How can you cook, bake and warm up food in a way that reduces your carbon footprint? Choosing energy efficient cooking utensils in the kitchen are way of lowering your carbon footprint and saving money on your energy bill. Here are a few tips that will help you use less energy when cooking and reduce your carbon footprint and energy bill.

Using an air-fryer versus the oven

Air-fryers are worth buying if you do not already have one. Air-fryers act like a small convention fan oven and are increasingly becoming popular in the UK because they cook food faster than an oven, they are easier to clean and healthier for us because oil is not needed to cook food. The Energy Saving Trust research shows cooking 600g of chicken breast would cost 14p with an air-fryer and 24p with an electric oven. Air-fryers use significantly less energy than an oven and surveys of those who have an air-fryer have seen a reduction in their energy bill.

The best ways to warm things up

If you are re-heating something that is already made, microwaves use the least amount of energy compared to ovens or gas/electric hobs. If you are batch-cooking, it is best to use an oven. Air-fryers are good for meals for 1 to 4 people, but ovens can be energy efficient if it is used for a larger group of people.  

How to boil vegetables and rice without wasting energy

The most energy efficient way to boil vegetables and rice is to put the lid on the pan and to boil it gently. Do not boil them furiously on high heat without a lid. The lid makes sure heat from energy does not drift away and it boils vegetables and rice faster.   

Boiling the kettle

The average person has 3 cups of tea a day. It is better to fill the kettle just the right amount you need (one cup) rather than overfilling and boiling water repeatedly through the day. Research suggests the average person puts twice the amount of water that they need to in a kettle, so reconsider how much you are putting in the kettle when filling it up. It will also save you £30 a year according to research by the Energy Saving Trust.