Your cooking range is probably one of the most often used appliances in your home. Women fond of cooking often buy cooking range online to keep up with the latest in technology. Consequently, a considerable amount of the energy used in your home. However, there are ways to cook more efficiently on your appliance range.
Savings start with the very purchase of the range
Just like is the case with almost any tool, the specific type that you buy makes a huge difference in the energy savings. Discussed below are the most common ranges available along with their pros and cons –
Gas
Pros: Gas heats your cookware much faster and enables greater control over cooking. Also, gas doesn’t typically heat the entire kitchen either. As a result, your cooking will involve lesser time and the house will remain cooler.
Cons: A gas range is a tad more expensive to buy as well as install. And even if low, the danger of gas leaks always lurks on our minds.
Electric
Pros: Any electric range can be used for almost an hour at 350 degrees for the cost of around 2 kilowatt-hours of electricity. Yes, that’s a very affordable rate. In the winters it helps to keep your house warm, relieving little burden off your heater.
Cons: All electric ranges take longer time for cooling down after being turned off, which means your entire house may be affected. Electric ranges are welcomed in the cold winter months, but not much in the summer because your A/C is already working long hours.
Convection
Pros: Convection cooking gives more heat and fast cooking.
Cons: Due to this, cooking timings must be adapted.
Maximizing your energy savings extends to your choice of cookware:
Choose the right cookware. Irrespective of what most consumers consider as a sales pitch, there are many differences in the way cookware cooks your food. Also, there are advantages and disadvantages of each type. Which type you decide on is best determined by your way and style of cooking.
Match your cookware to your burner. If you use a large pot or utensil on a burner which is small and vice versa, you will waste energy. The pan you will use must match the burner’s size as closely as possible in order to avoid using excess energy.
Keep it clean. Often food falls on the surface of a range, mostly baked-on food, and this is when the heat tends to be absorbed instead of reflecting. A well kept and clean surface reflects heat more effectively.
Use your microwave little more Microwave ovens use a lot less power and thus should be used more.
Defrost the food prior to cooking. If you start your cooking with frozen, you will only waste energy. If you start cooking with the defrosted item, you save time and money.
If research is to be believed, the total energy used for cooking is only about five percent of the total bill. However, money saved is money earned and in the long run, saving energy pays off well.