When thinking about which appliances have the biggest impact on the electricity bill, the refrigerator and oven are usually among the first suspects. However, according to an article by Benchmark.pl, citing PGNiG, the former Polish state energy company, the induction cooktop can consume about 748 kWh of electricity per year, a value considerably higher than the approximately 270 kWh indicated for a refrigerator and the roughly 496 kWh associated with an electric oven. These figures should, however, be viewed as reference values, as consumption varies depending on the appliance's power, the number of people in the household, and, above all, the time and frequency of use.
One of the major advantages of induction also helps explain the high power used. These cooktops can heat containers quickly, allowing high temperatures to be reached in a short time. Despite this, high power does not necessarily mean induction is an inefficient technology. On the contrary, a significant portion of energy is transferred directly to the container, reducing heat loss. The difference lies in usage: a family that cooks several times a day may accumulate considerable annual consumption, while a home where the cooktop is used only occasionally will have much lower values.
There are simple ways to reduce induction cooktop consumption. Choosing a cooking zone appropriate to the size of the container, using lids whenever possible, and avoiding leaving the cooktop on unnecessarily are small precautions that can help reduce expenses. It is also important to take advantage of induction's speed: once food has reached the desired temperature, it is not always necessary to continue cooking at maximum power. For heating small quantities of food, appliances such as the microwave may also prove more economical in certain situations, mainly due to the shorter time required.
More than pointing to a single appliance as responsible for the bill, knowing the power and usage patterns of appliances allows you to understand where the most electricity is actually being consumed in the home.
