Uswitch analysis shows households can still enjoy pancakes without adding to energy bills.
Households could collectively spend up to £2 million in energy[1] making 104 million pancakes this Shrove Tuesday[2]
Britons will be pleased to hear that the average five crepe-style pancakes per household will only add 3p to their gas bill[3]
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]
Bristol batters other cities to be crowned UK pancake capital, cooking nearly five pancakes per household, compared to under two in Edinburgh[4]
Half of Brits (51%) prefer crepe-style pancakes, while nearly a fifth (18%) go for the thicker American style[5]
Flipping heck! British households will make 104 million pancakes this Shrove Tuesday[2], according to new research from Uswitch.com, the comparison service.
More than half of homes (56%) take part in the tasty tradition, with the average household gobbling just over six of the delicious circular treats[6].
Cooking pancakes works out cheapest on a gas hob, with five crepes costing just 3p in energy, compared to 8p on an electric hob. Households with an electric pancake maker will find that five crepes cost them about 5p in electricity[3].
The total energy bill for the country’s 104 million pancakes would come to £2 million if everyone used a gas hob[1].
Energy costs for cooking pancakes
| Method | Power (kW) | Time to warm up (seconds) | Crepe cooking time (seconds) | Cost of energy to cook 5 crepes | Amereican style pancake cooking time (seconds) | Cost of energy to cook American-style |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas hob | 1.95 | 60 | 90 | 2.8p | 120 | 3.7p |
| Electric hob | 1.65 | 60 | 90 | 7.9p | 120 | 10.3p |
| Electric pancake maker | 1 | 120 | 90 | 5.4p | 120 | 6.8p |
| Reheating ready-made pancakes in oven | 2 | 300 | 360 | 12.5p | 360 | 12.5p |
| Reheating ready-made pancakes in microwave | 0.9 | 0 | 25 | 1.1p | 25 | 1.1p |
Thinner crepe-style pancakes are the nation’s favourite, with just over half of households (51%) planning to cook only this style. 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].
Bristol has battered its rivals to be crowned Britain’s pancake capital, guzzling an average of nearly five per household. By comparison, residents of the Scottish capital Edinburgh devour less than two per home[4].
Britain’s biggest pancake fans
| Location | Average number of pancakes per household |
| Bristol | 4.9 |
| Belfast | 4.7 |
| Brighton | 4.7 |
| Glasgow | 4.5 |
| London | 4.2 |
| Birmingham | 3.8 |
| Liverpool | 3.7 |
| Sheffield | 3.7 |
| Nottingham | 3.6 |
| Newcastle | 3.4 |
| Southampton | 3.4 |
| Manchester | 3.3 |
| Cardiff | 3.2 |
| Plymouth | 2.9 |
| Norwich | 2.8 |
| Leeds | 2.7 |
| Edinburgh | 1.7 |
To help households understand and adapt their energy use, Uswitch.com has launched its free mobile app Utrack, which connects to a smart meter and allows users to track their energy use and save money.
Natalie Mathie, energy expert at Uswitch.com, comments: “More than half of us will join in the fun on Shrove Tuesday, with an incredible 104 million pancakes being flipped across the country.
“It may be cheapest in terms of energy costs to reheat ready-made pancakes in the microwave, but that’s not as fun - and cooking them on the hob won’t break the bank, so get flipping and enjoy the day.
“We know Brits are worried about their energy usage, but hopefully it will put minds at ease that pancakes are a cheap treat to celebrate Shrove Tuesday with.
“If you want to keep an eye on your energy consumption, it’s worth using the free Utrack app, which connects to your smart meter. The app allows you to see the impact of your energy habits with hourly graphs, comparing gas and electricity use by day, week, month and year.”
Track your energy usage with Utrack by Uswitch here.
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 switch their energy, broadband and mobile 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.
