Ovens may not be as new and exciting as more recent trends like air fryers and slow cookers, but every single UK household likely still has a traditional big box oven in their kitchen, whether it's gas or electric.

That's because despite how useful gadgets can be, sometimes you just need a big old oven to cook through a larger meal without having to worry. In fact, although ovens do cost more to run than air fryers, they can sometimes be cheaper overall because you can cook several things at once, dividing the cost of the cook among lots of different foods.

But obviously, running an oven is generally quite expensive, one of the dearest in your home and a cost most of us take on the chin in exchange for a good meal. But the cost of running an oven - and everything else - is increasing from today, April 1.

From April, energy bills are rising for the fourth time in a row, pushing up the cost of running every household appliance unless you're able to grab a cheap fix (which you definitely should).

costs have risen from an average of 24.86p per kWh on the last cap, up to 27.03p per kWh from April 1, after increased prices of gas and electricity by an average of 6.4%, or £111 a year. Those on standard variable tariffs - i.e. not on fixed deals - will pay these new higher prices from today unless they grab a fix now.

On the old prices, running a typical 2kWh electric oven for one hour costs 50p. If you did this every day, that would add £181.48 to your energy bill for the year.

But on April 1 prices, the cost of running the same 2kWh electric oven will rise to 54p per hour of use, or £197.32 per year added to your annual electricity bill from April onwards if you're on a standard variable tariff.

That makes a cost of £16.44 per month for running an electric oven every day, averaged across the year, on the current price cap prices.

Go Compare explains ways to cut down on your oven use by using other appliances like a microwave or slow cooker.

It says: "Most cooking appliances are cheaper than an oven: a 800W microwave can cook a jacket potato in 10 minutes for 3.3p, compared with 60 minutes in the 2,000W oven for 49p.

"Meanwhile, a 100W slow cooker can cook a casserole in eight hours for 20p, compared with two hours in the 2,000W oven for 98p.

"But unlike a microwave or slow cooker, you can cook many things at the same time in an oven. For example, you can cook a roast chicken, baked potatoes, roast vegetables and apple crumble - or a large quantity of the same food which you then freeze in portions and heat up in a microwave at a later date."

The best way to save money on your bills right now is to get a fixed energy deal. There are still fixed tariffs cheaper than the April price cap available on the market, which will save you money against the new prices and guarantee to lock your price in for the next 12 months, but time is rapidly running out to grab one before April.