As the temperatures begin to drop and the days get darker, there’s nothing that we Brits crave more than a warm, hearty dinner. But with the news that the energy price cap will increase again from January, people are seeking the most energy-efficient way to cook their favourite comfort meals.
With searches for the ‘best comfort food recipes for cold weather’ soaring by 133% over the past month, the energy experts at Bionic have assessed the energy use for some of the nation’s favourite winter comfort meals.
Looking into recent search volume data over the past month, Bionic has established the four most commonly searched recipes across the UK:*
| Nation’s Favourite Winter Recipes | Increase in Searches over the past month* | Oven Cooking Time | Air fryer Cooking Time | Slow Cooker Cooking Time |
| Banana Bread | +752,400% | 50 minutes – 1 hour | 30 – 45 minutes | 4 hours |
| Lasagne | +35,138% | 45 minutes – 1 hour | 30 minutes | 3 – 4 hours |
| Mac and Cheese | +18,086% | 45 minutes – 1 hour | 20 – 30 minutes | 1 hour 30 minutes – 3 hours |
| Baked Potatoes | +950% | 45 minutes – 1 hour | 20 – 45 minutes | 5 – 7 hours |
| Root Vegetable Casserole | +300% | 1 hour – 1 hour 30 minutes | 20 – 30 minutes | 4 – hours |
Ovens
Ovens are the traditional method of cooking across the UK, with an oven being a staple in almost every home in the UK.
The average oven in the UK uses approximately 500-1000 watts per hour* translating into an estimated cost of £0.12p-£0.25p per hour of use depending on the size and wattage of your oven.**
Air fryers
Air fryers have become one of the nation’s favourite ways to cook over the past few years, with millions of Brits investing in air fryers for their reduced cooking times and energy usage.
The average air fryer uses approximately 900-2000 watts per hour* which costs £0.22p-£0.49p per hour of use depending on the size and wattage of your air fryer.**
Slow Cookers
Slow cookers are a winter staple across the UK, with searches for ‘slow cooker recipes’ increasing by 20% in the past month alone.
Slow cookers are favoured for their long cooking times and small energy use. The average slow cooker in the UK uses an estimated 70-250 watts per hour*, costing approximately £0.02p-£0.06p per hour of use depending on the size and wattage of your slow cooker.**
The cost of cooking the Nation’s favourite winter comforts revealed
| Nation’s Favourite Winter Recipes | Cost of using Oven*** | Cost of using Air fryer*** | Cost of using Slow cooker*** |
| Banana Bread | £0.10p-£0.25p | £0.11p-£0.37p | £0.07p-£0.25p |
| Lasagne | £0.09p-£0.25p | £0.11p-£0.25p | £0.05-£0.25p |
| Mac and Cheese | £0.09p-£0.25p | £0.07p-£0.25p | £0.03p-£0.18p |
| Baked Potatoes | £0.09p-£0.25p | £0.07p-£0.37p | £0.09p-£0.43p |
| Root Vegetable Casserole | £0.12p-£0.37p | £0.07p-£0.25p | £0.07p-£0.37p |
Les Roberts, Energy Expert at Bionic comments:
“The data shows that despite much longer cooking times, slow cookers are consistently one of the most energy and cost-efficient ways to cook, costing as little as £0.05p to use.
Air fryers have been revealed to have one of the least cost-efficient prices per hour, clocking in at a surprising £0.22p-£0.49p per hour, often coming in higher than the cost of using your oven, despite being commonly associated with one of the most energy-efficient cooking methods. However, with air fryers, it is important to remember that cooking times are often halved, with the average air fryer cooking time clocking in at 30 minutes.”
“The data reflects the current energy price cap, although it’s important to know from 1 January to 31 March 2025 the price cap will be increasing and energy for a typical household paying by Direct Debit will go up by 1.2% to £1,738 per year.”
So whether you’re hosting a festive dinner party, or indulging in some home comforts, you can ensure that you stay in control of your energy use this winter with expert insights from Bionic.
