Slow cooker vs. Ninja Foodi multi-cooker: running cost
A Ninja Foodi multi-cooker is cheaper to run: about $16 a year versus $24 for a slow cooker at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $8 difference.
| Slow cooker | Ninja Foodi multi-cooker | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 200 W | 1,400 W |
| Watt range | 70–300 W | 1,000–1,760 W |
| Typical use | 8 hours a day, 2 days a week | 45 minutes a day, 3 days a week |
| Energy per year | 134 kWh | 91 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 2.9¢ | 13¢ |
| Cost per day | 6.6¢ | 4.5¢ |
| Cost per month | $2.00 | $1.36 |
| Cost per year | $24 | $16 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $58 | $40 |
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What drives the difference
- Slow cooker: A 6-quart slow cooker draws about 150-250 W on Low and 230-300 W on High; an 8-hour Low cook uses roughly 1.2-1.6 kWh.
- Ninja Foodi multi-cooker: Combination pressure cooker/air fryers like the Ninja Foodi draw 1,400-1,760 W at full heat; pressure cooking cycles down to a few hundred watts once at pressure.
Ways to cut either cost
A 1,000 W pressure cooker uses less energy than air-crisping or stovetop cooking for one-pot meals.
See options on AmazonAutomatically drops to Warm (about 70 W) when the cook time ends instead of staying on Low.
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Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, a slow cooker or a Ninja Foodi multi-cooker?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a slow cooker costs about $24 a year versus $16 for a Ninja Foodi multi-cooker. That's $8 more, or 1.5× as much.
How many watts do slow cooker and Ninja Foodi multi-cooker use?
A slow cooker typically draws 200 W (range 70–300 W). A Ninja Foodi multi-cooker draws 1,400 W (range 1,000–1,760 W). Watts alone don't decide cost. Hours of use, cycling and standby matter just as much.
Rates: EIA, 12 months ending 2026-07. Methodology.