The Best Low Wattage Cooking Appliances – UK
If you’re looking for a way to save money on your energy bill and do your bit for the environment, then you may want to consider buying some low wattage kitchen appliances.
In the UK, there are a number of different appliances available that use less power than the traditional models, without sacrificing on performance.
From air fryers to microwaves, we’ve got you covered! Check out our list below, and find the perfect appliance for your needs.
Table of Contents
Low Watt Air Fryers
People buy air fryers because they are a healthy alternative to deep frying, they cook quickly and evenly with little to no added fat, and they’re a great way to save money on electricity.
Air fryers use an average of 1400W, so it’s important to choose one that is low watt if you want to save on electricity.
There are a number of great low watt air fryers on the UK market, and we’ve chosen 2 of the best. These air fryers use 1000W or less and still produce delicious, crispy food.
WATTAGE: 1000W
CAPACITY: 2.2 litres
MAX TEMPERATURE: 200°C (392°F)
WEIGHT: 3kg
The Tower T17023 Air Fryer Oven is a multi-faceted appliance that lets you fry, grill, bake and roast food to your liking.
As one of the best air fryers on the market today, it does away with oil for healthier cooking, relying instead on rapid air circulation. This means that your food will come out crispy and delicious without all the added fat.
There's also a 30-minute manual timer, and the fryer will automatically switch off when it's done. For added convenience, the Tower T17023 Air Fryer Oven has a non-stick coating that makes it easy to clean.
If that wasn't enough, the compact design makes it easy to store in any kitchen!
Pro: Pull out oil tray to remove the oil collected.
Con: Small interior, and slightly uneven cooking on certain dishes.
WATTAGE: 1000W
CAPACITY: 2 litres
MAX TEMPERATURE: 200°C (392°F)
WEIGHT: 2.82kg
The Salter EK2817 Compact Air Fryer is a quick and healthy alternative to deep frying.
The heat and air circulation system ensures food is cooked evenly and quickly, while the detachable non-stick frying basket means it's easy to clean.
The adjustable timer and temperature dial make it easy to get the perfect results every time, while the auto shut off function switches the fryer off automatically once your food is ready.
This compact, lightweight air fryer is perfect for small households, and would suit students or those going camping. It takes up minimal counter space and is easy to store away when not in use.
Pro: Fast cooking and easy, straightforward operation, making it perfect for non-tech savvy people.
Con: The basket requires consist shaking to cook food evenly, and basket is slightly difficult to remove.
Low Watt Rice Cookers
A rice cooker is a kitchen appliance that can make the process of cooking rice much simpler. They come in a variety of wattages, but typically range from 300W to 1000W.
They’re also energy efficient, which can save you money on your monthly electricity bill. Some rice cookers even come with features like automatic cooking and shut-off.
If you’re looking for a rice cooker that is 300 watts or under, then check out our list below.
Russell Hobbs 27030 Medium Rice Cooker
£29.99
WATTAGE: 300W
CAPACITY: 1.2 kg
SIZE: 10.71” x 8.74” x 6.93”
WEIGHT: 2.1kg
The Russell Hobbs 27030 Medium Rice Cooker is perfect for cooking up a batch of rice for the family.
The automatic keep-warm function ensures that your rice will stay warm and fresh until it's time to eat. The steam vent allows excess moisture to escape, preventing your rice from becoming soggy.
The non-stick bowl and included steamer basket make it easy to cook vegetables or fish alongside your rice, and the dishwasher-safe parts make clean-up a breeze.
With indicator lights and a tempered glass lid with built-in lid holder, you'll always know when your rice is done cooking, and you'll have a convenient place to set your lid when you're not using it.
As a bonus, you get a measuring cup and spoon so you can measure out the perfect amount of rice every time.
Pro: Perfect for one or two people (cooks about 4 portions), and cooks a variety of rices, from sticky to long grain.
Con: Results aren't always consistent – rice is sometimes too soft or too hard. The hole in the lid isn't large enough to vent all the vapour.
