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!
