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Is Cooking Eating Up Your Energy Dollars?

Home cooking is a great way to make healthy and flavorful meals, but careless habits can be a recipe for energy waste.

Is Cooking Eating Up Your Energy Dollars?

Don't waste money with careless cooking habits. These simple measures are your recipe for energy savings.

Published: 11/27/2024 4:50:01 PM

Home cooking is a great way to make healthy and flavorful meals, but careless habits can be a recipe for energy waste.

Cooking dollars

Home cooking is a great way to make healthy and flavorful meals for you and your family, but careless kitchen habits are a recipe for energy waste. The good news is you have a full menu of opportunities while preparing meals and cleaning dishes to help trim your energy costs.

Ingredients for energy savings

  • Keep your range top and oven clean. A well-maintained appliance will cook more evenly and efficiently.
  • Preheat the oven to the exact temperature needed. Preheating isn't necessary for foods that cook for several hours.
  • Limit the number of times you open the oven door. Opening the door can lower the oven temperature by as much as 25 degrees.
  • Match the size of the pot or pan to the size of the burner. A 6-inch pan on an 8-inch burner can waste 40% of the energy used, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
  • Cover pots and pans to cook food faster and more efficiently. An added bonus is that the kitchen will stay cooler in the summer.
  • Use glass or ceramic baking dishes whenever possible. They retain heat better than metal cookware.
  • Consider your cooking options. Microwaves, slow cookers and toaster ovens are great options for simple meals or leftovers. They use less energy than a conventional oven or range top.

Low-cost cleanup

  • Clean dishes using your dishwasher, which typically uses less energy and water than hand washing.
  • Scrape dishes instead of rinsing them before loading them into the dishwasher.
  • If you do rinse, use cold water to reduce energy use for water heating.
  • To optimize dishwasher energy use, wait until you have a full load before running it.

Energy-efficient upgrades

If your kitchen appliances — such as your range, dishwasher or refrigerator — are older or need repair, consider upgrading to ENERGY STAR®-certified models. ENERGY STAR appliances are independently tested to ensure they use less energy than standard units while still providing the performance you expect.

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  • My Account
    • Account Information
      • Start/Stop Electric Service
      • SmartHub Account Portal
      • Capital Credits
      • Contact Us
      • 2024 Rate Restructuring
    • Billing Information
      • Payment Options
      • Rates & Regulations
      • Demand Information
      • Understanding your Bill
      • PrePaid Advantage Program
      • Bill Payment Assistance
    • Outage Information
      • Outage Information
      • Outage Map
      • Right-of-Way Procedures
  • My Cooperative
    • News and Events
      • News
      • Publications
      • Annual Meeting
      • Annual Reports
      • Co-ops Vote
    • About EIEC
      • About Us
      • Board of Directors
      • Employees
      • Service Territory
      • Employment
    • Co-op Information
      • What Makes Co-ops Different?
      • Power Supply
      • Governance
      • Touchstone Energy
  • My Community
    • Community Involvement
      • Co-op Connections
      • Request a Speaker
      • Sharing Success Program
      • Grassroots Advocacy
    • Educational Programs
      • Empowering Education Grant Program
      • Youth to Washington Program
      • School Presentations
      • IEC Scholarship Program
  • Energy Solutions
    • Save Money
      • Energy Efficiency
      • Together We Save
      • Geothermal & Air-Source Heat Pumps
      • Insulation
      • Request an Energy Evaluation
    • Energy Programs
      • Heat Pump Rebate Program
      • Business Development
      • Standby Generators
      • Electric Vehicles
    • Renewable Energy
      • General Information
      • Net Metering
      • Net Billing
      • Qualifying Facilities
      • Bright Options Solar
  • Safety
    • Call Before You Dig
    • Safety Tips
    • Storm Safety
    • Safety Quiz
    • Outdoor Lighting