- UK households are expected to make 104 million pancakes on Tuesday[1]
- Britons will be pleased to hear that the average five crepe-style pancakes per household will add less than 2p to their gas bill[2]
- The cheapest way to cook pancakes is making crepes on a gas hob, although you can reheat the store-bought version in a microwave for less[3]
- Half of Brits (51%) prefer crepe-style pancakes, while nearly a fifth (18%) go for the thicker American style[5]
- Uswitch analysis shows households can still enjoy pancakes without adding to energy bills.
Flipping heck! British households are predicted to make a staggering 104 million pancakes this Shrove Tuesday[1], according to research from Uswitch.com, the comparison and switching service.
More than half of homes (56%) take part in Pancake Day, with the average household gobbling nearly four of the delicious circular treats[6].
Cooking pancakes works out cheapest on a gas hob, with five crepes costing less than 2p, compared to nearly 6p on an electric hob. Households with an electric pancake maker will find that five crepes cost them about 4p in electricity[3].
Table: Energy costs for cooking pancakes
| Method | Power (kW) | Time to warm up (seconds) | Crepe cooking time (seconds) | Cost to cook five crepes | American-style cooking time | Cost to cook five American-style |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas hob | 1.95 | 60 | 90 | 1.7p | 120 | 2.2p |
| Electric hob | 1.65 | 60 | 90 | 5.7p | 120 | 7.4p |
| Pancake maker | 1 | 120 | 90 | 3.7p | 120 | 5p |
| Reheating ready-made pancakes in oven | 2 | 300 | 360 | 8.9p | 360 | 8.9p |
| Reheating ready-made pancakes in microwave | 0.9 | 0 | 25 | 0.67p | 25 | 0.67p |
Source: Uswitch.com
Thinner crepe-style pancakes are the nation’s favourite, with just over half of households (51%) planning to cook only this type. Nearly a fifth (18%) will plump for the thicker American-style version, with the same proportion (18%) cooking a combination of the two styles[5].
The younger generation have a greater appetite for pancakes, with households of 18 to 34-year-olds guzzling more than five pancakes on average, compared with only two for the over-55s[7].
Elise Melville, energy expert at Uswitch.com, comments: “Cooking the perfect pancake can require plenty of practice, but thankfully it won’t break the bank.
“Pancake makers may provide the best results and are a more affordable option than cooking on an electric hob, but come without the fun of flipping.
“Households who want to keep a close eye on their energy consumption, should consider
using the free Uswitch app, which connects to your smart meter. The app allows you to see the impact of your energy habits with hourly graphs, showing your gas and electricity use per hour, day, week, month, and year.”
Track your energy usage with the free Uswitch app.
For more information
Beverley Noble | Energy PR Manager
beverley.noble@rvu.co.uk
Twitter: @UswitchPR
Notes to editors
Research conducted online by Opinium, 13 January 2023 to 17 January 2023, among 2,000 UK adults, weighted to be nationally representative.
1. Five American-style pancakes cost 7.4p in electricity. 104 million pancakes x £0.074 / five = £1,539,200.
2. Respondents were asked ‘How many pancakes do you predict your household will cook this pancake day ?’ The average number of pancakes was 3.7. 3.7 x 28.2 million UK households = 104 million pancakes.
3. See first table in release. Assumes gas at 6.34p/kWh and electricity at 24.86p/kWh.
4. See second table in release.
5. Respondents were asked’ Which type of pancakes will your household cook?’ 18% replied ‘American-style’. 51% said ‘Crepe’. 18% said ‘Both American-style and crepe’.
6. Respondents were asked ‘How many pancakes do you predict your household will cook this pancake day (Shrove Tuesday)?’ 56% of households said they would have pancakes on Shrove Tuesday.
7. Respondents were asked ‘How many pancakes do you predict your household will cook this pancake day (Shrove Tuesday)?’ Those aged 18 to 34 averaged 5.4. Those aged 35 to 54 said 4.3. Those aged over 55 said 2.1
About Uswitch
Uswitch is one of the UK’s top comparison websites for home services switching, including energy, broadband and mobiles.
More people go to Uswitch to find their energy, broadband and mobile deals than any other site, and we have saved consumers over £2.7 billion off their bills since we launched in September 2000.
Free mobile app Utrack also helps households manage their home energy usage and make potential savings.
Uswitch is part of RVU, a group of online brands with a mission to empower consumers to make more confident home services, insurance and financial decisions.