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Richard Posner deserves the next Nobel Prize in Economics
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Does Using a CrockPot Save Energy?
How can something that cooks so much food at such a low heat possibly not be a money-saving appliance? Here is one answer [h/t to Jack]:
When a crock pot is cooking, it runs on very low energy, cooking at low temperatures - hence slow cookers. An oven works on a more cyclical basis, where it cycles on and off, but cooking times are much shorter than crock pot cooking.

Some ovens run at 120volts, some 220, 240 etc... Lets say we're using a stove with 220volts X 10amps = 2200watts in an hour. The oven's heating element is controlled by the temperature of the oven (which you set), so it's turned on and off to maintain a desired temperature. The heat is kept in the oven by the insulation. So during one hour, the heating element is turned on and off a few times. Depending on your oven and the temperature, the heating element may only be used for a fraction of an hour, say 10 or 15 minutes. So, really, your energy consumption is only 1/4 X 2200 = 550 watts (maybe more, maybe less).

Crock pots run at 120volts with low amps. If we cook with a crock pot that runs at 120v X 1.5amps = 180 watts (This is about medium heat). If we let the crock pot cook for 8 hours, you get 180 X 6 = 1080.
Even if the oven element is on twice as much as this person says it will be, the oven and the crockpot come out about even.

Crockpots are great for some things, but it looks as if they might not be great at saving energy!
Category: Economics, Energy, Food Posted on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 12:10am
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Pooh:
Some headlines for the future:

UWO prof blamed for death of crock-pot industry

Crock-pot manufacturers demand resignation of UWO prof

I am not anti-crock says UWO prof
2.12.2008 4:42am

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