Tips for saving energy in cooking

1 A microwave oven is an energy-efficient alternative to a conventional oven. It cooks food more quickly and it uses 70-80% less electricity than a regular oven.

2 When you’re cooking on top of the range, use pots and pans that are properly sized to “fit” the burners. Using a small pan on a large burner wastes energy and can be a safety hazard. Cookware with flat bottoms and tight covers is your best choice. Always cook with lids on your pans, to keep the heat inside and speed up cooking time.

3 If you do use a conventional oven, try to avoid “peeking” by opening the oven door. Each “peek” can lower the oven temperature by 25 degrees. Use a toaster oven to cook small items.

4 Although often recommended, it’s not really necessary to preheat the oven for foods with a cooking time of over one hour. Using glass pans allows you to set the oven 25 degrees lower because glass retains heat.

5 When preparing a meal in your oven, try to use foods that are cooked at about the same temperature. That way your oven can cook several dishes at the same time.

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