WATTAGE: 200W
CAPACITY: 0.3 litres
SIZE: 7.09” x 7.09” x 10.16”
WEIGHT: 1.25kg
The VonShef Rice Cooker is a quick, simple and convenient way to cook perfect rice every time.
With its simple ON/OFF operation and keep warm function, the VonShef Rice Cooker is perfect for busy people who want to get a meal on the table quickly.
Indicator lights tell you when the rice is cooking and when it's ready, while the non-stick removable inner pot makes this appliance easy to use and clean.
The compact design means the VonShef Rice Cooker can be stored away easily when not in use. There's also a handy carry handle, making it easy to transport from kitchen to table.
Pro: Easy-to-use and cooks evenly all the time. Rice ready in fifteen minutes.
Con: Difficult to keep the rice warm without it burning. Locks feel flimsy.
Low Watt Slow Cookers
Slow cookers are a popular appliance in households across the UK, for a variety of reasons. They’re affordable, easy to use, and energy efficient. They also allow for hands-off cooking, which can be helpful if you don’t have a lot of time or don’t feel like cooking.
They generally operate at 200-300 watts, but there are some models that are below 200 watts. Additionally, the amount of time you have the slow cooker on will affect how much electricity it consumes.
Below is a list of 2 of the best low watt slow cookers in the UK.
Morphy Richards 460017 Slow Cooker
£43.99
WATTAGE: 163W
CAPACITY: 3.5 litres
SIZE: 8.66” x 9.92” x 12.99”
WEIGHT: 3.8kg
The Morphy Richards 460017 slow cooker is a fantastic way to cook your food with ease.
This dishwasher-safe, ceramic pot and glass lid make the appliance easy to clean, while the removable feature of the pot means you can take your food with you to the table, and serve it directly.
The max temperature is 90°C, and the lowest temperature is 82°C.
There are 3 cooking settings to choose from – low, medium or high – so you can cook your food to perfection. The oval shape of the cooker also makes it more convenient for larger meals, and lets you cook for up to six people.
It's also stylish, with a brushed stainless steel finish, and it's transparent, so you get to monitor the cooking process.
Pro: Large enough for a big family – can get up to 5 portions. Lightweight.
Con: The internal pot is not oven-safe, so trying to get a crispy top on your food won't work. Takes longer to cook than it says.
Crock-Pot Lift and Serve Slow Cooker
£52.96
WATTAGE: 220W
CAPACITY: 4.7 litres
SIZE: 10.55” x 13.4” x 13.3”
WEIGHT: 5.29kg
Simplify life at home with a Crock-Pot® Lift & Serve Slow Cooker!
This slow cooker has all the features you need to create delicious, homemade meals with ease. The programmable digital countdown timer gives you greater control over how you cook, and the hinged lid makes it easy to access your food without lifting the entire pot.
The removable and oven-safe ceramic bowl is also dishwasher safe for quick and easy cleanup. Plus, there are 3 heat settings, allowing you to customize your cooking experience. Add to that the automatic keep-warm setting, and you have a slow cooker that's incredibly convenient.
The Lift & Serve feature makes it easy to take your food out of the kitchen and right to the table, while the digital touch controls provide easy operation, so you can focus on the more important things in life.
Pro: Heats not only from the bottom, but the sides, too. Leaves meat extremely tender.
Con: Display isn't very bright, making it slightly hard to read. No START button. No delayed start option.
Low Watt Toaster Ovens
Small, multi-functional kitchen appliances that don’t break the bank include toaster ovens. They can do just about everything a larger traditional oven can do, but take up much less space.
They’re also impressive because they can be used to broil, bake, toast, roast and keep food warm. The other wonderful benefit to choosing a toaster oven is that they’ll use a fraction of the energy a conventional oven would.
The average toaster oven will use between 1200 – 1500 watts, but there are a handful of toaster ovens that fall below 1200W. We’ve listed 2 of them below.
WATTAGE: 750W
CAPACITY: 9 litres
MAX TEMPERATURE: 230°C
WEIGHT: 2.5kg
The Belaco BTO-109N Mini Toaster Oven is a small, compact and space saving toaster oven with a 60-minute timer for those longer cooking times.
