10 Ways To Save Energy While Cooking

The way you cook impacts a lot on your energy usage and electricity costs. When you use efficient methods in the kitchen, you save electricity while still making delicious meals. In this article, I will share the 10 ways to save energy while cooking in a very simple way that you will never forget.

1. Use the right size pots and pans

If you want to save energy while cooking, you should use pots and pans that are the same size as the burners on your stove. Advice from the Department of Energy says:

• Using a 6-8 quart pot uses 25% less energy than a 12-quart pot to boil the same amount of water. The smaller pot has less surface area to heat up.

• A pot over 1-2 inches larger than the burner size causes inefficient heat transfer. Oversized pots lead to uneven cooking.

• A pot too small for the burner allows escaping heat, increasing cooking time.

Benefits of right-sized cookware:

• Less energy is wasted heating empty space in an oversized pot.

• Food cooks faster since less surface area needs heating.

• Allows even heat distribution for proper cooking.

Check your cookware dimensions and match pots and pans to corresponding burner sizes for optimal energy transfer. Use lower heat settings when possible for additional efficiency.

2. Choose Efficient Cooking Methods

The cooking method significantly impacts energy use. Consider these efficient options:

Steaming

When compared to boiling in an open pot, steaming something with a lid that fits snugly uses a lot less energy. Vegetables can be steamed in a single batch in steamers with many tiers stacked atop one another.

Pressure Cooking

• Pressurized steam cooks food up to 70% faster, according to USDA data, saving time and energy.

• Pressure cooking makes meat tender and keeps it moist compared to oven roasting.

• Electric pressure cookers offer the facility of setting cooking times and heat levels as needed.

Stir-Frying

• Constant motion stir-frying cooks food quickly over high heat.

• Little oil is required compared to pan-frying or sautéing, per Berkeley Wellness experts.

• Use a flat-bottomed wok to maximize contact with the cooking surface.

Induction Cooking

• Induction directly heats pans using electromagnetism versus heat transfer from burners.

• Multiple studies show induction cooktops consume 10-20% less energy compared to standard electric stovetops.

• Match cookware to induction – use magnetic-based pans such as cast iron or stainless steel.

Consider the energy efficiency tradeoffs of different methods like grilling, broiling, simmering, and more.

3. Invest in Efficient Cooking Appliances

Appliance energy efficiency should be considered for all kitchen equipment purchases.

Seek Energy Star Certified Models

• Energy Star labels show that the appliances exceed federal efficiency standards – verified by EPA testing.

• Energy Star appliances consume 10-50% less energy than average conventional models.

• Energy Star kitchen appliances include refrigerators, dishwashers, ovens, cooktops, range hoods, and more.

Choose Appropriate Sized Appliances

Appliances that are bigger than usual use more energy than is usually needed in a home. Toaster ovens, mini-fridges, and movable induction burners are all examples of small appliances that do their job well.

Maintain Appliances Properly

• Regularly clean surfaces, filters, vents, and internal components to maintain efficiency.

• Check insulation, seals, and components are in good working order.

• Replace worn-out parts affecting performance promptly.

4. Preheat Properly

Preheating is essential for even cooking results but should be minimized.

Benefits of Preheating

• Distributes heat consistently, allowing food to cook faster.

• Prevents unevenly cooked or unsafe foods.

• Warms cookware and releases condensation that can inhibit browning.

Considerations

• Preheating for longer than 5 minutes rarely improves results, per Energy Star testing.

• Limit appliance door opening, which causes heat loss.

• Place food items immediately once the target temp is reached.

• Cast iron pans can preheat quickly on the stovetop and then transfer to the oven.

Optimize preheating time for the recipe and weight of the dish – heavier items may need slightly longer.

5. Keep Cookware Covered

Using lids while cooking provides efficiency advantages:

• Lids trap steam, which cooks food faster by efficiently transferring heat.

• They retain moisture, flavors, and nutrients that would otherwise evaporate away.

• Lids keep heat concentrated inside the vessel rather than dissipating from uncovered cookware.

• According to Department of Energy guidance, keeping lids on while cooking can reduce energy usage by 66% or more.

Cover pots and pans as much as possible with tight-fitting lids. Cook with lids askew if some evaporation is needed per the recipe.

