It is necessary to have a proper understanding of the electrical current (amperage) your appliance is using.
Understanding how much electricity your home appliances consume will give you an idea of how much it will take to run them. It can even help you decide on a cheaper or more convenient alternative.
Now, how do you determine how many amps your oven is using? How can you reduce your oven’s power consumption? We’ll discuss these questions and more here.
How Many Amps Does An Oven Use?
Several factors determine the amperage a kitchen oven uses. These include model, features, run time, size, setting, etc. But generally, the standard kitchen oven draws between 30 to 50 amps.
Note that industrial ovens that boast quick burners and convection oven features will require higher amperage. They could use an average of 50 to 60 amps.
Now, let’s discuss how many amps the different ovens use.
A Handy Tip: You can figure out the amps used by an electrical appliance via the following formula: Watts/volts = Amps.
1. Toaster Oven
Several factors determine the amperage a toaster oven can pull. These include heat settings and size. However, most toaster ovens use 10 to 15 amps.
2. Electric oven
Electric ovens consume approximately 30 to 50 amps. And keep in mind that a power surge can also increase the amount of amperage consumed by an electric oven.
Electric ovens’ size determines how much energy one would require to run them. Larger and more complex electric ovens will require a higher amount of amps.
3. Gas oven
Gas ovens don’t need much amps and electricity. They require low electricity to run. The major thing a gas oven requires electricity for is to get the system ignited, and that’s it.
A gas oven may use up 10 to 30 amps on average. But keep in mind that factors such as settings and size play a crucial role. However, gas ovens still draw lesser amps than most ovens available.
4. Convection oven
These ovens don’t require much amperage to run. An average convection oven will consume within 7 to 15 amps.
Wattage Consumption of Electric Oven, Microwave Oven, And Gas Stove
Manufacturers usually state the specific wattage of each appliance on their sheets. The reason is to ensure proper usage of the appliance.
So, what is the wattage consumption of the different types of ovens? Let’s run through them.
1. Electric oven
Electric ovens consume more power than other ovens. But then, size is a determinant factor. The larger the oven, the more power it will consume.
So, expect electric ovens to consume between 1800 and 5000 watts, depending on size. The standard ones will consume an average of 2500 watts.
2. Microwave Oven
It is almost impossible to walk into a kitchen and not find a microwave oven. Microwave ovens are popular in homes because of their constant usage.
So, how many watts do microwave ovens consume? Well, size is a crucial factor. A microwave may consume between 800 to 2000 watts. The standard ones consume an average of 1200 watts.
3. Gas Stove
The wattage consumption of gas stoves is around 1200 watts. But this figure represents stoves with smaller cooktops.
Gas stoves that boast medium-sized burners will consume between 1500 to 1800 watts. Expect the ones with larger burners to consume about 3000 watts.
Understand that gas stoves with two or more burners will consume more power than one with a single burner. So, when calculating power consumption, consider the number of burners your gas stove has.
To determine the power consumption of your gas stove with multiple burners, calculate the average power consumption of one of the burners. Then add up the average power consumed by each of the other burners.
How Do You Find The Amps Rating For Your Oven?
You can locate your oven’s amps rating in several ways. Manufacturers always state electrical parameters for every device to ensure proper usage.
So, how can you determine your oven’s amps rating?
Firstly, check the back of the appliance where the electric cord exits the appliance. You’ll discover the amps rating written boldly there.
Another place to check is the instructional manual. The electrical parameters are all listed in the oven’s instructional manual.
Also, you can visit the manufacturer’s official website and search for the oven’s electrical parameters. You’ll even find other useful information about the product there.
Does a Bigger Oven Consume More Electricity?
Yes, a bigger oven will consume more electricity. Electric stovetops with bigger burners will draw more electricity. So your energy bill will likely increase at the end of the day.
On the other hand, smaller ovens will consume less electricity. But let’s also bear in mind that run time is crucial.
If you keep a smaller oven for a long period and a bigger one for a few seconds, the smaller oven may consume more electricity.
So, size matters, but it doesn’t always count. The runtime will determine how much energy an oven will consume.
How To Lessen The Power Consumption of an Oven?
Ovens need electricity to run. And how you use your oven will determine your energy bill when the time comes.
With so many expenses jostling for limited finances, many people have started seeking ways to lower the power consumption of some of their appliances.
Ovens can consume a lot of power. You also may likely use your oven now and then. Even if you don’t, other members of your household will.
So, how can you lessen the power consumption of your oven? Follow the tips below.
1. Prepare multiple dishes simultaneously
Can you cook several dishes in your oven at once? Are you comfortable with the idea? If yes, get it done right away.
The only thing you need is planning. You should also ensure you don’t overload your oven or prevent the fan from working. Keep in mind that doing so will reduce the appliance’s efficiency.
So, make proper plans and cook several meals at once. You’ll save energy this way.
2. Skip the preheating tradition
Most people prefer to preheat their oven before they start cooking. They claim doing so will ensure the food cooks properly.
Preheating an oven before cooking will only ramp up your energy bill. The best way to lower your energy bill is to put the food into the oven and start cooking immediately.
3. Switch off your oven earlier
Try this simple tip to lower your oven’s energy consumption. Turn off the appliance some minutes before the actual cooking time elapses.
You can turn it off 5 minutes before your cooking time. Let the heat left within the cavity complete the cooking.
Taking 5 minutes off your cooking time won’t spoil your meal. The heat within the cavity is sufficient to complete the cooking. Besides, you’ll be lowering your energy bill by some fraction.
4. Avoid opening the oven door when cooking
Nobody likes to have their meals overcooked. Thus, it’s only normal for people to open their ovens’ doors and make the needed adjustment.
But keep this in mind. Regularly opening an oven door won’t lessen the appliance’s energy consumption. Heat is lost whenever you open the door of the oven.
So, when you open an oven door and close it while cooking, the appliance has to work harder to return to the set temperature.
So, limit how often you open your oven door while cooking. If you must check on what you’re cooking, do so via the transparent glass panel.
5. Use the right size of pan for your burner
Avoid using a smaller pan for a big burner. You won’t make the appliance energy efficient that way.
Match the pan to the burner, so the heat will concentrate on the pan and cook your food faster without consuming too much energy.
What Size Breaker Does an Oven Need?
A 50 amps double-pole circuit breaker is ideal for an electric oven. It meets the NEC code.
However, remember that some electric stoves might boast different circuit breakers. They may have bigger ovens, more burners, and other extra features, resulting in a higher amp draw.
For example, 30 to 50 amps are what the average electric stove draws. But a bigger electric stove will draw over 60 amps.
Conclusion: How many amps does an oven use?
Well, it depends on the type of oven. A toaster oven may draw 10 to 15 amps, while an electric oven may draw 30 to 50 amps.
Finding out an oven’s amperage isn’t difficult. You can locate it at the back of the oven or on the product manual. You can also check the manufacturer’s official website for details on product amperage, provided you know the oven model.
We also shared tips on lowering your oven’s power consumption. You can read and apply them to lower your energy bill by some fraction.
