Saving energy in your kitchen

Here are some great tips to help you conserve energy in the kitchen while cooking your favourite meal.

• Cut food into smaller pieces – allowing food to cook more quickly
• Keep stove top clean – burnt foodstuff absorbs heat;  stove top becomes less efficient
• Check oven door is properly sealed – leaks impact of energy efficiency and consumption of oven
• Make note of seasonal foods – locally sourced, seasonal  foods should have a smaller carbon footprint

• Use a steamer to cook vegetables – vegetables can be  layered and cooked on one element
• Use a pressure cooker for cooking pulses, stews, etc. –  speeds up cooking process
• Choose flat bottomed pans for electric hobs – ensuring  full contact between the ring and pan
• Choose the right pans – copper-bottomed pans heat up quicker than stainless steel and cast-iron pans retain  heat more efficiently
• Put a lid on the pan while cooking
• Make one-pot meals – reduce cooking energy and  washing up
• Cook for the week – freeze what you don’t need
• Turn electric stove top and oven off five to ten minutes  before cooking time is up – use residual heat to finish the cooking process
• Use just enough water to cover vegetables – reducing  cooking time
• Keep food warm with a Wonderbag

• Allow warm food to cool before placing them in the fridge
• Ensure air can circulate around the back of fridge and  freezer
• Set to the right temperature – ensures food is kept  effectively and no extra energy is used to keep the  refrigerator at a lower temperature
• Locate the fridge or freezer away from heat sources such  as a cooker or in direct sunlight
• Keep fridge full – conserves energy better

Happy cooking!