Saving energy in the kitchen is easier than
you might think. The kitchen is a homey and inviting room where we spend a fair
bit of time preparing our tasty meals and experimenting with new culinary
masterpieces to delight our loved ones with.
If you want to stop wasting energy in your
kitchen then there are things you can do right now to change this. In saving
energy you will also save yourself money!
What can you do?
When you are using your oven keep the door
shut as much as you possibly can. If you want to check on your casserole or the
yummy chocolate chip cookies you are baking then turn the oven light on and
look through the glass door instead of opening up the oven to peer inside.
Every time you open the door to have a look heat escapes. Uh oh!
When you are using your stove keep lids on your
pots and pans as much as you can. This helps to reduce heat loss. When you are
boiling something turn the heat down once it starts to boil. You probably do
this as per the recipes you follow but in case you don’t start doing it today.
If you cut food into smaller pieces as opposed
to larger pieces it will cook faster and this will reduce your cooking time. Do
this with meat and vegetables.
The warm foods you have left over from a
meal that you want to save for the next day need time to cool before they are placed
into the refrigerator. Not only will this save energy but it will prevent the
development of bacteria. Make sure that leftovers are eaten soon after bring refrigerated.
They will keep for a day or two but not a week or two!
It is more energy efficient to cook large
portions of food all at once as opposed to cooking small amounts at one time. If
you freeze some of the food you have prepared and place into individual
containers then you will have ready-made meals that you can take out of the
freezer at a moment’s notice and reheat in the microwave. Lunch or supper will
be ready instantly!
Make sure that air is able to circulate
around the back of your refrigerator and your freezer. If possible do not place
either one of these appliances close to a source of heat. You should also try to
situate your large appliances where they will not come in contact with direct
sunlight.
Check the temperature of your refrigerator
and your freezer. You want to set them both at the appropriate temperature
which is not too cold and not too warm. When you set these appliances to the
right temperature you will not overuse energy and you will know that your food
is being stored effectively temperature wise.
When opening the door to your fridge or
freezer don’t linger too long. Keeping the door open too long will allow energy
to escape.
When buying a new dishwasher, freezer or
refrigerator purchase one with the Energy Star logo. This is your guarantee
that you are selecting the most energy and water efficient appliances on the
market.
Purchase a dishwasher that is sized
correctly for the needs of your household. For instance, if you have a large
family then choose a full-sized dishwasher. For a smaller family go with a
dishwasher that is compact in design.
Only use the dishwasher once you have a
full load to wash. A half load setting will use more than half the energy of a
full load of dishes. This increases your costs tremendously!
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