Cheapest/most efficient way to cook

beckstar1975

Hello all

As I'm not turning the heating yet I've realised the myriad other ways I'm [STRIKE]wasting[/STRIKE] using energy. To cook I have gas hob, fan oven and grill, microwave, breadmaker and slow cooker.

I am presuming the slow cooker is the most efficient, but for the other stuff does microwave win out over oven? Is the cost of using the breadmaker meaning it's cheaper to buy?

Had a halogen oven once and didn't get on, but would a hob oven/remoska work out better value in the long run than using my big oven?

My mind is boggling - please help!

Thanks

Akom

Hi Ya Beckstar.

I'm not a great lover of Microwaves myself. Food never seems to taste the same IMHO.

It's a shame you didn't get on with the Halogen cooker. I got mine a couple of months back and think it's great. Cooks meat very quickly yet still leaves it moist. I believe the Halogen would be much cheaper than firing up your oven.

Slow cooker is always good too, especially if you cook more than you need. You can then freeze the excess for another day.

There are lots of other tips probably heading your way soon such as putting pasta in a vacuum flask, pouring boiling water over it, put lid on and in about 10 mins its cooked.

I'll be watching this post myself for tips too.

Triggles

Hmmm. I didn't know that about pasta in a vacuum flask. Ah, the things we learn! Now, of course, I'll have to try that!:rotfl:

I have a tendency to use the oven when I want to heat up the kitchen a little as well. But we do have a Remoska and use that pretty often as well. Tea for tonight is currently cooking in our slow cooker.

I guess you have to look at what you're cooking, how it will cook best, and what works best for you. I know some people almost exclusively use their Remoskas, others use slow cookers much more frequently than we do.

I tend to only use the microwave to reheat food, either from the fridge or from the freezer. And I'm looking at using the slow cooker for making Christmas puddings - to steam them, as I would think it's much cheaper to run the slow cooker for hours rather than the oven.

But as I said, if I'm a bit chilly, a cup of tea and some needed baking in the over will warm up our downstairs as it's fairly open just enough - between the smell of the baking and the heat from the oven. So then I don't mind using the oven, as it's probably cheaper than turning on the heater for hours. (although I could be wrong! never priced it!):D

russetred

Pasta will also cook just as well if you bring to the boil in a pan then turn off the heat leaving the lid on. 10 minutes later cooked pasta. I believe an experiment was done a few years back and it was found that the most economical way to cook is in the micro.The most energy efficient way to do the dishes is apparently a dishwasher though I dont own one. Pressure cooker is definitely best for fast cooking of steamed puds and pulses.

katieowl_2

I bought a combination microwave and I think it makes great jacket potatoes, the grill bit comes on too to make the skin crispy. It HAS to be cheaper than having the fan oven on for an hour and a half...depending on weight the micro takes 15-20 mins?

Breadmaker I can answer. It costs 5p for the electric to bake a loaf. Was one of the things I worked out with my gadget.

I'm trying not to use the oven unless I have to. I'm starting stuff on the gas hob, and transfering to simmer onto the rayburn hotplate, now we've switched it back on for the winter. No point using the gas if that's on anyway.

Kate

la_farfallina

I cook all my pasta and veg by bringing a pan of water to the boil with the lid on, then turn of the gas and let it cook itself. It also works with boiled potatoes if I cut them into small chunks.

I bought some toaster bags from poundland/99p store. I use these for cooking those steak/chicken and mushroom/cheese and onion pastries - the rectangular shaped ones. They take about five minutes in my toaster as opposed to ages in my inefficient gas oven. The toaster bags are reusable and washable.

I also use my slow cooker a lot in winter - make more than I need and keep some in the freezer for another time.

Farf x

bluebag

I think it depends what fuel you use. Electricity is three times the price of gas, so the gas cooker is probably going to be cheaper for most.

Economy 7 electric would make it cheaper to use the slow cooker during the cheaper hours and then reheat when required.

Solar coking, hayboxes and stand cooking ( heat to boiling, turn off the heat then wrap the hot pan in towels and allow to stand) are probably the cheapest ways and the most energy saving.

Filling the oven, rather than using it for a single pizza, allowing water to stand to come to room temperature before cooking, making sure dishes are cooked for just as long as needed and using just enough water to cover, using the right sized pan and burner are all economies that can be made.

victor2

A bluebag says, the fuel you use is worth considering.
Last year (with nothing better to do ), I compared boiling exactly the same amount of water (1.25 litres) in an electric kettle with a kettle on the gas stove.
The electric kettle used 0.123kWh, costing 1.04p on the tariff I was on at the time.
The gas stove used 0.381kWh, costing 0.97p

So, gas was indeed cheaper, but took 7 mins 1 sec, compared to 3 mins 41 sec for the electric kettle. DD decided to stuff the 0.07p saving and use electricity. Couldn't disagree really.

cleggie

I cook boiled eggs, pasta, veg, by bringing to the boil, covering and leaving for 10 mins (eggs) and 15 mins (pasta).
I use the SC when possible (the same energy as a lightbulb someone told me).
Also, i turn the cooker off 10mins before the full cooking time, and it carries on cooking the food in there due to the heat already in the cooker (but i never do this with meat/fish).

his_missus

We're having pasta tonight so I'm going to try bringing to the boil with a lid on and letting it stand for 15 mins or so, thanks everyone for the ideas xxx

Petlamb

Thanks for the pasta/flask tip, I'll definitely give that a shot!