Saving tips: cooking
A lot of energy is used during cooking, whether it is gas or electricity. By cooking in a conscious way, a lot can be saved on energy consumption. Although more and more people are switching to induction hobs, gas cookers are still the most economical. Furthermore, the type of pan, the use of the extractor hood and the way of cooking also play a role in saving on energy consumption during cooking.
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01Energy saving in the kitchen through conscious choices
The advantage of cooking on induction hobs is that it is better for the environment. The Dutch government has indicated several times that it wants to get completely off natural gas, with 2050 as the absolute end date. That is why cooking on induction is the future. An induction hob running on electricity uses less energy and is therefore a good alternative to cooking on gas. It is easy to control the temperature. Moreover, the induction hob does not get as hot, because the pots and pans are heated directly. This also makes cooking on induction a lot safer.
Advantages and disadvantages of cooking on induction
Electric cooking is best done with an induction hob. This uses less electricity than other electric hobs. Of course, there are still households that cook on gas. For several reasons, for example because the pans are unsuitable for induction hobs. Naturally, people can then choose to buy new pans. A pan suitable for cooking with induction has a magnetisable steel layer. This is easy to check by holding a small magnet against the bottom of the pan. Moreover, it is not necessary to have a pan with a flat base to be able to cook on induction.
Note, however, that cooking on induction is dangerous for people who have a pacemaker. There are then better ways to limit energy consumption during cooking, such as with a ceramic hob.
The right type of pan
A lot of energy can be saved by choosing the right type of pan. When preparing a small meal, it is sensible to also use a small pan. It takes more energy to heat a large pan. When the pan is not completely full, a lot of energy is wasted this way.
The shape of the pan is also important. With electric cooking, it is more efficient to cook with a flat pan. If you cook with gas, a round pan is actually more economical. Cooking with a wok is in almost all cases more economical than cooking in another pan. Finally, it is also important to cover the pan with a lid as much as possible. The lid keeps the heat in the pan, so less energy is needed to heat the pan properly.
Boiling water in an economical way
By boiling water efficiently, a lot can be saved on energy consumption. With an electric cooker, it is cheaper to boil water first using a kettle. With a gas cooker, on the other hand, the water is best boiled on the flame.
Furthermore, it is better to put cold water in the pan instead of warm tap water. Too much energy is wasted when the tap is used to preheat the water. This is because a central heating or high-efficiency boiler uses relatively a lot of energy and, in addition, heated water is unnecessarily left behind in the pipe. Before the water has warmed up, cold water that is not used has also already flowed away. Finally, it is also sensible not to put more water in the pan than necessary. The more water there is in the pan, the more energy is needed to bring the water to the boil.
Extractor hood and oven
Do not put the extractor hood on a high setting when this is not necessary. Obviously, a high setting costs more energy than a low setting. Also switch the extractor hood off in time. A lot of energy is wasted when the extractor hood (possibly including the light) stays on unnecessarily long after cooking.
Is the oven is used, it is handy to open it after use. The heat that escapes warms the house, so that the heating needs less energy.
02Frequently asked questions about saving energy when cooking
Cooking is traditionally an activity in which a lot of energy is used. That has to do with generating heat, something that is energy-intensive. That is why it is very important to look carefully at how you can save energy during the cooking process. If you have questions about this, we recommend going through the FAQ below.
With an old gas cooker you can turn off the pilot light. This easily results in a saving of 30 euros per year. Furthermore, choose a cooking pot that covers the entire gas burner. For long preparations, a pressure cooker is a good idea. It reduces the cooking time by 1/3. Finally, leave the lid on the cooking pot as much as possible, preferably make one-pot dishes and do not use too much water.
How can I save energy with a gas cooker?
It is above all important that you do not leave the extractor hood on longer than necessary. You also do not need to switch on the light unnecessarily. Nor should you put the extractor hood on the highest setting unnecessarily. Not only because this uses energy needlessly, but also because cold air comes in from outside. Finally, it is important to clean the filter regularly. That way the extractor hood will use less energy and the motor will also wear less quickly.
How can I save energy on the extractor hood?
The best tip: choose a manual press. The kitchen is often full of unnecessary electrical appliances that could perfectly well have been manual. They use no energy, are cheaper to buy and often use fewer raw materials. Do you use an electrical appliance after all? Then make sure above all that it does not stay plugged into the socket. They then often cause standby consumption.
How can I save energy on my electric citrus press?
In general, cooking in the microwave is cheaper than cooking in a pan. So if a tin needs to be heated up, it is better done in the microwave than in the pan.
What is cheaper: the microwave or the pan?
Stews need to be heated for a long time and therefore require a lot of energy. In the past people had a good solution for this and put the pan in a haybox after heating. Thanks to the insulating effect of the hay, the temperature was retained for a long time and the food could cook slowly. Many people no longer know it, but it is definitely still possible to buy a haybox. An example of such a modern version is the Ecostoof.
How can I save energy with my stews?
Cooking and saving energy? It can be done! ➜ Induction, gas or induction?
A hob needs quite a lot of energy. ➜ How do you cook as energy-efficiently as possible? Is an induction or gas hob the smarter choice?
Work out the monthly amount with your usage and feed-in.