I decided to test whether unplugging my microwave could lower my electric bill. Many appliances continue using a small amount of electricity while sitting idle, a phenomenon known as phantom power. For two weeks, I unplugged my microwave after every use to see whether eliminating that standby consumption would make a noticeable difference.

Using an electricity monitor, I found that the microwave consumed about 3 watts while idle. That may seem insignificant, but over a full year, it could add up to roughly 26 kilowatt-hours. The experiment confirmed that the microwave does use electricity even when it isn’t heating food, although its consumption is tiny compared with major household energy users such as refrigerators, heating and cooling systems, and water heaters.

After two weeks, I had saved only about half a kilowatt-hour. At an electricity rate of 12 cents per kilowatt-hour, that would amount to just over $3 in annual savings. While the reduction was real, it was far too small to make a meaningful difference to my monthly electricity bill.

The experiment also made the microwave more inconvenient to use. Every time I plugged it back in, I had to reset the clock, and reaching the outlet often meant moving things around on the counter. Although regularly unplugging a modern microwave isn’t necessarily harmful, the small savings didn’t seem worth the daily hassle.

In the end, the test showed that unplugging a microwave can reduce electricity consumption, but it isn’t an especially effective way to cut energy costs. Focusing on larger energy users, efficient appliances, LED lighting, smart power strips, and sensible thermostat settings is likely to produce much greater savings.