Energy-Efficient Cooking: Tips for Using Your Kitchen Appliances in the Summer
Reduce Your Energy Bills This Summer with These Cooking Tips
When temperatures are soaring, using your hot kitchen appliances can turn your kitchen into an inferno. Chances are your air conditioning unit is already working overtime, so turning up the heat will only make it hotter inside the house, forcing your A/C to work even harder. This will inflate your utility bills and make it harder to cool the interior. But you still need to cook and eat regardless of how it is outside. San Francisco is known for its sweltering heat during June, July, and August. So, how do you use your kitchen appliances in the summer without breaking the bank? Use these energy-efficient tips to cook using as little heat as possible.
Limit pre-heating when cooking with the oven. Some dishes will ask you to pre-heat the oven prior to cooking, but it’s not always required. In some cases, you can leave the dish in the oven for an extra minute or two to make up for the pre-heating process.
Avoid opening the oven door until the meal is finished cooking and the appliance is off. Clean off the window to keep an eye on the food while it’s cooking instead of opening the door. Every time you open the door, the inside temp drops around 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
When cooking meat, use a meat thermometer to avoid cooking it longer than necessary. The device should display the internal temperature of the meat, so you don’t have to open the oven to see if your dish is done.
Try cooking during the coolest times of the day, usually in the morning or evening. Plan out your meals in advance to make sure you don’t run out of food during the middle of the day.
Cook larger portions to keep your family fed for days at a time instead of cooking from scratch every night.
Consider warming up leftovers and premade meals in the microwave instead of using the oven. You can also try cooking your food outside using a grill to keep your home nice and cool.
Keep the oven clean to improve efficiency. Crumbs and dirt will only absorb the heat, making it harder to reach your food. Get rid of excess debris to heat the chamber faster.
If the kitchen is getting too hot or your appliances are producing a lot of heat, use a fan to keep the air moving throughout your home. There could also be a problem with the seal on your oven door, causing heat to escape. Inspect the seal around your oven to avoid needlessly heating up your home. Clean off the seal around the door to make sure it closes properly. You can also hold your hand over the door and feel for bursts of hot ai to see if there is a leak.
If you suspect a leak or are using an older oven, hire a professional technician to inspect your appliance before the worst of summer arrives. They will help you reseal the door to keep the heat from spreading throughout your home. Your oven will get less efficient over time. Consider upgrading your appliance with new energy-efficient models to reduce your energy consumption.
Contact the professionals at Absolute Appliance Repair in Marin County to have your oven or stove inspected and repaired today. We service all makes and models with same-day service available to help you solve the problem as fast as possible.