6. Avoid Overcooking Food

Food loses both its flavour and its nutritional value when it is overcooked, and this wastes energy.

In order to prevent overcooking, Install timers so you won’t accidentally go over the recommended cooking periods in recipes.

To know the exact reading of when food is done, especially meat, a food thermometer is essential. Learn the several visual checks that indicate when the process is finished, such as the brownness, jiggle factor, and knife tests.

To get the most out of your energy and time, give items just enough time in the oven to become fully cooked. The additional energy required for overcooking can be reduced by removing meals as soon as they are finished cooking in a timely manner.

7. Clean Cooking Appliances and Surfaces

• Allow appliances to fully cool before cleaning – attempting to clean a hot oven can burn skin or damage surfaces. Wait at least 30-45 mins after oven use before cleaning.

• For stuck-on food spills, allow the oven cleaner to soak for the recommended time before scrubbing. Rushing can spread the mess, while vigorous scrubbing damages surfaces.

• Clean loose crumbs and drips after each appliance use rather than allowing buildup. Wipe up stove and counters after cooking. Crumbs are harder to remove when baked.

• According to Energy Star, replacing old, worn-out appliances improves efficiency by 15-30% on average. As appliances age, degraded insulation and seals cause energy waste.

• Check appliance manuals for any special cleaning instructions. For example, some glass stovetops recommend only using non-abrasive sponges to avoid scratching.

8. Use Microwaves for Small Meals

• Microwaving a baked potato uses 80% less energy than oven-baking it, according to Penn State researchers. Their concentrated heat works well for smaller items.

• Inverter microwaves use sensors and variable magnetron power to customize heat delivery, improving efficiency. This more evenly heats food, especially frozen items.

• Allow food to fully cool before placing it in the microwave if cooking multiple batches. Adding hot items raises the cooking chamber temperature, wasting energy re-heating it.

• Adjust power settings and times to prevent overcooking. Microwaves can overheat or dry out foods quickly. Lower power for longer prevents this.

9. Use Pestle and Mortar and Save Energy while cooking

Using a manual pestle and mortar to prepare ingredients in the kitchen can save money in several ways:

• Requires no electricity to operate, cutting energy costs from powered appliances like blenders or food processors. The human-powered grinding motion minimizes energy usage. It can be used during power outages when other appliances aren’t operational.

• Pestles and mortars last for decades with proper care. The stone construction is extremely durable compared to most kitchen appliances. There are no replaceable parts that can wear out over time. It saves money by avoiding appliance replacements.

• Multi-purpose functionality reduces the need for several different appliances. A pestle and mortar can take the place of spice grinders, herb choppers, nut mills, and more. You don’t have to purchase separate uni-task tools.

• Manual grinding and crushing provide a fresher flavour compared to pre-processed ingredients. You can customize the texture perfectly for each recipe. Enjoying the fullest flavour means you may need less spice and herb quantities.

• It facilitates small-batch preparation and minimizes waste. You can quickly grind just the amount of spice or herbs needed rather than having excess go stale from bulk purchases or preparations.

• A quality set typically costs under $50 and will last indefinitely. Replacing multiple appliances over time would be far costlier.

With a few minutes of physical effort, the pestle and mortar provide an eco-friendly, economical preparation method perfect for herbs, spices, nuts, garlic, and more. The simplicity saves energy and replacement costs in the kitchen.

10. Eliminate Standby “Vampire” Power

Unplugging just one extra television can save around $10 per year by avoiding standby energy waste, according to Berkeley Lab estimates. Advanced power strips with an auto shut-off feature can detect when devices are in standby mode and automatically cut off power flow. This prevents vampire loads.

Chargers continue drawing power when plugged in even after devices are fully charged. Unplug or use smart power strips to eliminate this waste. To save money and energy, unplug the Microwave, washing machine, and other small appliances in the kitchen.

The EPA’s free Home Energy Yardstick calculator estimates how much vampire loads cost your household annually and steps to reduce wasted standby power.

FAQs About Efficient Cooking

The final words

When it comes to saving money and energy in the kitchen, one of the most beneficial things one can do is implement energy-saving measures. Among these benefits are the following:

Helps save money not only on energy prices but also on the costs of other utilities.

Reduces the influence on the environment while simultaneously protecting the resources that are already in place.