Morphy Richards Sear & Stew
A practical slow cooker (3.5L, manual dial, sear-in-pot) for easy, budget-friendly slow-cooked meals.
Do Slow Cookers Use a Lot of Electricity?
Slow cookers run for hours, so it's fair to ask about the electricity. The good news is they're one of the cheapest ways to cook. Here's why.
Quick answer
No, slow cookers use very little electricity. They draw low power - often similar to a couple of lightbulbs - so even over eight hours a slow cooker typically costs only a few pence to run, far less than heating a full-size oven for a roast.
Why they're so cheap to run
A slow cooker uses a low-wattage heating element to cook food gently over a long time. Because the power draw is small and the pot is well insulated, the total energy used across a long cook is low. Cooking for eight hours on low uses far less energy than an oven blasting away for one to two hours.
Getting the best value
Batch-cook and freeze portions to spread the cost, keep the lid on (lifting it lets heat escape and lengthens cooking), and match the pot size to what you're cooking. Used this way, a slow cooker is one of the most economical appliances in the kitchen.
Our top picks
#1
#2 
Morphy Richards
A practical slow cooker (3.5L, manual dial) for easy, budget-friendly slow-cooked meals.
#3 
Morphy Richards Sear and Stew
A practical slow cooker (6.5L, sear-in-pot) for easy, budget-friendly slow-cooked meals.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run a slow cooker?
Usually just a few pence for a full day's cooking, because the wattage is low. The exact figure depends on the model's power rating and your tariff, but it's very cheap.
Is a slow cooker cheaper than an oven?
Yes, for most meals. Despite running longer, a slow cooker's low power draw means it uses far less energy than heating a full-size oven.
Does leaving a slow cooker on all day cost a lot?
No - because the power draw is small, a full day on low still only costs a few pence. It's designed for exactly this kind of long, low-cost cooking.
Bottom line
Our top pick is the Morphy Richards Sear & Stew (our score 9.6/10) - A practical slow cooker (3.5L, manual dial, sear-in-pot) for easy, budget-friendly slow-cooked meals..