Ten Easy Ways to Save Energy in The Kitchen

The kitchen is your home’s biggest energy center. Here’s a quick list to help you save energy — and money — where it counts the most.

1. Use a high-efficiency dishwasher

Modern dishwashers use less water than hand washing — and that means less work for your hot water heater. If you have to hand wash, start with the cleanest dishes and work backwards. It will reduce the need for a second sink full of water.

2. The right pan for the right job

There’s no point using a four quart pan to heat a serving of soup. Use the smallest practical pan, and spend less energy heating metal and more heating food. Gas range? Set the flame so that it’s smaller than the pan bottom. Fire up the side is wasted. On electric stove, pick the element that most closely matches you pan size.

3. Put a lid on it!

Uncovered pans transfer heat from directly into your living space, rather than the food. Cover whenever possible. And speaking of covers: modern pressure cookers are safe and efficient. Always buy new, and follow the directions carefully.

4. Clean your oven

A dirty, carbon-encusted oven is more than unsightly: it’s inefficient. Keep your oven walls sparking clean, and let them reflect heat where it belongs.

5. Coast your cooking

You can safely power off your oven or range several minutes before the food is done. They will both stay warm enough to finish the job. And preheating an oven is more for the convenience of people who write recipes than any particular cooking need. Put your food in as soon as the heat is turned on.

6. Use the microwave

Not only is it fast, but your microwave is the kitchen’s undisputed efficiency champ. That’s because its energy goes straight into heating the food, not the air or a pan which surrounds it. Invest in a good microwave cookbook and make sure you have a good selection of microwave-safe casseroles and dishes.

7. Buy a toaster oven

Sometimes a microwave won’t do — when you’re browning something, for instance. Toaster ovens are fast, inexpensive, and a great alternative to firing up a big oven for small jobs.

8. Tighten up that seal

Here’s a test: put a piece of paper in the refrigerator door, close it, and see if you can easily slide the paper out. If so, it might be time to change the door seal. If the paper can slip out, so can cold air.

9. Organize the fridge

Your parents were right — standing in front of an open fridge lets the cold air out and forces the compressor to compensate. Get your contents organized so you can find what you want right away. An overfilled refrigerator or freezer is also tough on air circulation. Dump what you don’t need. And never locate the fridge immediately adjacent to a stove or oven. The cooler your refrigerator’s immediate environment, the less energy it will use.

10. Consider raw foods

You can read about the reported health benefits of raw (lightly or uncooked) foodshere. But going raw is certainly an energy saver. Try it a few times a month and see what you think.