Energy- Efficient Cooking

Everyone wants to save on their energy bills. Cutting down on your utility or power bills is easier than you think. One way you might not have considered is to conserve Electricity and gas while cooking and preparing meals at home.

Fuel consumption for cooking, in general, is high compared to other household activities as the cost of cooking accounts for about 4% of the average gas and electricity bill.

The below tips will not only decrease the impact on your wallet, but it will also save your time in the kitchen:

1. Cook in batches. Freeze leftovers into meal size portions to reheat (uses less energy) at a later date.

1. Use glass and ceramic pans when baking. They retain heat better than metal pans and allow you to lower the baking temperature by 25 degrees.

3. Use the right size. Pan size should be proportional to the amount of food needed to cook. To speed up the cooking process, use the smallest pot.
4. Match it to the suitable burner. The pot should cover the entire hotplate to minimize heat loss.
5. Put the lid on. This will reduce heat loss. Set the stove at a lower heat to simmer and water will come to the boil quicker.
6. Use oven timer. Refrain from opening the oven door too often to avoid heat loss.
7. Turn off the oven or burner. During the last part of the cooking time and use the residual heat to finish cooking.
8. Clean rings. Burnt residual food absorbs heat making an electric ring less efficient.
9. Defrost food before cooking. Frozen food will require longer cooking time and uses more energy.
10. Cut food into smaller pieces. Size boosts up cooking, the smaller the faster.
11. Eat more raw food like salads. Easy, quicker and healthier. Cold food like sandwiches and cold salads are delicious and will reduce cooking costs.
12. Eat more quick-cook meals. When cooking vegetables cook them for as little time as possible, the less you cook them the more nutrients it will retain.
13. Stovetop vs. microwave. Microwaves are more efficient than oven-baking, however, they are slightly less efficient than stovetop cooking.
14. Make the most of the small appliances. A turbo-oven uses a considerable amount of electricity than a conventional oven.
15. Use the grill or broiler. Some foods can be cooked under the griller just as well as in the oven.
16. Use a pressure cooker. Speeds up the cooking process for cooking whole meals, joints of meats or stews.
17. Use the BBQ particularly in summer. Using a BBQ instead of cooking inside can also save on energy.
18. Consider gas (if you have a gas connection) as it is cheaper to run. Alternatively, induction cooktops are an energy efficient electric option.

19. Consider Fan- forced oven. It uses around 20% less energy compared to a regular oven.

Changing the way you cook can actually make your life easier, reduce the amount of energy you use and cut your expenses. These small changes add up to your savings will add up over time. Combine them with other home energy-saving tips.

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