Think Nasa have got a spacious one, though the rental fees could outway the fuel savings

I've seen that on TV I think?

An experiment dropping a bowling ball and some feathers at the same time, and they fall at the same rate!!

Mind    Blown!!!!

Indeed:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=E43-CfukEgs