Energy saving has now become a key issue in understanding how to navigate the coming months. The truth is, we never expected to have to rethink all our habits due to the energy crisis.
It's important, however, right now, to broaden our perspective and reflect on the benefits that good habits at home can bring: saving energy, saving time, respecting our planet, and making these a true lifestyle. These may seem like three major, almost unattainable goals, but in reality, to make a difference, we must first be aware of why we need to contribute and recognize that change can positively impact our future.
Without realizing it, the time we spend in the kitchen is among the most energy-intensive, from cooking pasta to the refrigerator, dishwasher, and even the light we keep on above the stove. For this reason, we'd like to share some tips to help us use all the tools and appliances we use wisely:
We absolutely can't give up hot dishes this season. And do you know what else we can't do without? The pressure cooker. Converting to this cooking method is the optimal solution to address this energy crisis. By preserving flavor and maintaining the nutrients in foods, it cuts cooking time, energy, and CO2 emissions in half compared to a traditional pot. It's worth noting that the pressure cooker also reduces water consumption by about 80%: while a traditional cooker uses an average of 5 liters of water, a pressure cooker with steam cooking requires about 1 liter.
PASSIVE COOKING OF PASTA
Once the water has come to a boil, add salt, stirring constantly, then add the pasta and cover the pot with a lid. Meanwhile, turn off the heat and cook for the required number of minutes, as indicated on the pasta package.
Passive cooking has been one of the most discussed phenomena in recent months. Some people struggle to break away from tradition, while others have been quick to try this method for cooking pasta. One thing is clear, however: savings are guaranteed if you pay attention to several factors: it's not enough to simply turn off the heat or bring the water to a boil, but also to maintain the correct water ratio (pasta: 100-150 g of water to 1 liter of water), maintain the correct temperature, and, in this case, the lid's role is crucial. One thing is certain: whether we like it or not, this alternative method allows you to save approximately 62% of energy.
AN OVEN IS NOT ALWAYS NECESSARY
Appliances typically have a significant impact on household energy costs. Yet there are many alternative methods to minimize their use. An example? The double-sided oven. Instead of turning on the oven, preheating it, and waiting, the oven not only allows you to save up to 34% on cooking time, but also saves energy by 46%. Friends and cake lovers, fear not, the oven is also suitable for baking cakes, as well as savory dishes. Can't live without an oven? Well, here are two tricks to avoid wasting energy:
- Avoid opening the door unnecessarily.
- Turn off the oven a few minutes early to allow the residual heat to continue cooking.
Do you know what else can save us up to 50% energy compared to traditional cooking? The air fryer; and it also saves us from using oil to fry our products.
GENERAL ADVICE
Each portion has its own container. It's important to carefully select the right size pot, which should never be too large for the food you're cooking. Once you've chosen the right pot, it's also important to use the right burner so that the heat is concentrated on the bottom and doesn't disperse. For products like vegetables, potatoes, or in some cases even meat, it can be helpful to cut the food into smaller pieces to cook them more quickly. Speaking of food, let's get into the habit of removing it from the refrigerator a few minutes before cooking, bringing it to room temperature, to save money.
A few tips, but aimed at a very specific goal. All that's left to do is get cooking, experiment, and monitor your bills.
