Everything in a Ugandan kitchen that applies direct heat: infrared cooktops, pressure cookers, rice cookers, deep fryers, hot pots and chapati makers. Prices run from about UGX 80,000 for a single infrared plate to UGX 285,000 at the top of the range. The single infrared cooker is the best-selling product in our catalogue.
A single plate is the right answer for a hostel room, a small apartment, or a second cooking point next to a gas hob — it is compact, it is our cheapest cooker, and it heats a pot faster than a coil stove. A double gives you two independently controlled plates, which is what you need to cook rice and stew at the same time, or to keep matooke steaming while you fry. Families who cook a full meal most evenings should go straight to the double; the extra outlay is recovered in the time you stop spending waiting for one pot to finish before starting the next.
Why infrared rather than induction
Induction is more efficient on paper but it only works with ferrous pots — a magnet has to stick to the base. Most Ugandan kitchens run aluminium sufurias, and replacing the whole set costs more than the cooker. Infrared heats the plate itself, so it works with any flat-bottomed pot: aluminium, steel, ceramic, glass, clay. It also keeps working on a slightly warped base, which matters if your pots have seen a few years of charcoal.
Pressure cookers and the cost of beans
Beans are where a pressure cooker earns its price in Uganda. Dry beans that take two to three hours in an open pot are done in 30 to 40 minutes under pressure, and the same holds for tough cuts of beef and for whole matooke. On a 1,000W electric pressure cooker at about UGX 756 a unit, that is roughly UGX 500 of electricity against UGX 1,500 or more for the open-pot version — before counting the charcoal you did not buy. We stock 6L, 6.5L and 8L; 6L feeds four to six people.
What to check before you buy
For infrared cookers, check the plate diameter against your largest sufuria — a pot wider than the plate heats unevenly at the edges. For pressure cookers, check that the model has a visible locking indicator and a separate pressure-release valve; both are standard on everything we stock. For any cooker, plug into a wall socket rather than an extension: a 2,000W plate is beyond what light-duty extension cables are rated to carry.
Cookers & Hobs in Uganda — frequently asked questions
How much is an infrared cooker in Uganda?
A single-plate infrared cooker starts at about UGX 80,000 and a double-plate model is around UGX 185,000 at Mars Kitchen Essentials. Both carry a 12-month warranty.
Does an infrared cooker work with aluminium sufurias?
Yes. Unlike induction, infrared heats the plate rather than the pot, so any flat-bottomed pot works — aluminium, stainless steel, ceramic, glass or clay. There is no need to replace your existing pots.
How much electricity does an infrared cooker use?
A 2,000W plate uses about 2 units an hour at full power, roughly UGX 1,500 at the domestic rate of about UGX 756 per unit. Most cooking is done well below full power, so real usage is lower.
Is a pressure cooker worth it for cooking beans?
Yes — it is the clearest case. Dry beans drop from two or three hours to about 30–40 minutes, which cuts both the electricity and the waiting. A 6L cooker suits a household of four to six.
Can I pay on delivery for a cooker?
Yes. Cash on delivery is available across Kampala, with delivery in 30 minutes to 1 hour, and upcountry in 3–6 hours. Returns are accepted within 7 days.