A bell alert sounds when your food is ready, so you don't have to worry about overcooking or burning. The heat-resistant tempered glass door also allows you to keep an eye on your food while it cooks.
The Belaco BTO-109N Mini Toaster Oven has two stainless steel heating elements, one at the top and one at the bottom, for even cooking every time. The aluminium plated chamber distributes heat evenly throughout the oven, so your food is cooked perfectly.
Finally, the black powder coated body is easy to clean and looks great in any kitchen.
Pro: Doesn't take up much space on the counter. Powerful, even for the low wattage.
Con: Removing and replacing the trays can be tricky. No tray to collect crumbs.
WATTAGE: 1200W
CAPACITY: 18 litres
MAX TEMPERATURE: 230°C
WEIGHT: 5.8kg
The Netta Mini Oven is a compact, stylish and functional toaster oven for your kitchen.
It has a 120 minute timer so you can time your cooking perfectly, with a "stay on" setting for longer tasks.
There are 3 cooking modes to choose from - cook, bake, grill - so you can make whatever you're in the mood for. Plus, the double glass door means that you can watch your food cook without losing any heat by opening the door.
The cool touch body means that you don't have to worry about getting burned, and the indicator light tells you when the oven is on so you don't have to keep opening it to check.
Dial controls make for easy operation, and the included baking tray, chrome grill rack and tong make it easy to get started.
Pro: Heats up quickly. Great for warming plates quickly, too. Easy-to-use.
Con: Outer casing gets very hot. Some have complained that pizza bases don't cook well.
Low Watt Electric Griddles
Electric griddles can be a great option for cooking, especially if you live in a small space or travel often. They’re portable, affordable, and easy to use.
Most electric griddles use 1500 watts of power, and if you were to use it for an hour a day, you would likely pay an extra £6 on your monthly electricity bill.
However, there are low wattage electric griddles available that use 1000 watts or less, so you could save some money by opting for one of these.
WATTAGE: 800W
SIZE: 16.14” x 12.2” x 12.2”
WEIGHT: 5.01kg
The Kampa Fry-Up Electric Griddle is perfect for cooking all your favourite breakfast foods.
The easy to clean non-stick cooking surface makes it quick and simple to wipe down after use, while the adjustable temperature control gives you plenty of flexibility over how much heat you use when cooking.
With cool touch handles, the Kampa Fry-Up Griddle is safe to touch when in use, and you don't have to worry about burning yourself.
The removable temperature selector means that you can easily take it out for cleaning, while the nonslip feet keep the Fry-Up Griddle in place while you're cooking, so there's no need to worry about it moving around.
For easy, spill-free pouring, the Fry-Up Griddle comes with a pouring spout, so you can transfer your food to plates or bowls with ease.
Pro: Easy-to-use and store away. Perfect for small kitchens or camping trips. Cooks Welsh cakes well.
Con: Awkward build. Curving on the plate means eggs run into the sides.
WATTAGE: 1000W
SIZE: 28 x 26 x 13 centimetres
WEIGHT: 1.67kg
The Tower T14046COP Grill and Griddle from the Cerasure Collection is perfect for cooking breakfast all in one go. Whether you want to make sandwiches or grill your sausages, eggs, bacon rashers - this appliance has it all!
The griddle has a flat surface for making fluffy pancakes and can also be used as a sandwich press thanks to its hinged top plate, which folds out by 180 degrees. This powerful device will cook your food quickly with even heat distribution ensuring each ingredient is evenly cooked.
It also features cool touch handles that stay at an optimum temperature whilst being ergonomically shaped to ensure they are easy to grip on while cooking - keeping you safe and saving time on cleanup.
With the Cerasure+ ceramic coating you can cook healthily with little to no oil and have all your best loved dishes cooked exquisitely.
Pro: Very easy to clean. Perfectly-sized for one person.
Con: Cooks quite slowly, and isn't very big. No temperature control.
Low Watt Hot Plates
A hot plate is a small, portable cooktop/stove used to heat liquids or foods in a pot. It typically comes in two designs: single burner and double burner.
