The Energy Saving Trust revealed the mistake while sharing energy-efficiency advice
UK households have been issued a piece of advice from the Energy Saving Trust that’ll affect millions cooking a Christmas dinner at home this year. Cooking a delicious Christmas dinner is no small feat, as most families spend a considerable amount of time and energy planning and preparing a festive feast.
When it comes to cooking the dinner, money-savvy households might be wondering if they ought to use their oven or air fryer. According to the Energy Saving Trust, there are a few factors to consider. Advice on the Energy Saving Trust website explains: “You could save energy by using an air fryer or microwave instead of an electric oven.
“For example, it costs £0.21 to cook a 600g chicken breast in an electric oven. But it only costs £0.15 in an air fryer.” However, using an electric oven might be more effective if you’re cooking a large quantity of food. “If you’re cooking for a family or several guests, it’s better to batch cook your food in an electric oven and make the most of the heat,” the guidance explains.
As such, using an oven could be the best option for many families, especially those who are hosting guests over Christmas. For anyone using an oven, there’s a ‘common’ mistake that’s well worth avoiding in order to limit energy usage.
According to the Energy Saving Trust: “One of the most common ways to waste heat when cooking is when you open the oven door to check on your food.” Thankfully, there’s a quick fix.
“Every time you open your oven door, some heat escapes and it the oven will need to use more energy to heat back up again. So, make sure your oven window is clear enough to peep through to see how dinner is coming along.” It adds.
For similar reasoning, the Energy Saving Trust advises keeping the lids on pans when cooking on the hob. “Doing this uses around 10% less energy, your food will cook faster and the kitchen will get less steamy too.”
By following the steps, you can therefore enjoy your Christmas dinner more quickly and spend less money. But they’re not the only tips and tricks that festive fans can use to lower costs.
Once you’ve enjoyed the festive spread, the Energy Saving Trust advises letting any leftovers cool down before boxing it up for the freezer. This method means your freezer won’t need to work as hard to cool down the food, saving energy once more.
When it’s time to clean up, the Trust recommends only running the dishwasher when it’s full and making the most of the ‘eco’ setting if your device has one. The same tips can help to cut costs when you’re using the washing machine, as most washing powders can work on lower temperature settings.
