Energy saving cooking

Lazy_Ike

aycor wrote: »

on an energy saving note I have been making cakes in my bread maker successfully and presume that I am using much less electicity than the comventional oven

Measured the electricity usage of my BM on the Wholewheat loaf cycle, used 0.374kWh at a cost of just 8p (Peak use time @ £0.21p/kWh or down to 4p if on second tier charges) with delayed start into Economy 7 tarif cost reduces to just 2p/loaf.
I have also recently bought an infra red free-standing oven. Works well for me. Has the capacity to fit a leg of lamb, or complete chicken, along with vegetables. No preheating required, and excellent results so far, including grilling. Costs just 16p per hour to run (0.904kWh), or 9p/hour if into second tier charges when running at maximum temperature.
Regarding pressure cookers, my parents always cooked using a pressure cooker, without incident. I too use a pressure cooker. I do loads of from scratch, batch cooking and freezing, and would be lost with out the pressure cooker. Also find the base of the p cooker great for my jam and jelly making (hedgerow and seasonal fruits, would not be money saving otherwise. Actually I suspect it costs more to make home made preserves, but with no articifial additives, and great sense of satisfaction I will continue to make my own).

moanymoany

I am debating as to whether or not to buy a remoska cooker. I see so many rave reviews. I do use my oven for bread, roasts and quiches, but I've never got myself organised to make use of all the space!

I think people forget that it is possible to cook stew on top of the stove. It does really well.

MrsBartolozzi

To really save money there is always solar cooking and it's totally free (once you've built it...
See here

annie123

MrsBartolozzi wrote: »

To really save money there is always solar cooking and it's totally free (once you've built it...
See here

Have got to have a go at that, will keep DH occupied for hours:D

ceridwen

annie123 wrote: »

Have got to have a go at that, will keep DH occupied for hours:D

Do let us know how it goes - in our grey, dull climate I am wondering. I duly "sent" the article over to my private "diary" blog - so as to keep it.

:think: Wonder what else the Mormons have come up with that we might all find useful along the "preparedness" lines? First the food storage guidelines, now this....owt else? Pick your cherries where you may I'm thinking.

tramps

when cooking potatoes, rice, pasta add some (washed) eggs to the saucepan when the pototoes etc are done the eggs are hard boiled and ready for salads, sandwiches if the mayo jars nearly empty add mashed eggs to it instant egg mayo and you havent wasted any mayo

Gigervamp

CLARABEL wrote: »

hi

this method of cooking pasta was sent to me in an e mail from friends of the earth, and I've used it ever since

When it's in and boiling, time 2 minutes with the hob on. then turn off the hob, put the lid on and leave for the usual amount of remaining time ( usually 6-8mins) Perfect pasta, minimal use of electric / gas!!!

It works like a dream!:D

There's no need to even put the hob on! Just stick the pasta in a pan and pour on boiling water from the kettle. Pop the lid on and wrap a teatowel or oven glove around the pan to keep the heat in. It should be ready in about 10-15 minutes.

victotoro

Just to say, I used the 2-minute pasta method last night for the first time after reading about it here, and the pasta was perfect! I'm going to try this method for small-cubed potatoes for mashing and see how I go.

Next time I'll try Gingervamp's no-hob method and see how that goes

[Deleted User]

I am winning the energy-reducing battle that I started 2 months ago. The very best energy saving cooking method is the tefal clipso pressure cooker on my little stellar induction hob. Followed closely by the remoska and the breadmaker. Then the 3 tiered steamer. Then the slow cooker. I am not going into costings again as I have posted them time and time again. Luckily I already had all the appliances, except the remoska which was bought new about a month ago, so I don`t need to take capital expenditure into account. If I had to buy only one of my appliances then it would most definitely be the clipso. eg yesterday, potatoes and carrots in a little water with cabbage in the steamer basket above, took just 5 minutes once I got upto steam, which actually took only very few minutes on the induction hob. If you want to be even more energy efficient then use water from eg a camp kettle that you have kept in the sun

la_farfallina

I have started buying quick cook pasta and just pour boiling water over it and then put the lid of the pan on to let it cook itself without any gas or leccy. I cook noodles this way too.

I bought a Smartprice wok from Asda and am doing lots more stir fries.

I use frozen veg for my soups so that they cook quicker - one of my favourites is Nigella's pea and pesto soup. However, I don't let it cook on the hob for seven minutes as she suggests - I just pour the boiling water in the pan and then stick the lid on.