The average wattage for a single or double burner hot plate is 1500W, with most models coming in higher than that. Thankfully, though, there are a few under-1500W models on the market.
The 2 hot plates on our list are single burners, as these are the only ones you can find that are under 1500W.
WATTAGE: 1000W
SIZE: 10.98” x 9.53” x 3.07”
WEIGHT: 1.49kg
This compact Geepas Single Hot Plate is a great kitchen essential!
Operation is made easy with a simple control knob. You can choose between 5 levels of temperature control, making this hot plate perfect for cooking just about anything, especially delicate food like eggs or rice.
It's also highly portable, and would be perfect for taking on picnics or camping trips. Safety-wise, the non-slip rubber feet keep it in place, while the overheat protection means you don't have to worry about your food burning. And if you need to keep an eye on things, the indicator light will let you know when the plate is on.
Made from high quality cast iron, the Geepas Hot Plate is built to last for years.
Pro: Easy-to-use, and cuts power off when it gets too hot. Exterior doesn't get too hot.
Con: Some foods won't cook well, as it doesn't get hot enough. Takes a while to heat up.
SQ Professional Blitz Electric Hot Plate
WATTAGE: 1000W
SIZE: 8.94” x 8.94” x 2.76”
WEIGHT: 1.58kg
Ideal for single servings or small batches, the SQ Professional Blitz Electric Hot Plate is perfect for any at-home or travelling chef.
This compact and lightweight single hot plate has 5 heating settings, so you can customize your cooking experience and ensure that food is cooked perfectly every time. Variable heat control allows you to cook all types of food, including those delicate dishes that require low heat.
The power on indicator light ensures that you'll never have to guess if the plate is on or not, and the anti-slip feet keep it in place while in use.
The stainless steel construction makes this handy appliance easy to clean after each use.
Pro: Heats up relatively quickly, and cleans easily enough. Perfect for caravans and limited use.
Con: Must turn off at the socket, as the appliance will stay on indefinitely if not. Doesn't always heat evenly.
Low Watt Microwaves
Microwaves are appliances that many people find indispensable, and are considered to be one of the most popular kitchen appliances in the UK. They’re often used multiple times a day, and that can add up to a lot of wattage used over the month.
Most small microwaves use 700-900 watts, while larger models can use up to 1800 watts. The 2 microwaves on our list are low wattage, and thus come in at 700W or below.
WATTAGE: 700W
CAPACITY: 17 litres
SIZE: 17.7” x 10.07” x 12.83”
WEIGHT: 10.7kg
The Russell Hobbs RHMM701R Microwave is a compact and chic solution for quickly heating up your food. The stylish design will look great in any kitchen, and won't take up too much space.
Select between 5 power levels using the manual dials. With a defrost setting among them, along with a 30-minute timer, the RHMM701R is perfect for all of your microwaving needs.
A handy internal light makes it easy to keep an eye on your food as it cooks, while the ringer function alerts you when your food is ready.
What's more, this microwave is designed to be hassle free and easy-to-clean, so you can spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying your food.
Pro: Small, yet can fit a full-sized plate. Manual, so perfect for those who don't like digital displays. Great for reheating.
Con: Difficult to set a short timer that's under a minute. Internal light isn't very bright.
WATTAGE: 700W
CAPACITY: 17 litres
SIZE: 12.72” x 17.56” x 9.56”
WEIGHT: 10.82kg
Tower's affordable T24029RG manual microwave is easy to operate, and utilises powerful Magnawave technology that cooks food evenly and allows it to brown - no more cold spots!
You can defrost food quickly, thanks to the defrost setting, and cook a wide range of dishes using the 4 power levels. The timer can be set for up to 30 minutes, and the door opens easily with one push of a button.
Complete with glass turntable that makes cleaning overspill easy, this sleek and stylish microwave is a great addition to any kitchen. Plus it's compact, so it won't take up too much counter space.
Pro: Manual, so great for those who aren't tech-savvy. Very easy-to-use – would suit older people. Dings when the timer is up.
Con: Can't set the timer to anything under 1 minute. Small: won't fit a full-sized plate. No frills.
