Home cooking is a great way to make healthy and flavorful meals, but it can really add to your energy bills. These simple tips are your recipe for a more energy-efficient kitchen:

  • Use the lowest temperature setting possible.
  • Preheat the oven to the exact temperature required. Preheating is not necessary for foods that cook for several hours.
  • Limit the number of times the oven door is opened; opening the door lowers the temperature as much as 25°F.
  • Glass and ceramic baking dishes retain heat better than metal. Cooking with glass or ceramic dishes allows you to reduce the oven temperature 25°F.
  • Turn the oven off 15 minutes before the cooking time is complete. Food will continue cooking at the set temperature as long as the door remains closed.
  • For range tops, match the size of the pot to the size of the burner. A 6-inch pot on an 8-inch burner wastes over 40% of the burner's heat.
  • Cover pots and pans; foods will cook more efficiently and the kitchen will stay cooler in the summer.
  • Turn off the burner on your electric range a few minutes before cooking is complete; the heating elements will stay hot enough to continue cooking after the electricity is turned off.

A well-maintained oven cooks more efficiently. Make sure your oven and range-top remain clean at all times.

Cleaning up

Newer dishwashers clean heavily soiled dishes to a shine, eliminating the need for pre-rinsing. If you must pre-rinse, use cold water. If your dishwasher has a booster heater, set the temperature of your hot water heater to 120°F.

Here are a few more energy-saving tips:

  • Don't run the dishwasher until you have a full load.
  • Load the dishwasher carefully to ensure the water flows freely, and the dishes are cleaned efficiently.
  • Use the air-dry feature whenever possible.

To reduce costs and help the environment, make energy-efficient cooking part of your daily routine.

When you're ready to up your cooking game, make the switch to natural gas appliances and earn a $200 rebate from Pensacola Energy. To learn more, visit pensacolaenergy.com or call 850-436-5050.