Understanding the e-cooking experience from the perspective of the everyday cook in Nakuru, Kenya

Abstract

Transitioning to electric cooking in East Africa offers established health benefits and promising economic, time-saving, and environmental advantages for everyday cooks. Furthermore, battery-supported e-cooking systems can facilitate earlier adoption in regions with unreliable grid quality. However, successful adoption necessitates understanding of how the needs and behaviors of everyday cooks can be effectively translated into e-cooking practices. This nine-month study engaged 20 participants from Nakuru, Kenya, observing their transition to e-cooking with battery supported appliances. Qualitative methods were used to understand changes in cooking practices. The findings comprehensively analyze participants' preferences and concerns about traditional cooking and e-cooking and summarize the cooking experiences in journey maps. The study addresses the benefits, challenges, and unresolved issues of transitioning to e-cooking, including time savings, appropriateness of e-appliances, cost implications, and gender roles. The study raises questions about appliance design, fuel stacking and the co-benefits of biomass cooking. It highlights the importance of addressing safety concerns and providing training on electricity usage alongside e-cooking adoption. The economic benefits, particularly when systems include battery storage, remain uncertain due to potential appliance inefficiencies and behaviour changes that can impact energy consumption, undermining anticipated benefits. These findings inform avenues for comprehensive e-cooking services that support the transition to e-cooking.