Saving tips: oven

01Saving tips when buying a new oven

One of the most important points you have to take into account nowadays when buying an oven is the energy consumption. It is possible to determine fairly quickly which oven is energy-efficient and which is not. This can be done by comparing the energy labels. It should come as no surprise that energy label A+++ is the best choice. That said, this does not mean that all ovens with such an energy label use exactly the same. You only really get an optimal picture of the energy consumption when the consumption of the oven's most frequently used function is checked. An example of this is the fan function.

Oven energy use

By using a fan oven, it is possible to achieve the same results at a lower temperature as with other ovens at a higher temperature. Studies have shown that this can easily save up to 40 percent of energy. This is because a fan oven has a better heat distribution and reaches temperature faster. Those who want to do even better can consider a high-pressure steam oven. Such an oven does not bake, but heats the food quickly. One drawback, though, is that there is no energy label for it, which makes comparing less easy.

A combination microwave with a fan function is much more energy-efficient compared with a separate microwave and an oven. The fan function in any case speaks in favour of the microwave, while a microwave is also smaller and heats up faster.

In addition, the size of the oven also plays a role. The energy label only shows the energy efficiency compared with ovens of the same size. As a result, a smaller oven, in which less volume also has to be heated, can still be more energy-efficient than a larger oven with the same or even a better energy label. So always check whether the oven is not too big. If you do want to compare a large and a small oven,  it is better to compare the electricity consumption per year.

Finally, we are often asked whether it is better to choose an electric oven or a gas oven. At the moment, from an ecological point of view it makes no difference. A gas oven is in theory less economical, but generating the electricity needed for an electric oven also loses a lot of energy. Moreover, in the Netherlands we do not yet have fully green electricity. When in the future we move away from natural gas and use greener energy, the electric oven will become more popular.

General saving tips when using an oven

We do not often think about it, but despite the fact that an oven is a major energy consumer in the kitchen, there are lots of different ways to save on energy consumption. We have looked into some interesting tips and listed them.

An oven does not cool down immediately after it has been switched off. This means it is often possible to switch the oven off before the preparation time has fully elapsed.

Take the baking tray out of the oven and use as little foil as possible on the rack. Not only is this good for the airflow in the oven, it also means that energy consumption will drop considerably.

The cleaning function of an oven may be very practical, but it also uses a particularly large amount of energy. So preferably do not use this function too often.

Preheating an oven is something that is often mentioned, but is actually rarely really necessary. A lot of energy is lost during preheating. It is therefore advisable to limit preheating as much as possible.

Try to bake different dishes in one go or bake larger quantities at the same time. The cooking time for small or large preparations in the oven is, unlike with a microwave, identical. If this is not possible, it is better to bake straight after each other. That way you make maximum use of the residual heat from the previous preparation.

If possible, it can be worthwhile to switch off the clock on the display. It is often superfluous and uses (extra) energy almost continuously.

Let the food come to room temperature beforehand and do not put it in the oven deep-frozen. That way it needs to be heated for less time and less energy is lost.

The fan function is the most energy-friendly choice. Make use of it.

It is not necessary to leave the oven on until the last second. An oven is well insulated and the heat is therefore retained for a long time. You can safely switch the oven off a few minutes in advance and your dish simply continues cooking in the meantime.

Open the oven as little as possible during baking. Use aids such as the built-in light to inspect the dish visually, and a good core thermometer.

Think carefully about the placement of an oven. Never place an oven next to a fridge or a freezer. Not only does the oven then have more difficulty heating up, but in addition your fridge or freezer needs more energy to cool. If placement near such an appliance is nevertheless the only option, it is advisable to insulate everything well.

Many of the tips above may seem a little superfluous at first sight, but they are not. By taking them into account, it is possible to reduce the energy consumption of an oven considerably, and that is good for your wallet!

02Frequently asked questions about saving on the energy consumption of the oven

No. Only preheat the oven when this is prescribed by the manufacturer. Otherwise it is not necessary to preheat the oven. Incidentally, always use the recommended temperature setting too.