Can a power station run a slow cooker?

By the Ferncharge team · Figures last checked 21 October 2026

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The short answer: power is easy, energy is the challenge. Morphy Richards lists its 3.5-litre slow cooker at 0.16 kW (160 W) (Morphy Richards), which is within the stated continuous output of all four power stations below. But a slow cooker runs for hours: at 160 W, 8 hours is up to about 1,280 Wh (our arithmetic), more than a 1,000 Wh power station supplies from its mains sockets.

Compared on manufacturers' published specs. Ferncharge has not tested these products. Estimates only.

Add your slow cooker to the sizing calculator: add a row with the watts from its rating plate and your cooking hours.

Step 1: power (watts)

Find the watts on your slow cooker's rating plate (often underneath) and compare them with the power station's stated continuous AC output.

Alphabetical. This compares stated figures only: check both manuals.

Step 2: energy (watt-hours). The real limit

Energy used = watts × hours. At 160 W the whole time (our arithmetic):

Example cooking times. The rating plate shows the most it draws, and we've used it for every hour, so these are cautious upper figures. A plug-in energy monitor shows what yours actually uses.

From a power station's mains socket, add our assumed 10% inverter loss, and remember only about 90% of a LiFePO4 battery's rated capacity is usable (methodology): divide by about 0.81. On those assumptions:

• 4 hours (640 Wh) needs about 790 Wh of rated capacity.
• 8 hours (1,280 Wh) needs about 1,580 Wh of rated capacity.

Of the four models above, the largest is 1,152 Wh (the BLUETTI AC180), so a full 8-hour cook at 160 W would need more than any of them on these figures. The 245 Wh EcoFlow RIVER 3 has about 200 Wh at its mains socket on our assumptions: a little over an hour at 160 W.

Making it work

• Cook for less time on a higher setting, if the recipe allows. Morphy Richards' model has low, medium and high settings (Morphy Richards): check your manual for timings.
• Top up while it cooks from solar or the mains, if your power station can charge while in use. See can you charge a power station while using it?
• Nothing else on the same charge: a slow cooker uses most of a mid-sized power station's energy on its own.

Safety

Use the slow cooker on a stable, heat-proof surface, keep the power station ventilated and away from steam and spills, and follow both manuals. See our safety guide.

FAQs

Can a portable power station run a slow cooker?

Yes for power: a 160 W slow cooker is within all four models' continuous ratings above. Energy is the limit: 8 hours at 160 W is up to about 1,280 Wh.

How many watts does a slow cooker use?

Check its rating plate. Morphy Richards lists its 3.5-litre model at 0.16 kW (160 W).

How long can a power station run a slow cooker?

Divide the available energy by the slow cooker's watts. A 1,000 Wh power station has about 810 Wh at its mains sockets on our assumptions: about 5 hours at 160 W.

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