It seems there are never enough outlets or counter space for all the cool kitchen gadgets we can buy today! But which ones can affect your power bill? We looked into a few of them.
It’s probably no surprise that the bigger appliances – refrigerators, freezers, ovens – use the most energy. What might surprise folks is how big of a difference an efficient appliance makes. For instance, upgrading from a standard refrigerator (that one that just won’t die and is a topic of conversation at dinner parties) to an Energy Star certified fridge can save you around $40 per year.
Another surprise might be how little energy many of our kitchen gadgets actually use. You’re gonna have to use that toaster to death to really make any difference on your bill. Single-serve coffee makers? You’ll need to make a coffee constantly for at least 30 hours before it will cost you $1.
So, when it comes to making more efficient decisions to lower your bill, it’s not going to be in how you use your waffle iron, but how much you leave that fridge door open. If you have an older oven/stovetop, fridge, or freezer, look into the upgrade. And if you have an “energy saver” cycle on your dishwasher, that could cut the appliance’s energy usage in half or better.
| Item | Watts | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Range oven | 3,000 | 18¢ per hour |
| Range stovetop for large burner | 3,000 | 18¢ per hour |
| Range stovetop for small burner | 1,000 | 6¢ per hour |
| Microwave | 1,000 | 6¢ per hour |
| Coffee maker | 800 | 5¢ per hour |
| Keurig coffee maker | 1,500 | 9¢ per hour |
| Dishwasher, standard | 1,800 | 11¢ per hour |
| Dishwasher, energy saver | 1,400 | 9¢ per hour |
| Toaster (2-slice) | 800 | 5¢ per hour |
| Waffle iron | 1,200 | 7¢ per hour |
| Slow cooker - 3 quart | 150 | 1¢ per hour |
| Electric kettle | 1,200 | 7¢ per hour |
| Instant pot - 6 quart | 1,000 | 6¢ per hour |
| Air fryer | 1,700 | 10¢ per hour |
| Refrigerator - 20 years old | 1,000 | $5.11 per month |
| Freezer (manual defrost, 15.7 cu ft) | 310 | $1.58 per month |
| Mini fridge (2.7 cu ft) | 300 | $1.53 per month |
| Energy Star refrigerator (top-mounted, 20 cu ft) | 385 | $1.97 per month |
| Energy Star refrigerator (side-by-side, 25.6 cu ft) | 647 | $3.30 per month |
Amounts are based on averages and estimates, but actual amounts will vary based on make/model, wear/tear, and frequency of use.