Cooking accounts for about 5% of the total energy bill in a typical Victorian household. Cooking appliances include:
- ovens
- stovetops
- microwaves.
Unlike many other household appliances, cooking appliances don’t have energy star ratings to indicate how energy efficient they are. In general, the larger the cooking appliance and the longer the cooking time, the more expensive your cooking costs will be.
Ovens
Choose an energy efficient oven
- Choose fan-forced: Fan-forced ovens circulate hot air evenly, which keeps the temperature constant and cooks food quicker than conventional ovens.
- Choose triple glazed doors: Triple glazed doors and a high standard of insulation will retain heat better.
- Consider dual purpose ovens: Dual purpose ovens can function as a steam oven or a conventional oven. Think carefully about your needs and choose an oven that meets them.
Use your oven efficiently
- Keep the oven door closed: Opening the oven door allows heat to escape, requiring more energy to make up that lost heat.
- Check the oven door seal and hinges: Replace them if they are damaged, cracked or too loose. Heat lost from the oven through gaps and cracks is wasted energy.
- Cook several dishes at once: This will make sure all the space and heat is being used.
- Turn the oven off before removing food: This will let the residual heat complete the cooking process.
- Use the fan forced option: Fan-forced allows you to cook at a lower temperature.
- Use an electric fry pan, pressure cooker or microwave oven where possible: Smaller appliances use a lot less energy than an electric oven and often cook food quicker.
- Consider using a slow cooker: Slow cookers use just a little more energy than a traditional light bulb.
- Use a toaster and kettle instead of the oven griller and stovetop: Smaller appliances tend to be more efficient, especially when heating small amounts of food.
Stovetops
Choose an energy efficient stovetop
The two most common types of stovetops are gas and electricity.
Induction stovetops use electromagnetic technology to heat the cookware and its contents without wasting energy heating the cooking surface. Energy is delivered directly to the pot or pan, making it twice as efficient as gas and electric stovetops where the energy must first be converted into heat.
Use your stovetop efficiently
- Use saucepans with clean flat bottoms: This will ensure better contact and heat transfer.
- Choose the right-sized hotplate for the pot: Pots and pans should always cover the entire hotplate to minimise energy loss, and the flame should not run up the sides.
- Simmer food or water rather than boiling it vigorously: Simmering uses less energy.
Microwaves
Choose an energy efficient microwave
- Choose a microwave: Microwaves are more energy efficient than ovens and stovetops, because they cook food in less time.
- Choose the right microwave: If you're replacing your microwave, think about the type of cooking you do and purchase a model that meets, rather than exceeds, your needs.
- Opt for no clock: Look for a microwave without a clock. Running a clock uses more energy than running the microwave itself.
Use your microwave efficiently
- Turn your microwave off: Switch your microwave off at the wall when not in use.
- Thaw frozen food in the fridge: Defrosting food in the microwave uses energy unnecessarily.
- Avoid using your oven: Your microwave uses less energy to cook, defrost and re-heat than a standard oven.
- Clean your microwave regularly: Regular cleaning will help it operate efficiently.
Dispose of your whitegoods responsibly
Ensure that when you buy a new product to replace an old one, you take the necessary steps to dispose of your old product responsibly. Recycling whitegoods will reduce landfill, conserve resources and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases created in the production of new materials. Contact your council about recycling whitegoods.
