Turkey in the oven, the table set for the whole family, and football calls and laughter as the background noise make a day full of holiday cheer. It can only mean one thing: the holidays have arrived! Whether taking on the role of hosting a holiday meal or pitching in to help as a guest, being mindful of energy savings and cooking safety is key for having your holidays go off without a hitch! It may come as a surprise, but cooking can have a huge effect on your energy costs, and holidays certainly pack a lot of cooking into one day.
As you hit the grocery store with your list and prep your kitchen for a day of hustle and bustle, take a moment to read this article to incorporate some of our energy-saving and cooking safety tips. We promise these tips will only make your holiday meal taste that much better (and your energy bill lower!)
Use Your Oven & Stove Efficiently
The oven is typically center stage for cooking the main dishes of your holiday meal. This means it has a big job to do, and with your help, you can allow it to work at maximum efficiency with these tips.
- Clean your oven. A regularly and properly cleaned oven and stovetop will allow for even heat distribution resulting in less energy expenditure.
- Check the door seal. Ensure that your oven door seals closely so heat does not escape through any cracks.
- Keep the door closed. Your oven can lose 15–30°F every time you open the door, even if you are just taking a quick peek. If you leave the door open for 30 seconds (to stir your casserole or check a protein’s temperature, for example), the temperature can drop by 150°F or more. The more frequently you open the oven door, the more time it will take for your dishes to cook, which means more energy usage. Try using the oven’s window and light to check from the outside.
- Use glass or ceramic cookware. These materials retain more heat than metal, so your dishes will cook more efficiently.
- Combine cooks. If you have several dishes to cook, try matching up oven times and temperatures to cook in batches. This will save you energy and cooking time in the long run.
- Match pot and burner sizes. Mismatched pots and burner sizes either waste energy for large burners and small pots or cause uneven heating for small burners and large pots.
- Add a lid. When appropriate, lids will cook your dishes faster by trapping in heat.
Utilize Different Appliances
From air fryers to instant pots, cooking meals is no longer one size fits all. Try utilizing some of your other kitchen appliances to make your holiday meal this year.
- Microwaves use up to 80% less energy than conventional ovens, making them a great option for tasks like softening vegetables or defrosting meat so they can spend less time in the oven.
- Slow cookers are surprisingly very energy efficient and can run in the background while you’re preparing other items.
- Air fryers use roughly half the amount of energy than conventional ovens.
- Instant pots are also an energy-efficient appliance, preparing most dishes in a very short amount of time.
Always be sure to choose ENERGY STAR-certified appliances to ensure you are using the most efficient items on the market!
Always Cook Safely
Cooking brings so much joy to our homes. However, it’s imperative that it is done safely to avoid any accidents. Every year, more than 170,000 home fires are caused by cooking. This accounts for 44% of all home fires. With these safety measures in place, you can put your mind at ease.
- Check your smoke detector. Testing your fire alarms monthly helps ensure they work properly in case of a fire.
- Never use your oven for space heating. Using gas ovens as a heating source can create a carbon monoxide hazard.
- Make sure you have a fire extinguisher nearby. Be sure to have this invaluable item in your home all days of the year in case of an emergency.
- If you have natural gas appliances, take notice of any out-of-the-ordinary odors. For safety purposes, natural gas has a “rotten egg” odor for leak detection. If you happen to smell this odor while cooking, immediately turn off the appliance and leave the area. Call 911 from a safe location.
- Use LED lighting. LED under-cabinet lighting lowers energy expenses and minimizes the potential risk of burns or fires. LEDs emit less than 5% of their energy as heat, whereas incandescent bulbs can release up to 90% as heat. LED lights can be used in a variety of applications and are easy to find on the market today.
- Don’t leave cooking food unattended – If you leave the kitchen, be sure to turn off your stove. Unattended food is the number one cause of kitchen fires. You can also set alarms and timers to ensure your food does not burn. This also cuts down on energy usage as you’re not overcooking or overheating your items.
Looking for more energy-saving tips? Check out our blog or contact the experts at UGI EnergyLink today!