How to be more energy-efficient in the kitchen
With households everywhere facing huge energy bill increases, we are all trying to be more mindful of our energy usage.
From changing how you cook and rethinking old habits, to using more energy-efficient appliances, there are plenty of quick and easy ways you can make significant energy savings in the kitchen. And then there’s what you cook too, which is why we’ve also got some delicious baking recipes that take little or no time in the oven to make.
Energy-saving tips
- Switching to energy-efficient LED lighting, or smart lighting that you can control via your phone, can save you a huge amount on your energy bills. The average LED bulb uses at least 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs- and lasts much longer.
- When buying new kitchen appliances such as ovens, microwaves and fridges, check their energy efficiency label. Appliances are rated on a scale of A to G, with A being the most efficient, to reflect how much energy they use during typical use. Also, think about the size of the appliance you need- larger appliances will use more energy.
- Leaving multiple appliances on standby all day consumes more energy over time than you might think. Get in the habit of switching appliances off at the socket when they’re not in use.
- Dishwashers are one of the highest energy-consuming home appliances, because of the power needed to heat water. Only run it when you have a full load, and choose an eco setting which will use less power and water.
- Running 24/7, fridges and freezers account for a huge proportion of the average household’s energy bill. But did you know that a well-stocked fridge or freezer uses less energy than one that’s only half full? Just one more reason to get batch cooking.
- Don’t automatically fill your kettle to the brim to make your morning cuppa. You’ll use less power boiling only what you need.
Multi-purpose appliances
Low energy bakes
If you’re turning on the oven to make tonight’s dinner, why not pop one of these puddings or bakes in? They all take under 15 minutes to bake and are absolutely delicious:
These gorgeously chewy peanut butter cookies are so simple to make in your stand mixer, so it’s a great recipe to make with the kids. And because they only take 13 minutes to bake in the oven, no one needs to wait too long to try one.
With a nutty biscuit base, smooth cream cheese filling and a layer of raspberry purée and Turkish delight topped with rose petals, pistachios and pomegranate seeds, this indulgent Turkish delight cheesecake makes a stunning centrepiece. The base takes just 10 minutes to bake in the oven, and everything else just sets in the fridge.
These four ingredient breakfast bars couldn’t be easier to make- simply add the ingredients to your food processor bowl, mix to combine and pour into a tray. Bake for 15 minutes and slice up to serve. Packed full of energy-rich oats, they’re perfect for snacks and lunch boxes.
No-bake recipes
These indulgent bakes and treats are quick and easy to whip up, no oven required:
Made using your Titanium Chef Patissier XL, these speculoos truffles are coated in white chocolate and crushed speculoos biscuits before being chilled in the freezer to set. The perfect bite-sized treat to finish off a meal, enjoy with coffee or box up as a homemade gift.
These individual mini strawberry cheesecakes are ideal to make when time is short and you want to impress. Make the crunchy biscuit base and smooth cheesecake filling in your food processor before topping with strawberry purée and chopped strawberries.
For an indulgent grab-and-go treat, these no bake peanut butter bars are hard to beat. It takes just a few minutes to make the peanut butter cookie dough base in your Titanium Chef Patissier XL, which is then finished off with a feathered chocolate and peanut butter topping.
Making changes when you cook
- Microwaves use far less energy than ovens or hobs, and they are also more versatile than you think. As well as using yours to reheat leftovers, you can use it to cook fish, eggs and jacket potatoes, and melt chocolate or butter.
- Heating up the oven multiple times uses more energy than using it once for a longer period. Try cooking a couple of dinners at the same time, popping a cake in to bake when you finish, or using your oven’s residual heat to warm up bread or dinner plates.
- Get to know how quickly your oven takes to preheat, so you can time it to ensure you’re ready to use it as soon as it’s at the right temperature.
- Put the lid on saucepans as you cook to keep the heat in and speed up cooking times, without having the hob turned up as high.
- Cook in bulk. Batch cooking means you’ll only use one lot of energy to cook lots of individual meals, and there’ll always be a delicious homemade meal ready for you.