7 Ways to Save Energy in the Kitchen

Whether you're feeding a family or just one, the kitchen is often the beating heart of your home. But spending time in the kitchen usually involves using energy. So, if you're looking to save energy while you cook, follow our tips below:

Keep a lid on it

Keeping lids tightly on pots and pans means that less heat escapes and your stove will use less energy cooking your famous mashed potatoes or dad's favorite meatballs. As a result, water will boil faster, flavors will build in stir-fry quicker, and you'll save time and energy at every meal.

Keep the oven door closed.

We know how tempting it is to sneak a peek at those brownies when they're baking. If you're concerned about things being burnt or overdone, set the timer for a minute less than the recommended cook time and let the residual heat of the container finish the cooking when you take it out. If you have to baste your turkey or check on your pot roast, act fast and don't over-open the oven door.

Use glass or ceramic pans when cooking in the oven

Glass and ceramic conduct heat very well. Whether you want to roast potatoes, cook a casserole, or bake a bread pudding, glass, and ceramic, warm up well and hold heat to keep you from wasting energy in your oven. Just make sure your container says "oven-safe" before you start baking.

Use smaller appliances

Your crockpot, microwave, toaster oven, and rice cooker use much less energy than your stovetop. So if you can get the job done with a smaller appliance—or even just simple tasks like melting butter—go ahead and give your oven and range a break.

Keep your burners clean.

All the extra gunk on your stovetop will divert heat and make your cooking less efficient. Of course, this principle applies to your oven, too.

Let leftovers cool

Don't put hot food directly into the refrigerator. Your fridge will use extra energy trying to balance out its internal temperature. Instead, let your food cool down to room temperature beforehand.

Wait for a full load and don't run the water.

Whether it's a cozy family dinner or a big celebration, when it comes to cleaning up, make sure you wait until you have a full load in the dishwasher before you hit start. More dishes cleaned per load means fewer loads and less energy heating up the water. If you're handwashing dishes, don't run the water while you scrub; you can fill up the sink with hot water for rinsing or turn the water on a few times to get everything rinsed off.