Top 5 Energy Savings Tips During Cooking

From cooking alone to family gatherings, your kitchen is undoubtedly one of the most utilised rooms in the house. That means lights are often on, appliances are usually plugged in, and dishes are almost always piled up. So, it's kind of safe to assume that your kitchen is more or less probably responsible for a lot of household energy used and wasted each month. But luckily, there are many clever tricks and hacks to reduce energy consumption and lower utility bills in the kitchen, and not just by turning off the electronics.

Of course, we all love to cook, but we also want to reduce our energy bills. So here are five pro tips to save energy while cooking. It all starts with making your kitchen as energy efficient as possible and helping make your home a 6-star energy-rated home.

1. Grill Outdoors Instead of Baking

Who doesn't love outdoor barbecues on lazy summer days? But grilling outdoors with friends and family has more benefits than that. The oven uses less energy than turning on the oven. Grilling tastes excellent, and cooking outdoors in the summer keeps heat where it's needed rather than in your kitchen. And leaving no heat in your home means you'll use less energy to keep it cool.

The kitchen is where you can control how much heat you give off. You'll save energy by cooking in the microwave or stovetop instead of in the oven. Cooking on a grill doesn't heat your house or make your air conditioner work harder than other appliances.

Baking also requires fewer frills and additions than other forms of cooking. As a result, you can get something healthier and eat better, making food taste better. If you're concerned about your fat intake, baking may be more beneficial than baking. Another benefit of grilling is that it allows fat to escape from food during cooking.

2. Use Energy Rated Cooking Appliances

Environmentally friendly kitchen appliances save energy. They consume about 37% less energy than traditional appliances, thus saving energy. For example, an energy-efficient dishwasher in your kitchen can significantly reduce your electricity and water bills, and the same goes for energy-efficient refrigerators.

Besides the energy-saving function of eco-friendly kitchen appliances, they are also very safe and healthy. The refrigerator has a charcoal filter for ice and water, and the glass-ceramic cooktop has a sensor that keeps the burner temperature below the surface's breaking point.

The gas stove has a ventilation hood system that sucks out the smoke and heat from the air and keeps your kitchen fresh and clean.

It's essential to strike the right balance when choosing between an oven, toaster, and microwave. For example, choosing a toaster oven instead of an entire oven means you'll use less energy to cook the same meal. Depending on your cooking, you may also find it optimal to choose countertop appliances like a rice cooker or pressure cooker to prepare your meals without using larger, power-hungry devices.

3. Turn off the heat a few minutes early

Consider turning off the oven a few minutes before you finish cooking your meal. The produced heat will continue to cook the food while you prepare it. This also applies on the stovetop when boiling food. Your cooking appliance will maintain the same temperature without investing extra energy in reheating, and food will continue to cook until it cools down.

Obviously, this trick is mostly applicable when you are cooking meat. Delicate goods like eggs may need immediate rinsing after you boil them, as leaving hard-boiled eggs in hot water will quickly harden!

You might also consider using a slow cooker for some soup or stews that will take longer to cook on the stovetop.

4. Consider batch or bulk cooking

Batch cooking is energy-efficient cooking. The energy used to heat up an oven is the same whether you put a single serving in it or fill it up, so it’s more energy-efficient to do the latter and avoid using it multiple other times throughout the week, at greater expense. And you’ll save even more energy if you cook with smaller, electricity-saving appliances like microwave and toaster ovens, slow cookers, pressure cookers and air fryers.

Instead of getting in and spending an hour preparing your meal, or choosing a fast, unhealthy option, you can have a wholesome dinner on the table in just a few minutes. As well as saving precious time on cooking every day and energy cost, you will also save time on grocery shopping. Batch cooking means you only need to do a food shop once every week, or even less frequently depending on how much you cook.

5. Unplug electronic appliances when not in use

A simple way to create a more energy-efficient kitchen is to unplug small appliances when you're not using them. That means unplugging toasters, convection ovens, microwaves, blenders, bottle warmers, coffee makers, Keurigs and more.

When turned off but still plugged into an electrical outlet, the power devices and electronics are often referred to as "phantom power". Unfortunately, that wasted virtual power can eat into your monthly electricity bill. To ensure you don't waste money and energy cooking, unplug items when you're out of town and/or don't plan on using them for a while.

Finally

There are many ways to save energy at home that can be incorporated into your daily life to get a desired home energy rating without hassle. Not only can you be eco-friendly, but you also save money on your energy bills; it's a win-win!

Knowing your kitchen inside and out will give you a great understanding of its energy needs and requirements, allowing you to save money, save energy, save the planet and eat like a king on taco Tuesday!