How Much Your Oven Costs to Run [Free Calculator!]

With electricity prices increasing by 15% in the past year alone, it’s more important than ever to know much your oven is costing you, so you can keep baking those delicious treats without breaking the bank! 

Luckily, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, you’ll learn how much it costs to run your oven and different ways to reduce this amount. 

On average, running a medium oven with a wattage of 2,400 watts for one hour daily costs around $11.1 per month or $133.2 per year. However, this may vary depending on different factors, such as the electricity cost in your area, the size and wattage of your oven, and how frequently you use it. 

Ready to learn how much it costs to run your oven? Let’s get started!

How I’ve Estimated Oven Running Costs

If you’re someone who loves to dig into the numbers as much as I do, you might be curious about how I created the calculator to estimate your oven’s running costs.

I took into account the electricity cost in your area, the power rating of your oven, and the hours your oven is used per day.

First, I multiplied the electricity cost by the power rating of your oven and then multiplied the result by the number of hours your oven is used per day. With this calculation, we can then estimate the monthly cost.

Don’t forget that the actual cost of running your oven will vary depending on the size and wattage, frequency of use, and electricity cost in your area. So, if you’re a passionate baker, it’s worth noting that your oven’s running costs may be higher than someone who doesn’t use their oven as frequently.

That said, you don’t have to sacrifice your love for baking to save on your energy bill. Keep reading to learn how to reduce your oven’s running costs.

How to Lower Your Oven Running Costs

Keeping your oven well-maintained not only saves you money on energy costs, but also makes it last for many years to come.

That’s why, in this section, I’ll share some simple but effective tips to keep your oven in excellent condition.

#1 Cook Wisely

If you’re looking for ways to save money on your energy bills, the first thing I would recommend is to cook multiple dishes at once to reduce the amount of time your oven needs to be on.

When possible, please use small, thin, or compact cookware. This can also help speed up cooking times, ensure better heat distribution, and reduce your oven’s energy consumption.

While it may be tempting to peek inside the oven to check on your delicious baked goods, doing so can cause heat to escape and reduce the internal temperature.

This, in turn, forces your oven to work longer and harder to cook your food, resulting in higher energy bills.

So, please avoid opening the oven door to check on your food. Try just looking through the glass instead. And please don’t forget to inspect the door seals regularly to avoid heat loss.

It’s also important to preheat your oven for the right amount of time to ensure that your food cooks efficiently. Generally, preheating your oven for about 12 minutes is enough for most recipes.

Preheating for longer can cause your energy bill to skyrocket!

Lastly, if your oven has a fan setting, please use it! This will help circulate the hot air in the oven, which will reduce cooking time.

#2 Plan Ahead

Planning ahead your meals can also be a great way to lower your oven running costs.

For example, if you want to cook a small piece of food, you can use a different appliance, such as an air fryer, since smaller appliances are typically more energy-efficient than a full-sized oven.

Now, let’s say you want to cook a frozen piece of meat. If you don’t thaw it beforehand, your oven will need to run for longer to cook it, using more energy and increasing your energy bills.

Try thawing frozen food in the fridge for 12 to 24 hours before cooking it in your oven.

I also recommend turning off the heat before your food is fully cooked. This way, the residual heat in the oven will continue to cook your food without using additional energy.

You can also use that residual heat to cook a quick meal or side dish, such as vegetables. This is a great way to make the most out of your oven!

Extra tip: By leaving the oven door open after cooking, you can replace your home’s heating system for a couple of hours and save a few extra bucks in heating.

Just bear in mind that this isn’t recommended if your fridge is nearby, as it can make it work harder to keep your food cool.

#3 Check the Temperature

It’s also recommended to make sure your oven’s thermostat is working correctly to avoid unnecessary energy usage.

You see, if it’s faulty, your oven may run longer than necessary, resulting in higher energy bills.

To check your thermostat, you just have to place a small pan inside the oven and set a particular temperature. Then, let the oven heat up and carefully open the door.

Use an infrared thermometer to make sure the temperature of the pan is within 10 degrees of the set temperature. If it’s not, you may need to replace it.

Otherwise, you may also end up with overcooked or undercooked food and costly repairs.

#4 Clean It Regularly

Last but not least, one of the most important things you can do to take care of your oven and ensure its efficiency is to clean it regularly.

You see, sometimes grease, dirt, and grime buildup can reduce the oven’s ability to heat up quickly, which can lead to higher energy bills, unpleasant smells, and costly repair costs.

To clean your oven, you’ll need to:

1. Remove any racks, trays, and other accessories that aren’t part of the oven.
2. Spray a degreaser on the sidewalls, racks, and trays and let it sit for 20–30 minutes.
3. Use a scraper to remove any stubborn debris and wipe down the interior with a damp cloth. Don’t forget to clean all the removable parts with warm soapy water.
4. Let the oven dry before closing it to prevent mold growth.
5. Wipe down the exterior with a clean damp cloth and remove any grease spills.

If your oven has a self-cleaning future, and you’re looking to save some extra money on your energy bills, avoid using it.

This feature heats the oven and burns any food residue that may have been left inside. While this may sound good, it can also increase your energy bills. Try sticking to regular cleaning instead.

Conclusion

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this quick article. I hope it has helped you learn how much it costs to run your oven and different ways to reduce this amount.

Don’t forget to take a look at our free Appliance Challenge to find helpful guides on how to make the most out of all your appliances and save over $1,000 per year!

Have a wonderful rest of the day.