How to Make You
With the rising cost of living, we’re always looking for ways to save energy to lower our electricity bills. Many people are worried about their kitchen appliances and how much they cost to run; particularly their ovens which are one of the most energy-intensive appliances. Over the last few years we’ve seen more and more people purchasing air fryers as an energy efficient alternative to the oven. Whilst air fryers are great and have their uses, sometimes you just have to use the oven - especially if you’re cooking for the whole family. You may have been made to believe that ovens are constantly wasting heat and money. However, in this blog post we’re going to tell you how you can make your oven more efficient.
Preparation Hacks: Efficiency Before You Cook
Why Do You Need to Preheat Your Oven?
Before you use an oven, it needs to be preheated. This is crucial as preheating prepares the internal environment inside the oven for efficient heat distribution. This allows the oven to reach the desired temperature before the food is placed inside to ensure even cooking. If you choose not to preheat your oven, this can result in food that is cooked unevenly. Parts may be either undercooked or overcooked which is far from appetising. It could also have an effect on your health if the food is undercooked and not safe for consumption. Don’t preheat the oven for any longer than you need to as this will waste energy.
Always consult the user manual before you use your oven for the first time. This will ensure that you know how to preheat it properly. If you are cooking a large piece of meat, it’s recommended that you use a thermometer. Check the cooking instructions for the meat and use an oven thermometer to check the internal temperature before you place the meat inside. Avoid ruining Christmas dinner by making sure the turkey is cooked to perfection!
How to Maximise Your Oven's Capacity
You should always consider your oven’s capacity and ensure that you are maximising it. Instead of using the oven for just one dish, you could consider batch cooking. You can also use multiple shelves in the oven at the same time. This way, you can cook multiple dishes if they have similar temperature requirements. If your dishes have different cooking times, make sure you utilise the oven’s timer.
It is always a great idea to invest in cookware that allows you to utilise your oven’s capacity. Choose sets that fit well together allowing you to place multiple baking trays or casserole dishes on an oven shelf. This will allow you to organise the space and cook multiple dishes simultaneously.
Simple Oven Maintenance for Maximum Performance
As with all appliances, you need to ensure that you are cleaning your oven regularly and maintaining it properly. By doing so, you will prolong the life of your oven and can avoid any problems or breakdowns which could cause excessive energy consumption.
Cleaning
If your oven has any built up grease or grime, this can obstruct the heat distribution which then means that it takes longer for your food to cook. It also puts pressure on the fans and the thermostats to work harder which leans to more energy consumption and higher energy bills. Additionally, the smoke that is emitted from burnt on food is bad for your health. It can contain harmful gasses that should be avoided such as carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. A clean oven absorbs and reflects heat more efficiently than a dirty one.
Spot Cleaning
The best way to ensure that your oven is always clean is to spot clean as you go. If you notice any spillages or debris, wipe them up as soon as possible. Always make sure that the oven is turned off and at a safe temperature before you do any sort of cleaning.
Deep Cleaning
Even if you are keeping on top of spot cleaning, you should always make sure that you put time aside for a deep clean. This should be done every three months or so, depending on how often you’re using your oven. A deep clean can take a couple of hours, but is easy to do using natural cleaning products. If you want to find out more, you can read our guide on how to clean an oven. Alternatively, you can use a professional cleaning service and save yourself some time.
Self Cleaning Function
Some ovens have a self cleaning function which can be used as and when it’s needed. This function allows the oven cavity to heat up to a high enough temperature to burn any grime and food residue. When this has been reduced to ash, you’re able to easily wipe them away. If you have this function on your oven, you will still need to do a regular deep clean.
Maintenance
As well as cleaning your oven regularly you also need to make sure you are maintaining it properly. You can do this by checking the door seal on a regular basis to make sure it is still a tight fit. If it starts to loosen, heat will escape and this will make the oven work harder in order to maintain the temperature. A faulty seal can waste up to 20% of the oven’s heat. This will then lead to increased energy consumption. If the seal is loose or damaged, then you will need to replace it.
Smart Cooking Techniques to Save Energy
If you’re using your oven a lot, you will definitely notice a difference in your energy bill unless you follow these tips:
Don’t preheat the oven for any longer than necessary - As mentioned earlier, make sure you put your food into the oven as soon as it has reached the correct temperature.
Use ovenproof cookware - If you use ovenproof cookware such as glass or ceramic this will help to save energy through heat retention. You may also be able to turn the oven off early and let the residual heat finish the cooking process.
Avoid opening the door - Every time you open your oven door, heat escapes. Try to avoid opening the door any more than you need to. When the heat escapes, the oven will have to work harder to maintain the correct temperature and will therefore use more energy. It may also mean that you have to cook your food longer.
Cook multiple dishes - Batch cooking is a great way to save energy. By making several portions of one meal at the same time you will save so much energy. These can then be cooled down, frozen and then defrosted and warmed up in the microwave when needed.
The Appliance Factor: When to Upgrade for Efficiency
Is your oven a few years old now? Have you noticed that it’s not working as well as it used to or it’s using up a lot more electricity than expected? It might be time for you to invest in a new one. As with any appliance, it’s always best to do your research before purchasing, so how do you know it’s time for a new one?
If you’ve noticed that your current oven is damaged and will cost too much to maintain, food is cooking unevenly, or it’s slow to heat up then it sounds like it’s definitely time to buy a new one. Modern A rated ovens are designed to use energy more efficiently and effectively, therefore will lower your energy bills. Even though purchasing a new oven means spending money, it will save you more money in the long run.
Conclusion
When you improve your oven’s efficiency, it doesn’t just save you money. It ensures that you get the best performance from your appliance. As one of the most important and well used appliances in the kitchen, this is crucial. By keeping your oven clean, using the right cookware, maintaining the door seal and using the correct settings you’ll be using less energy and your meals will be cooked perfectly without any waste.
If your oven has started to show its age or is no longer performing as it should be, the smartest move would be to upgrade. If you need any help choosing the oven that is best for your kitchen, we’re here to help! Our knowledgeable, in house customer service team is available to contact Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. They can answer any questions you may have about our products.
r Oven More Efficient?