Start before the timer starts
A recipe listing “ten minutes at pressure” does not describe ten minutes of wall-socket use. The appliance first brings its contents to operating conditions, and the routine may include sautéing, pressure release and a warm period. Record the entire sequence, without changing the manufacturer’s pressure-release procedure for a measurement.
Mark which stages draw electricity and which are simply elapsed waiting time. Treating every minute as full rated input can overestimate energy; ignoring the initial heating stage can underestimate it.
Add the stages in one example
Assume hypothetical readings of 0.35 kWh for preparation and heat-up, 0.20 kWh during the pressure-cooking stage and 0.10 kWh afterward. Together they equal 0.65 kWh. At $0.18/kWh, the electricity cost is $0.117.
If the meal provides four equal servings, that is about 2.9 cents per serving for these stages. Twelve similar meals cost about $1.40. The figures illustrate arithmetic only and should not be applied to every recipe or appliance size.
Keep comparisons fair
Compare the same amount of finished food with a slow cooker or hob recipe. Include browning on a separate appliance, reheating and extra batches where relevant. A smaller appliance that cannot fit the recipe may need two complete heat-up cycles. A quicker process may be convenient even where electricity savings are modest, so record time and cost as separate benefits.
Measure without modifying the appliance
Use an external energy meter only where its rating and both manufacturers’ instructions allow it. Never interfere with a lid, valve or safety interlock to make a test easier. Save the recipe name, portion count and settings beside the total kWh reading. Repeat the measurement when those conditions change, then use the average of comparable sessions for your monthly estimate rather than relying on a single unusual meal.
Choose your next step
Continue with the question that matches your next decision:
Sources & further reading
Numerical examples are illustrative unless explicitly described as measured. This guide does not claim hands-on product testing. Read the methodology and editorial disclosure.