We all have it at home, we all use it, and yet. This electric device quickly causes the electricity bill to skyrocket with each use and consumes more than 65 fridges.
We often think we know the devices that increase the electricity bill the most. The TV that powers our gaming sessions, the PC lit up like a Christmas tree with all its RGB, the radiators that run in winter, or even the refrigerator, which runs all the time and which is considered the most energy-intensive in the kitchen in the general consensus. And yet, we all have a real glutton in our kitchen, who consumes as much as 65 refrigerators running simultaneously.
This device consumes more than 65 fridges combined
It is less imposing, it is a little more discreet, but behind its glass door hides one of the most electricity-intensive devices. At full power, an oven can therefore consume as much as 60 to 65 refrigerators connected simultaneously. A figure that can make you dizzy expressed in this way, but whose explanation is very simple: creating heat costs infinitely more than keeping cold. Maintaining a very high internal temperature requires constant and considerable consumption of electrical energy. A refrigerator, on the other hand, keeps what’s already inside in an airtight, insulated space. A classic oven generally has a power of between 2,000 and 5,000 watts, compared to a range between 300 and 800 watts for a fridge.
In itself the difference is already striking, but it is even more so during preheating, where the oven operates at full speed to quickly reach the requested temperature. There alone, it can achieve consumption equivalent to several dozen refrigerators. Depending on its frequency of use, an oven can represent a quarter of the annual electricity consumption of certain homes. Yes, that’s a lot for a device which, unlike the fridge, only has intermittent use. However, there are a few steps you can take to reduce the bill, including optimizing cooking cycles.
Tips for reducing consumption
Preheating is particularly energy-intensive, so it is recommended to cook several dishes in a row rather than turning on the oven repeatedly, particularly during the famous “meal prep”. Another tip recommended by experts, turn off the oven 5 to 10 minutes before the end of cooking. The heat accumulated inside is in fact more than sufficient to complete the job. Conversely, you must avoid opening the door too frequently, each opening causing the temperature to drop and forcing the appliance to regulate it by consuming ever more.
Experts have a few other tips, including choosing dishes with dark, thick materials, which retain heat better, and being careful about wear and tear. An aging oven, whose resistances are tiring, will take longer to heat up and will consume more. It is recommended to invest in a more recent and efficient model, which will ultimately be more profitable.
