Energy Saving Cooking Habits

jchait — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 03:13:37 -0400

The kitchen is a great place to make and meet some new energy saving goals. There's always plenty happening in the kitchen, and thus there's a lot you can change to keep your kitchen cooking as green as possible.

Follow these tips for an energy saving kitchen experience:

If it's up to you go with a gas range. Gas is far less problematic on the planet than electric. There's not much of a comparison when you consider natural gas vs. the much higher pollution producing electricity.

Match your pots to your burner size, so less energy escapes.

Never open the oven door while you're cooking. Your food won't cook any faster just because you have a staring contest with it, and lots of energy is released when you open that door. Use your timer.

Cool a lot at once. One potato in the oven is almost a crime. Cook many. Take one day and cook four days worth of meals.

Some eco-advocates note that you can keep your oven at 350 degrees no matter what, and adjust the cooking time to save energy. I've never tried this, but it's a noted tip.

Unplug any appliances that aren’t in use; your blender, toaster, etc. They all drain energy when plugged in.

Your oven vent filters should be clean and fan lubricated in order to prevent heat and energy loss.

Turn off your oven and burners about 7 minutes before a dish is supposed to be done. Cover any pots with a lid, and keep the oven door closed, and your food will use the saved heat to finish that last bit of cooking. Over a year, you'll save tons of energy with this one tip.

Hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th.