Nine ways to save energy in the kitchen
The biggest rise in household energy bills in living memory has come into effect. Here are some energy-saving kitchen hacks that could help reduce your fuel bills...
1.
Whether it’s in the kettle for a cuppa or on the stove, only boil the amount of water that you actually need, otherwise it will take longer and use more power.
ONLY BOIL THE WATER YOU NEED
2.
Make sure the pan completely covers the hob ring you’re using, to prevent heat escaping, and turn the power down once it’s reached the right temperature.
3. USE THE RIGHT RING PUT A LID ON PANS
It’s easy to whack a pan full of water on the hob and forget to pop the lid on. Heat will escape and it will take longer to boil.
4. BATCH COOK
By batch-cooking things like curry, soup, veg and grains ahead of time, you only need to quickly heat up dishes before serving.
5. USE THE MICROWAVE MORE
As it’s smaller and faster, the microwave is generally the most energy efficient way to cook and reheat food.
6.
“Try to pre-heat your oven for just a few minutes,” says British Gas engineer Sunny Solanky. “And switch it off five minutes before your food is done.”
DON’T PREHEAT FOR TOO LONG
7.
Loading up the oven with, say, a chicken, potatoes and pudding, won’t affect the cooking process, and you’ll save energy compared to cooking them separately.
COOK SEVERAL THINGS AT ONCE 8. USE THE FAN SETTING
Sunny says: “Circulated air transfers heat faster than air that’s not moving, which means fan ovens are more energy efficient.”
9.
“Cool your batch-cooked meals thoroughly before freezing,” says David Palmer, senior home appliances product specialist at LG. “Putting hot food into a freezer will cause a temperature increase, resulting in other foods defrosting and higher energy costs.”
USE YOUR FREEZER EFFICIENTLY