Recipe for success: Easy kitchen energy tips
If you can find ways to save energy in the kitchen, you could reduce your electricity usage and take more control of your electricity bill. Between exploring the most energy-efficient appliances, learning about electrification and trying some energy saving tips, it could be easier than you think to save energy in the kitchen.
Try these quick kitchen energy tips
Small changes can make a difference to your electricity usage. If you need some quick wins to save energy in the kitchen, try these energy saving tips first:
- Don’t use your microwave as a clock. Switch it off at the power point when you’re not using it – all that standby power can really add up over a year.
- If you have a second fridge, switch it off when you don’t need it (for example, you might not use it in the cooler months of the year).
- Clean the grease vent in your rangehood or exhaust fan once a month to keep it running well. This means it will need to use less electricity to function properly.
Think about your electricity usage at different times of day
If you have solar power and/or a time-of-use electricity plan, have a think about how you could use more of your electricity during the middle of the day. This way, you can make the most of either your solar power or your cheaper off-peak rates. You could set your dishwasher to run during the day instead of after dinner – or set your slow cooker to cook dinner during the day and make the most of your middle-of-the-day electricity usage.
To get more details on when you use the most electricity in home, check out My Account.
Try these other cooking hacks which could save energy in the kitchen
When you’re planning what to cook for dinner, here are some ways you could potentially reduce your electricity use:
- Use an air-fryer instead of your oven when you can. The space inside an air-fryer is smaller than your oven, which means it takes less energy to heat and cooks your food faster.
- Make your meals in large batches and freeze some for later. Reheating your food later is likely to use less energy than cooking that same meal again from scratch.
- Look for ways to minimise heat loss when you’re cooking. For example, use the oven light and window to check on your cooking rather than opening the oven door and letting the heat escape.
- Set a slow cooker to cook during the day, rather than using your oven at night.
A bonus tip for winter: When you’re cooking, make the most of that warm air to help heat your kitchen and living areas rather than switching the heating on.
Use these fridge and freezer energy saving tips
Here are some ways you could potentially save energy with your fridge and freezer:
- Plan what you need to get out before you open the fridge or freezer door. You want to keep the cold air inside, as this means these kitchen appliances need to use less electricity to stay cool.
- Rather than putting hot food straight in the fridge, let it cool down a bit first. Always follow food safe recommendations.
- If you’re grabbing something from the freezer for dinner later, try to defrost any frozen food in the fridge first, rather than in the microwave.
- Defrost your freezer regularly to help it operate more efficiently.
- Check the seals on your fridge and freezer to watch out for cold air leaks.
- Try not to overstock your fridge and freezer, as this means more electricity is needed to keep everything cool. With a bit of space between items, the cold air can circulate.
Choose energy efficient kitchen appliances
When it’s time to upgrade your toaster, microwave, fridge, freezer, dishwasher and other kitchen helpers, it’s worth exploring the most energy efficient kitchen appliances.
Look for the energy star-rating as a guide. The more stars a kitchen appliance has, the less electricity it uses to run, compared with less efficient models of that appliance. The more energy efficient kitchen appliances might cost more to buy at the time, but are likely to cost less to run in the longer term, compared with models which use more electricity.
Consider an induction cooktop
Compared to cooking powered by other energy sources, choosing an electric induction cooktop could be a more energy efficient option. Induction generates heat in the bottom of the pan rather than in the stove hob, so less heat can escape from between the hob and the pan. Induction cooking can also offer more temperature control – and an induction stovetop is generally flat, so it’s easier to clean.
A few simple changes to how you use electricity can help you to save energy in the kitchen. To take more control of your electricity usage, try our best home energy tips.
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