Ready Meals - More Energy Efficient/Economical?

ZolaBuddy

During an over-the-fence garden chat with my elderly neighbours this afternoon, they raised an interesting point about whether it was more economical and energy efficient to go for simple ready meals that you nuke in the microwave compared to cooking a traditional meals in the electric oven?

Up until a few days ago they were very keen on cooking meals from scratch (Sunday roasts, spag bols, cottage pies etc), using the oven and gas hob, on at least 4 or 5 days per week. But with the massive increase in energy bills on the way they are concerned that cooking by oven will be far more expensive compared to the ready meal option.

I really didn't have an answer for them, although I did suggest buying a slow cooker and cooking in bulk might be a better/healthier option compared to ready meals. But again I couldn't back this up with empirical stats. Although I did say I would try and find out for them.

Would anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

Benny2020

What part of a spag bol is oven cooked?

[Deleted User]

I used to cook in batches but due to ill health I have had to stop,  so I now buy the ready meals from Wiltshire Farm Foods. I did try supermarket meals but they are awful. 7 meals cost me around £30 for the week.

ZolaBuddy

Benny2020 said:

What part of a spag bol is oven cooked?

I should have generalised. I think they were concerned with oven and hob cooking overall, compared to the microwave option 

Ultrasonic

Interesting question. I think it probably makes a big difference how many people you're cooking for. An oven will be cheaper on a 'cost per meal' basis if feeding more people, whereas a number of microwave meals cooked one after the other won't be.

Whether someone is using a gas or electric oven could make a difference too.

Do your neighbours have a smart meter and in home display? If they do they and have an electric cooker they could look at energy used before and after cooking meals in different ways to get some idea, provided they weren't using a lot of electricity for other things at the same time.

My gut feeling here is that the differences in cost won't be huge either way and if your neighbours enjoy cooking and eating as they have previously then the should probably just keep doing so. Odds are it will be healthier too, although that's not to say all ready meals are unhealthy.

Benny2020

I made a treacle steamed pudding last week, 95 minutes on the hob and 0.045 kwh used.

QrizB

ZolaBuddy said:

During an over-the-fence garden chat with my elderly neighbours this afternoon, they raised an interesting point about whether it was more economical and energy efficient to go for simple ready meals that you nuke in the microwave compared to cooking a traditional meals in the electric oven?
...
Would anyone have any ideas?

A very quick check at tesco.com shows their budget lasagne to be £2.13 (serves one). Their better meals are currently in a "3 for £6.50" deal which works out roughly the same. Call it £8.50 for four meals.

A four-serving jar of white lasagne sauce is 70p, red lasagne sauce is also 70p, 500g of pasta sheets is 70p and 500g of mince is £3. Those ingredients for four meals total £5.10 (YMMV; you might add a bit to that if you grate cheese on the top, or save a bit if you substiture mushrooms for part of the mince) even without trying to make the sauces from scratch (which could reduce the price more).

There's no way I can imagine you spending £3.40 on energy to cook a lasagne and then wash up a lasagne pan. That would buy you around 12kWh of electricity or 45kWh of gas.

I guess if you could buy meals of acceptable quality for £1.50 or less (so £6 for four) it might work out cheaper?

Ultrasonic

Benny2020 said:

I made a treacle steamed pudding last week, 95 minutes on the hob and 0.045 kwh used.

I make it that would mean your electric (right?) hob used an average of 28 W. That seems a surprisingly low number...

Benny2020

I used a gas hob and sorry it was 0.045 units which is 0.5 kwh.

Ultrasonic

Benny2020 said:

I used a gas hob and sorry it was 0.045 units which is 0.5 kwh.

That's much more believable  .

Edit: and cheap!

gefnew

Have a read of this article see if it helps.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/energy_saving_tips#xtor=CS8-1000-[Discovery_Cards]-[Multi_Site]-[GR07]-[PS_FOOD~N~~P_HowMuchMoneyCanYouSaveByNotUsingYourOven]