Microwave Vs. Stove Energy Use

Wattage

• Wattage is the amount of power an appliance needs to operate. According to Otter Tail Power Company based in Minnesota, microwaves usually require 1,500 watts. Stoves require 1,200 watts to heat a small burner and 2,300 to heat a large one. So, if you cook food on a small burner on your stove, you use less wattage than if you had cooked the food in the microwave.

Hours of Use

• There's more to energy use than wattage, though. It also matters how long you use an appliance. Since food can cook more quickly in a microwave, you might use less energy if you always use your microwave rather than using your stove. The OTPC estimates that the average person uses his microwave for as few as 30 hours per month, compared to 50 hours per month for his stove. This can result in almost three times the energy use from your stove than from your microwave.

Decreasing Energy Use

• Save energy using your stove by ensuring that all the heat it produces goes toward cooking food. Only use pots and pans that cover the entire burner, and cover them with lids during cooking. Save energy using your microwave by following the manufacturer's instructions regarding which power settings to use for different foods.

Considerations

• Because electromagnetic waves cook food relatively evenly throughout, microwaves produce different food results than stoves. Traditional recipes that rely on the direct heat of a stove, such as stir frying and searing, aren't practical in a microwave. Instead, food cooked in a microwave is often soft all the way through, rather than crispy on the outside and chewy within. Such differences may affect your choice of cooking appliance more than energy use.