Your kitchen can be one of the biggest energy wasters in your entire household. With all the large and small appliances, and all the activity that goes on there, there is always something waiting to drain energy. There are many simple tricks to saving energy in your kitchen, however. Follow some of these tips to see a dip in next month’s electricity bill.
1. Cook Items Together
Instead of having several pots on the stovetop while making a meal, think about what could be cooked together. For example, when making rice and broccoli, simply throw the broccoli on top of the rice when the rice is almost fully cooked. This will give the broccoli a chance to be steamed and you can then serve it together or separately, depending on your needs.
2. Unplug Appliances When Not in Use
Even when appliances are turned off, they are still using small bits of energy if they are plugged into the wall. These small amounts of energy can add up over the long run. Get into the habit of unplugging any appliances you are not using at the moment. This includes toasters, coffee makers, kettles, and any other appliance you may have.
3. Don’t Raid the Refrigerator Often
Although you have likely heard someone say, “Don’t stand there with the fridge door open” at some point in your life, you may not realize the reality behind why they used this statement. Leaving the fridge door open is a surprising energy waster. Get what you need and close it up again. Skip the moments where you are just lounging in with the fridge door open, hoping something exciting and tasty will pop into your vision and grab your attention.
4. Defrost Food in the Fridge
Instead of using the microwave, defrost your food in the fridge. All it takes is a little pre-planning. If you know what you are going to need from the freezer for tomorrow’s meal, take it out and put it into the fridge to defrost overnight, and you will reduce your microwave use.
5. Do It By Hand
Fancy gadgets are nice, but do you really need to use all of them? Instead of using a hand mixer, mix it by hand. Skip the cute plug-in toys such as electric knives, peelers, and everything else you’ve probably bought in a moment of shopping pleasure. Your hands are the most efficient gadgets anyhow.
6. Use Glass Cookware
Glass conducts heat better than many other materials. Because of this, you can lower the oven temperature by 25 degrees Fahrenheit and still cook your food in the same amount of time. This little trick saves energy little by little, and it all adds up in the long run.
7. Use a Lid on the Stovetop
Why leave the lid off when cooking? If you keep the lid on while cooking on the stovetop, you will cook your food faster, without as much energy waste. Leaving the lid off simply allows too much heat to be dispersed, and wasted.
Saving energy in the kitchen doesn’t have to be a chore. With a few simple steps, you will be well on your way to reducing your energy use and saving on your monthly electricity bill. After a while, saving energy will become second nature.
Until Next Time
Dominus Owen Markham
The Nord Skov
Living Off Grid