Surprisingly, this is not a post about how to cook vegetables. It’s about saving money and energy while you cook. (Tips generously provided by we Energies).
1. Cook with small appliances–microwaves, toasters, electric kettles, electric skillets & crock pots all use less energy than a range.
2. Reduce the heat–keep the temperature high and once your liquid reaches the boiling point, turn it down. Slow boils cook the same as fast boils, but use less energy.
3. Don’t peek in the oven. Every time you open the door, the temperature drops 25 degrees F.
4. Use retained heat. Turn off cook tops or ovens a few minutes before the food has completed cooking. Retained heat will finish the job.
5. Put a lid on it. Cook/boil in a covered container whenever possible–this traps heat inside, using less energy.
6. Make sure your oven seals tightly. If you can move a dollar bill through the closed door, the seal is not tight enough. (This test works for refrigerator and freezer doors as well.)
7. Cook food together–if you’re baking a cake and a casserole for dinner put them in the oven together and run it once.
And finally, my favorite tip from Alton Brown’s Good Eats:
8. Boil your eggs in your electric teakettle. Place the eggs and water in, switch on. Remove eggs 15 minutes after the kettle has switched itself off. It works every time.
Oh good, I’m doing almost all these things, so now I know I’m on the right track.
I had no idea electric kettles use less energy than a range burner!—that goes for gas cooktops?