Energy Saving Tips in the Kitchen

The kitchen is one area of your home that is a hotspot for energy wastage. Running all those appliances can have a serious impact on your monthly energy bills, which is why it is important to follow energy saving tips in your home. Below are a few quick ways to save energy in your kitchen, ensuring you do your bit to help the environment and your back pocket. Other areas of your home can also benefit from some of these energy saving techniques.

Fridge and freezer energy saving tips

The optimum operating temperature for your fridge is between 4 and 5 degrees Celsius (39 degrees Fahrenheit).

The optimum operating temperature for your freezer is between -15 and -18 degrees Celsius (5 degrees Fahrenheit).

Set yours to these levels and do your best to keep them there. Having your fridge and freezer in the sun is one example of how external elements can impact temperatures and increase your energy bill.

Ensuring both these appliances are in a well-ventilated area is another way to save on energy costs. Having a five centimetre gap around your fridge so air can circulate freely is generally a good rule of thumb.

Zap food in the microwave instead of the oven

Microwaves use less energy than ovens. With this in mind, it is a good idea to utilize your microwave to assist in the cooking process. Zapping frozen food in the microwave before putting it in the oven is a great example of using both appliances to the best of their energy-saving abilities.

You can improve this process even further by thawing items in the fridge before putting them in the microwave or oven.

When you are using the oven, avoid opening the door. This simply lets heat escape and prolongs the cooking process. Be patient and you’ll save in the energy stakes!

Put a lid on it

Make use of lids when cooking using pots and pans on the stovetop. This will not only ensure you use less energy, it will also ensure your food is cooked faster.

What’s more, letting your food slowly simmer away with the lid on will help flavours infuse together for a more delicious end result!

Pop the kettle on

When boiling water, use an electric kettle rather than the stovetop. Electric kettles are quicker, thus saving on energy costs.

This is usually the mindset when making a tea or coffee, but often not the case when boiling vegetables or rice. Getting the water boiling before you put it on the stovetop won’t make your food taste different, so it’s a smart time-saving technique.

Make your sink and dishwasher work as a team

Only ever use your dishwasher when it is full of dirty plates, cutlery and cups. Running the dishwasher when it is half full doesn’t use any less water, meaning you are wasting valuable resources and energy.

If you’re in a situation when you have to get something washed and can’t fill the dishwasher, consider washing it by hand. It might take a bit more effort, but will save you money and help the environment in the process. If you are washing by hand, only use a small amount of hot water and detergent in the sink, instead of running the tap as you wash.

Dylan Thomas utilized information provided by Energy Australia as a basis for this article.