Cooking with a Conscience: Embracing Energy Efficiency in the Kitchen for Eco-Conscious Foodies 

Amid soaring energy costs and increasing environmental concerns, many eco-conscious cooks want a more energy-efficient kitchen. You may be surprised to learn how much energy you really consume while running your oven or microwave.  

Don’t get stuck with astronomical utility bills. Embrace sustainable energy use in the kitchen by following these 10 tips. 

1.Perform an Energy Audit 

Consider how much power use the average kitchen accounts for: 

*Refrigerators: Models over 15 years old use 35% more energy than newer ones, costing about $80 annually. 

*Microwaves: Use 1,200 watts per hour, costing about $74 yearly — or 365 hours of running time. 

*Gas ovens: Consume roughly 7,000 British thermal units annually, costing you $146. 

*Electric stoves and ovens: Consumes between 1,000-3,000 and 2,000-5,000 watts, respectively — averaging $145 annually. 

Homeowners spend an average of $2,200 on energy bills. The best way to determine how to lower energy consumption and costs in the kitchen is to run an energy audit. You can DIY an audit or hire a professional to do it for you.  

Performing an energy audit is relatively easy. First, take stock of your kitchen lighting — lighting is 10% of your electricity bills. Next, check your kitchen appliances for age and usage, including the settings you use, how often equipment remains plugged in and whether they’re on their last leg. 

2. Upgrade Appliances 

New kitchen appliances are manufactured for energy efficiency according to federal standards. For instance, you can reduce energy consumption by 9% by replacing your refrigerator with an Energy Star-certified model — equal to $230 in savings over its 12-year life span.  

Replacing your gas stove with an electric model is also a good idea. If your stove is turned off, it can still leak natural gas containing benzene — a harmful carcinogen. A recent study linked 12.7% of childhood asthma cases to gas stoves in households. 

3. Save Water 

Upgrade your sink faucet and dishwasher to save water while you cook. Older dishwashers used 16 gallons of water every time you ran it. Nowadays, dishwashers only use about 6 gallons every cycle.  

Don’t be fooled into thinking you save more water by hand-washing dirty dishes, either. An older faucet wastes 9-27 gallons, whereas new models use 1.5-2 gallons per minute.  

If you want to improve your hand-washing methods, scrape food residue from plates first, soak dishes in soapy water and install an aerator on the faucet. 

4. Unplug Small Appliances 

Unplug your toaster oven, coffee maker and waffle maker when you’re not using them. These smaller appliances can consume energy even if turned off but plugged in.  

Of course, unplugging and replugging appliances into sockets can be a bother. Using a power strip will make cutting power and turning it on again effortless. 

5. Swap Out Lighting 

One of the easiest energy-saving upgrades you can do to your kitchen is swapping out light bulbs for LEDs. In August 2023, the Biden Administrated passed a rule saying light bulbs had to emit 45 lumens per watt to be sold in stores. Traditional incandescent lighting only emits 15 lumens.   

LEDs are much better, though. They last 25 times longer and use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs. 

6. Use an Air Fryer 

Summer heatwaves are ramping up — experts predict 20-30 more days over 90 degrees Fahrenheit by 2050 if global warming continues at the current rate. Therefore, running hot kitchen appliances is not the best idea.  

An excellent alternative is cooking with an Instant Pot or air fryer so you don’t have to turn on the oven. Air fryers use about 50% less heat energy than ovens, resulting in a delicious meal. You can also unplug them when finished cooking. 

7.  Keep Oven Doors Closed 

Keep the oven door closed as much as possible while baking. Every time you open it, you let heat escape. Turning on the oven light to check your food is much more efficient.  

Open the windows for ventilation if the oven makes your house warm. Is the weather too warm outside? A programmable thermostat will help cool your home effectively without wasting too much energy.  

8. Clean Regularly 

When was the last time you cleaned your stovetop and oven? An oven works harder to cook food or reach the right temperature when residue cakes the chamber wall.  

You should clean your oven once every three months to optimize efficiency. Eco-conscious cooks can stick with green cleaning solutions to tackle caked-on messes. Actually, mixing baking soda with water to make a paste leaves your kitchen sparkling like new.   

9. Use the Right Cookware 

Believe it or not, some cookware conducts heat more efficiently than others. For example, metal pans absorb heat quickly for faster heating times. Glass and ceramic dishes do not conduct heat as well as metal, but they can keep your food warm for much longer. 

Glass and ceramic cookware are most efficient when making casseroles or cooking thick ingredients. Ceramic, in particular, distributes heat more evenly. 

10. Cook in Bulk 

The less time spent cooking, the less energy you use. As such, it’s a good idea to cook a lot of food at one time. Plan your meals for the week and designate a day for food preparation.  

Likewise, you can make various dishes and freeze them in airtight containers. Reheating takes less time when you need something in a pinch. Otherwise, cooked meat will stay fresh in the freezer for two to six months, depending on what you make. 

Cook Sustainably in an Energy-Efficient Kitchen 

Minor changes make a difference in improving your kitchen’s energy efficiency. Even using different cookware and adopting greener cooking habits can significantly lower your energy consumption and help you save money on your electricity bills.