Crock pots, what we also know as slow cookers, are well known for being cost-effective and energy-efficient. However, studies show that an average crock pot can use as much energy as your typical oven when cooking a meal.
However, things are not as clear in this comparison as you can find many factors that lead to the efficiency of cooking devices. A slow cooker actually works out in many circumstances as a very energy-efficient cooking option more time than not.
Typically, most crock pots come with three temperature settings and comprise high, medium, and low. Because of this, you can adjust your cooking temperature to suit your needs, which translates into longer cooking times.
Crock pot wattage decreases when you lower the setting. What you see is most crock pots only specify their maximum wattage, so you can use a wattage monitor and check the draw of power from the wall they actually use on any setting. (Learn How to Ground a Generator When Camping)
Such monitored sit between the socket and device and monitor how much energy passes through it.
In our guide, you can learn more about crockpot wattage and the energy they use. By the end, you’ll have a far better understanding to see how the crock pot energy efficiency can make them a great cooking option when living in an RV.
Living with Crock Pots in an RV
When living in an RV with your crock pot, life becomes much easier. It is easier to cook healthy meals using one pot rather than countless pans on the stove.
Despite its size, a crock pot produces lots of food with much less meal preparation and cleanup.
You can find the split of RVers between those who don’t wish to use a crockpot as they drive because they use lots of energy and the ones who know that they can cook as they drive without using their electric oven.
How Much Electricity Will a Crock Pot Use?
The average crock pot power consumption is roughly 250 watts. Slow cooker wattage suggests crock pots can save money, although, in an RV, they often debated this.
The slow cooker wattage ranges from 70 to 250 watts, based on type and heat settings. The arithmetic is straightforward: the lower the settings, the less energy consumption of the slow cooker. (Find the Best Camping Tent with Porch)
You can use a wattage monitor to determine crock pot power consumption on each setting and for your other electrical devices.
You’ll soon find the type of crock pot wattage inverter for you, as it’s not possible to cook a roast for eight hours in a crock pot without draining the battery. If you are not on a hookup, you’ll need a generator to use these cooking devices.
You can use a DC to AC power inverter in an RV to stop your battery from draining itself as it powers all your appliances. Your crock pot converter would convert 120 volts DC into 12 volts AC.
What are the Amps and Low Wattage of Crock Pots?
A crock pot is a slow-cooking device that uses a heating element and a thermostat that turns the cooker’s electricity on and off at intervals. While some have three settings, many come with low (223 watts) and high (312 watts) to cook faster or slower at different temperatures while using the same energy.
A typical crock pot uses 2.2 amps, so you can quickly calculate how many amps your crock pot needs. All it takes is to divide the crock pot wattage by your line voltage. So, if you have a 250-watt crock pot on a 120-volt connection, the crock pot amps are 2.08.
Cooking on the road isn’t a challenge, and with a crock pot, some imagination of your favorite recipes, and your crock pot wattage converter, you can use these devices to full effect.
Is Pressure Cooking Energy-Efficient?
Pressure cooking is energy-efficient so long as you have a newer one rather than an older model.
Modern pressure cookers can reduce energy use for cooking in less time by around 70%. It is well proven that using a pressure cooker is a simple and cost-effective way to save energy use when cooking.
Warped bottom pots: 290 Wh (Watt-hours)
Flat bottom pots: 190 Wh (Watt-hours)
Pressure cooker (new-models): 60 Wh (Watt-hours)
Instant Pot VS Crock-Pot Energy Efficiency
Crock-pots use the least amount of energy to cook food; however, many Instant Pot users dispute this.
The Instant Pot, according to many, has taken over to be the top device that uses the least amount of energy.
Here’s some information regarding Instant Pot’s energy use compared to a crockpot:
- As the entire pot is insulated, it loses far less heat in use.
- It uses less water, which in turn uses less energy to heat.
- It considers the ambient temperature when cooking.
Are Slow Cookers Healthy?
Slow cookers are very healthy, as cooking meat using this method is the healthiest way as no nutrition is lost. The slow heating tenderizes the cuts but and prevents harmful compounds from forming.
When cooking vegetables, slow cooking locks nutrients inside. Other cooking methods can damage the overall structure and turns vegetables into mush. A slow cooker can prevent overcooking. (Learn How Many Calories Does Kayaking Burn)
Can I Plug a Crock-Pot into A Car?
Using cars as batteries to power electronics is a bit of a challenge. It is, nonetheless, possible. These days, you can power almost anything from your car battery, including your crock-pot.
Keep in mind that when your car’s engine is operating, the power will come from the alternator. When the engine is off, the battery becomes the source of power.
As a result, if you want to use your crock-pot while not driving, you’ll need to invest in an extra battery to make it worth using crock pot slow cookers in a car.
You should also think about using a main battery cutoff switch. It’s more work, but it vastly improves your safety. (Read Camping Food No Cooking No Refrigeration)
Modern slow cookers can use as little as 150 crock pot watts per hour on the low setting. For 6 hours of cooking on the low setting, you’ll use 900 -watt-hours. This is far less than how much electricity an electric stovetop or oven to cook a meal. Even a pressure cooker can consume more electricity.
Electric stoves typically have more heating elements where energy use for the small cook heating element can be 1200-watts per hour, to over 3000 watts for the largest.
Benefits Of Slow Cooking
Slow cookers offer many advantages over other cooking appliances such as ovens besides being more energy-efficient.
- Slow cookers generally soften tough ingredients such as stew meat, tendons, and ligaments. Crock pot slow cookers save energy as you throw it all in your pot and set the temperature low.
- Slow cooking keeps minerals and vitamins since low-temperature cooking over a longer cooking time prevents nutrients from breaking down.
- Slow cookers cut down on meal prep to make nutritious meals without spending hours in the kitchen. Slow cookers are a great energy-efficient choice as they are very reliable and durable. You can set and forget them for the desired time, and the pot takes care of the desired temperature.
- For cooking recipes in a slow cooker, you’ll be more inventive. Experiment with different ingredient combinations to come up with your own delectable meal recipes.
Favorite Crock-Pot recipes
If you’re in the mood for slow cooking, here are some mouthwatering Crock-Pot recipes that are sure to please and a couple of favorite instant pot recipes to give you ideas.
- Slow Cooker Beef & Broccoli Recipe
- Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder Recipes
- Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs Recipes
Great Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant Pot: Potato Soup: Soup ready to eat in 40 minutes.
- Instant Pot: Pot Roast & Potatoes
- Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup: Comfort food at its best
Advantage of a Slow Cooker
As a result, using a slow cooker to save electricity you’ll find it a good option. Generally, you need to choose a suitable slow cooker size and fill the pot when cooking.
It’s essential to cook long enough as the cooking time and temperature are controlled by the appliance rather than with other appliances.
Using an energy-efficient slow cooker not only reduces cooking energy, but you can also prepare healthy, delicious, home-cooked meals without spending too long in the kitchen and monitoring food in case it burns. (Read Camping in the Rain Tips)
With efficiency compared, you’ll also find the warm mode better than using a stove as you can go out and return to a hot meal, this saving time baking in the oven.
When you want to know how much electricity these pots use, they are often running shorter than your air conditioner while using less than or the same amount of electricity.
