7 easy energy-saving tips for the kitchen
Energy prices have risen today, which means the typical household in England, Wales and Scotland will see their annual bill rise by about £149 to £1,717.
With winter drawing closer, British families will be on the lookout for ways they can keep energy costs down. The kitchen is a great place to start, as it tends to be where some of the most energy-guzzling appliances reside.
For example, it might surprise you to know that the kettle - an absolute essential in UK households - is a major culprit when it comes to using more electricity than strictly necessary. Other appliances like fridges and freezers, ovens and microwaves understandably use more energy, but there are ways you can minimise this.
Here are seven easy and simple ways you can reduce energy consumption in the kitchen.
1. Always put a lid on your pan
Using a lid whilst cooking with a pan on a hob helps trap the heat and steam your food. "This speeds up cooking and reduces energy consumption," explains personal finance expert Laura Rettie, working with Wren Kitchens. "You’ll find that this is particularly effective for cooking dishes that require liquids like soups, stews or rice."
2. Turn off the oven before you need to
Ovens are a big source of energy consumption, but autumn and winter cooking calls for plenty of oven time. However, you can reduce its usage by simply turning it off a few minutes before your food is ready, as they retain heat even after they’ve been turned off.
This means that the residual heat in the oven will finish cooking your food. This hack works best for dishes that don’t require precise timing, such as casseroles or baked pasta dishes.
3. Don’t leave the fridge door open for long
We’re all guilty of going to the fridge, opening the door and staring at its contents for just a bit too long while we try and figure out what we want. But ditching this habit can actually help save on electricity bills.
The longer the fridge door is open, the more cold air escapes and the harder it is to hold the temperature. Rettie says: "Keeping your fridge door open unnecessarily causes it to work harder to maintain a consistent temperature. Try to minimise the time your fridge is left open to prevent energy wastage. Make sure it's properly sealed by testing the rubber gasket for any gaps or signs of wear."
4. Get into batch cooking
Batch cooking is a popular method of preparing meals ahead of time because it saves time and can mean you’re making lots of healthy, nutritious meals. But preparing larger quantities of food at a time can also help you maximise the efficiency of your appliances and reduce overall energy consumption.
Wren Kitchens recommends cooking during off-peak hours to save even more money.
5. Invest in energy efficient appliances
If you’re the rare household that doesn’t already have an air fryer, it might be a good time to get one. Air fryers are economical and use a lot less energy compared to an oven - according to Utilita, the average air fryer will cost you around 9p per day to use, while an electric oven costs around 31p per day.
Other appliances that are more energy efficient include induction hobs, which are 90% efficient compared to gas, which is around 60%.
6. Use a thermos to reduce kettle usage
Remember when we said the kettle uses up a surprising amount of energy? One way to get around boiling a fresh kettle every single time you want a cuppa is to make use of a thermos.
You can boil a full kettle of water at the start of your day, then simply pour that freshly boiled water into a thermos and seal it shut. Now, whenever you want a new cup of tea or coffee, you can use the already hot water inside the thermos to brew it.
Most energy companies also advise against boiling a full kettle of water whenever you’re making just one of two cups of tea, as this wastes electricity and pushes up your bills. Just boil what you need, it all adds up.
7. Use the ‘passive method’ when cooking pasta
Pasta is a mainstay meal for millions of people, as it’s cheap, delicious and filling. However, this Nigella-approved hack could help you reduce the among of energy you need to boil a pot of pasta.
Known on social media as the ‘passive method’, this trick involves boiling your pasta for just two minutes, before turning off the stove and leaving it in a covered pot until the pasta is fully cooked.
Nigella advises bringing water to the boil, adding salt and your pasta and stirring well to stop it getting stuck to each other. Once the water comes back to the boil, let it cook for two minutes and then turn off the heat and make sure to cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid. Then just let it stand for as long as the packet instructs for normal cooking.
If it’s good enough for Nigella, it’s good enough for us.
Read more about saving money at home:
People told to read meter as energy bills rise (BBC, 4-min read)
How can I lower my energy bills and what help is there for me? (PA Media, 4-min read)
How to prepare your house for the energy price cap rise (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
