The cost of cooking accounts for about 4% of the average gas and electricity bill - it might not seem like a lot, but when you're trying to cut your energy usage, every little helps.
Changing the way you cook as well as using energy-efficient cooking appliances can reduce the amount of energy you use and cut your energy bills in the process.
Read on for lots of ways to save energy in the kitchen, plus our top twenty tips for energy-efficient cooking.
Choose the most energy-efficient cooking method
If you have an energy monitor, you're bound to have noticed that your oven uses far more electricity than almost any other appliance in your home. Fuel consumption for cooking in general is high compared to other household activities, so that's why it's worth knowing how to reduce the amount of energy you use to prepare food.
As an overview: a microwave oven is the most energy-efficient, followed by a hob and lastly an oven. Therefore, to keep your energy bills down, it's a good idea to purchase a microwave oven if you don't already have one, and to use it for as much cooking as possible. But, remember to switch off your microwave at the wall when you're not using it, so it isn't left using electricity to power its clock.
You can also implement a couple of simple ideas to save on your bills, such as making sure you only fill your kettle with the amount of water you need, and always using the kettle and not the hob to boil water. Likewise, always make toast in your toaster, and not on a grill.
Slow cookers can also be an energy-efficient option - they use just a little more energy than a traditional light bulb, and you can leave your food to cook slowly while you get on with other things.
When you're not using your microwave, follow our top 10 tips to make sure your cooking is as efficient as possible.
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