First published August 2008, updated April 2011
I marvel at how energy efficient my gas camp stove is - a 4 pound bottle lasts
me 3 weeks or more - I wondered why the gas ranges in domestic kitchens aren't
the same.
It seems some of the reason is due to the type of gas; but much of the issue is
noise - a camp stove is quite noisy compared to a household gas range, but it's
this feature that makes it so efficient - the size and number of holes in the
burner. It's another example of how we have swapped efficiency for aesthetics to
our financial and the environment's detriment.
We do use a heck of a lot of energy when cooking - think about how long it
takes to bring a pot of water to boil on an electric stove - turned up full
blast, it's chewing up to and sometimes beyond 2400 watts per hour.
While there may not be noxious fumes pouring out of your kitchen (unless you
burn something or are cooking cabbage), they are produced elsewhere; for
example, where your electricity is generated.
Coal fired electricity generation
is a major contributor to carbon dioxide emissions; the main culprit causing
climate change. It's also a major source of mercury emissions and other atmospheric pollutants.
While comparatively cleaner, natural
gas is a fossil fuel; another industry that has inflicted a huge amount of
environmental damage and is set to do more through the increase of extraction processes such as fracking.
There are some ways to work around the inefficient appliances in our kitchens
to reduce their environmental impact; here's a few tips:
1. Cover up
Where possible, cover up your pots and pans. This will help your food to cook
more quickly and generates a higher temperature allowing you to turn down the
stove.
2. Taking the heat off
Instead of turning off the stove when the food is done, experiment a little
with switching it off just before the food is cooked. An electric frypan can be
switched off a minute or two earlier, and oven up to 10 - 20 minutes depending
on how well it's insulated and sealed. It may not sound like a huge saving, but
particularly with electric stoves, the dollars will add up.
3. Nuke it
Instead of boiling water in a pan; zap it in a microwave instead. In fact,
try to use a microwave as much as possible as it will save a stack of
electricity.
4. In the raw
What is it with cooking carrots? They taste great uncooked in my opinion; as
do many other veggies. Experiment a little more with raw foods. You'll not only
save electricity and gas, but nutrients which cooking destroys.
5. Be prepared
I fired up the fry pan sometimes and then started slicing and dicing - tch
tch; wasting a bit of gas in the process. Always ensure your ingredients are
prepared as much as possible before turning on the heat.
6. Slow food
Growing up in the 70's, crock pots were all the rage. These were heavy pots
that took ages to cook anything, but cooked at a very low temperature. The idea
was to switch it on before you head off to work and by the time you came home,
the food was done. Saved power and the end results were delicious too!
7. Hot stuff
Not ready to eat just yet? Instead of having the stove top going to keep it
warm, wrap the pot up in a towel - this will help insulate it for quite a while.
8. Splurge on pots and pans
Resist buying cheap pots and pans - they'll cost you more in the long run. A
good sturdy, thick walled set will last you a lifetime and while they take a
little longer to heat up, the heat distribution is better and they'll also store
heat for longer. Glass and ceramic pots and pans are said to be the most
efficient, but personally I like heavy steel as I'm a bit of a klutz at times.
9. The right pan for the job
If you can see the heating element or the gas flame is licking a little on
the side of the pot or pan, it's too small and much of the heat is being wasted.
10. Keep the door closed
How's your oven door glass looking? It's worth spending the time to keep it
clean so you can see in rather than opening the door to check on the food.
11. Drop the pilot
(Apologies to Joan Armatrading and fans). Older gas ovens may have a pilot
light that burns 24/7. While it's a small flame, over the period of a day, it
uses a lot of gas. Consider switching it off (properly).
12. Water, water everywhere
Only use as much water as you need in a pot. Every extra drop requires more
energy to heat and will increase the cooking time.
Observing some or all of the points above won't save the environment, but
when millions of us take these small steps in conserving energy, it certainly
adds up!
Have some tips you'd like to share on saving gas and electricity when
cooking? Please add them below!
For other ways of being more energy efficient around the home, check out my electricity
saving tips.
