Guide to Energy Efficient Ovens & Stoves
Whether you鈥檙e roasting a chicken or saut茅ing veggies, chances are, your kitchen appliances get a daily workout. No matter what鈥檚 cooking, ovens and stoves consume a lot of energy! Buying a new oven may be a one-in-a-couple-decades decision, so finding one that鈥檒l last for the long haul requires a bit of research.
Then how do you shop for the best gas stoves or best electric ranges? We鈥檝e cooked up some tips for everything from buying the perfect energy-efficient stove or deciding on an electric vs gas stove to getting the most out of your energy-efficient oven.
What to Look for When Buying an Energy-Efficient Oven or Energy-Efficient Stove
鈥淥ven鈥� and 鈥渟tove鈥� usually mean the same thing, but 鈥渟tove鈥� can also refer to the cooktop鈥攁 gas, electric or induction range. This quick range-buying guide offers tips for how to shop for both.
- Check your fuel source. Any good range-buying guide will remind you to check for electric or gas connections (). This will determine the type of energy-efficient stove available for purchase.
- Buy a gas oven. In the gas vs electric stove debate鈥攊n terms of energy efficiency鈥攂uying a gas range is the way to go. Customers who use natural gas have experienced than those who use propane, fuel oil or electricity since 2010. It heats up faster and costs less.
- Buy a self-cleaning oven. It has better insulation which keeps the heat in, making a more energy-efficient oven.
- Invest in a convection oven. You may be wondering, is a convection oven better? The short answer is yes. You鈥檒l use about each month using a convection oven, which has a fan that continuously circulates hot air through the oven space. When food has hot air blowing onto it鈥攊nstead of just surrounding it鈥攊t cooks more quickly and at lower temperatures.
- Consider an induction cooktop. Induction cooktops use electricity and magnetic coils to quickly heat pans and leave the remaining surface cool to the touch, making a more energy efficient stove.
Gas vs Electric Stove: Which Is More Energy Efficient?
In the gas vs electric stove debate, gas is the clear winner in efficiency because it takes more energy to deliver electricity to your stove than gas. But in terms of which to buy, it鈥檚 all about your comfort level, the hookups already in your kitchen, and what you want to cook.- Are electric stoves better than gas? It depends. Today鈥檚 sleek electric stoves are stylish, easy to clean, easy to operate and less expensive to install than the stoves. They also offer the most stable work surfaces and contain additional storage space that even the best gas stoves don鈥檛. For those who spend less time in the kitchen, electric is a great option. On the other hand鈥攊f you have the appropriate hookup in your kitchen鈥攇as stoves tend to cook more evenly because the flames spread themselves along the bottom and sides of the pan. And you never have to wonder if the stove is on or off: turning on a burner gives you an instant, constant flame that鈥檚 adjustable. , buying a gas range is the way to go.
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- Is a gas stove more energy efficient? Yes. It takes three times as much energy to deliver electricity to your stove than gas, so buying a gas range could save you money in the long run. Your final bill will depend on how much time you spend cooking, but if you have an electric ignition, you can expect to pay to run a gas range.
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Energy-Saving Tips for Using an Oven
After you鈥檝e solved the gas vs electric stove debate and purchased a range, maximizing your energy savings is all about how you use your appliances. From turning off the heat early to multitasking to switching to ceramic or glass, will help you get the most out of your energy-efficient oven.
- Cook multiple dishes at the same time. Be strategic with your oven racks, and put multiple dishes in at the same time. You鈥檒l save energy鈥攁nd time!
- Try ceramic or glass pans. They hold heat better than metal ones. This means that you can cook your dishes at a lower temperature.
- Use the self-cleaning feature wisely.听Turn on the self-cleaning feature after cooking a meal鈥攖hat way, it will use less energy to heat up.
- Don鈥檛 peek. To prevent heat from escaping, which can make your oven work harder, use the oven light, and keep the oven door closed until your food鈥檚 done.
- Turn off the heat early. You can save energy by using the residual heat left in the oven.
- Thaw your food first. This will help you cut down the time it takes to cook the food and reduce your ovens energy use.
- Your cookware matters.听Look for flat bottoms and straight sides, as well as tight-fitting lids. Food will heat up quickly and cook efficiently.
- Let the pan fit the burner.听Don鈥檛 put that small saucepan on the biggest burner. If you use a six-inch pan on an eight-inch burner on your electric range, you waste more than .
- Crank up the heat.听Turn your burner to high first; lower the heat to finish cooking. Using retained heat saves energy.
- Give your burners a break.听Burner pans that are blackened due to heavy use make burners less efficient because they absorb a lot of heat. A clean burner pan reflects more heat onto your cookware.
- Avoid using the oven entirely. Perhaps your oven is better used as a storage space or bookshelf than a cooking appliance (hello burnt casseroles!). Well, then maybe use the more oven whenever possible.
Whether you鈥檙e deciding on a gas vs electric stove or looking to buy the most energy-efficient oven, we hope you鈥檝e now got the knowledge you need to make a wise, energy-efficient stove or oven purchase. Now get cookin鈥�!