Cooking Up Savings in the Kitchen

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, kitchen appliances account for more than 20% of the total electric bill in the average home.  When you add to this the hot water and lights used, it becomes obvious that the kitchen represents a substantial area for energy savings.

Every Day Choices

Clean does matter

• Blackened burner pans absorb a lot of heat.  Keep them shiny and bright so that they reflect the heat up to the cookware.
• Spills and splatters in a microwave absorb the energy as readily as cooking food.  Clean microwaves operate more efficiently.

Reduce your cooking time

• Before you start…….by defrosting frozen foods in the refrigerator before cooking.  With conventional ovens, keep preheat time to a minimum.
• While you cook……..by improving airflow.  Stagger multiple pans and don’t lay foil on oven racks.  Avoid peeking as you cook.  And turn off the oven or stove just before the cooking is finished to prevent overcooking.
• Next time, by cooking double portions.  Reheating prepared food uses less energy than cooking from scratch.  Also, make sure you use the self-cleaning option in your oven infrequently and only after you’ve cooked a meal so it can use the residual heat.

Use the energy-saving settings

• On your dishwasher and other appliances

Use the right cooking method for the meal

• Minimize the area that must be heated by using the smallest appliance capable of doing the job.
• Use right-sized pots and always cook with the lid on.
• Learn the secrets that make efficient cooking methods (like the microwave and pressure cooker) work for preparing high quality meals for your family – see opportunity below!

Great Opportunity

Join Idaho Power and the Boise Public Library Monday, October 26, from 7 to 9 p.m. for a fun, free class entitled “Cooking Up Savings at Home.”  Linda Gossett from the University of Idaho Extension office will reintroduce the pressure pot and show you how to get great MEALS from your microwave.  You’ll leave with recipes and ideas for making quick, energy efficient and healthy meals for your family.

Simple Kitchen Upgrades

If your kitchen is the social center of your home and in-use well after dark, replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) will save you up to 75% on the cost of lighting this “hub.”  CFLs are currently available at reduced prices at participating stores.  See Idaho power dot com slash energy efficiency for details.

Wise Investments for the Kitchen

• If you’re still relying on a pre-1993 refrigerator or freezer, consider replacing it with an ENERGY STAR model as soon as you are able and receive $30 back from Idaho Power.

For more energy saving ideas, visit the Idahopower.com/energyefficiency