Energy Saving Cooking Ideas?

drt1710

A few months ago we got a Ninja 14 in 1 air fryer, great move. Then recently for something a bit bigger got the Ninja Foodi oven. Both use significantly less energy than our standard oven and heat up faster, we've hardly used the standard oven since. Worth the investment. If you get one, get it on Amazon as you can get accidental damage cheap as chips.Also, slow cooker, microwave, pressure cookers are all cheaper to run than the standard oven. Cook in bulk and freeze portions to heat up in the microwave later is a good moneysaver too
A good energy save we discovered was with a standard kettle, make a drink, then put cold water in straight away while the kettle is hot, it heats the water slightly ready for the next boil, saves a little bit.
Dry clothes outside, if you have a tumble dryer, consider a new one, get a heat pump one, so much cheaper to run.
Defrost all freezers saves a few quid a year
Check to see if you can get a grant for top up insulation, or a new boiler or even new windows, and draught excluders, keep the heat in!!!!
Led light bulbs save a few quid
Heat the person, not the house is a good one, heat the house to say 15 degrees in winter, and use electric blanket to keep you warm.
Hope some of these help you.

Longwalker

Ive invested in the ninja Dual AF400. I say invested, its not cheap and I have bought it on interest free payments

How much does it cost to run? Heres the energy output -

1 cooking drawer: 1200W | 2 cooking drawers: 2400W

Now to put that into context, a whole roasted chicken in one drawer takes 50 - 60 mins 

2nd drawer full of roast potatoes, parsnips and carrots - 30 mins

No pre heating, turn on and you are cooking, at high temp in a small space using hot air to cook all over so its very quick

So a whole roast dinner working on price cap April 22 ( the calculator I can find ) is just a tad short of 50p

Ive had mine nearly 3 weeks, not had the oven on yet and cook a meal for 3 in 30 mins - 35p

That and the microwave, three times Ive had to use a saucepan 

Now you need to know what your electricity costs per unit to be able to price compare correctly and you also need to know what your oven output is. If you have a super dooper energy efficient oven, it may not be cheaper. if you are cooking on gas - as I understand it, its the gas prices that are going to go through the roof ( we dont have gas this part of the country so I dont keep up )  then it may be a cheaper option and worth considering

I went for it because A - Im busy, I work all day in a very physically demanding job so need to get tea cooked quick , with the minimum of fuss and washing up and B - Im not so limited in what I cook due to time restraints , hell I even baked 2 loaf cakes in 40 mins the other day

Basic ways of saving money when cooking, - cut veg smaller and even sized, dont wait for water to boil, boil with veg in the pan already. Turn off the heat as soon as nearly done - let the residue heat finish the job off. Rice, bring to boil, good stir, lid on, turn off - takes about 10 mins more 

Cook once, eat twice. Double up, like in this house half a cauliflower, half a cabbage is all thats needed. I cook the whole lot , easily reheated in the microwave another day.

Same with the slow cooker, double up amounts and stash half in the freezer for another day to nuke 

If putting the oven on, make sure its full. Before I got my Ninja I was using the top oven and with a bit of jiggling , and using a baking sheet turned upside down on the bottom to give an "extra" shelf, Id get the joint, spuds, roasted veg and cauliflower cheese all in together 

vannylake

Last year before I discovered air fryers we were without a kitchen so I became creative cooking with the microwave and realised they weren't just for reheating. I got a silicone container that took a whole chicken and was great for throwing in some chicken thighs and veg for a cheap stew. But microwave food can get a bit dull as doesn't really come out as tasty as oven done.

Now I have discovered air fryers I would absolutely recommend them. I always misunderstood what they did but I bought one as we have lodgers who cover the hob in fat when they cook so it was to avoid that. We now use it loads ourselves. It does virtually everything that an oven and grill can. Things like roasted vegetables are quick and easy. I've made brownies in it too. I haven't worked out how much less it costs but roasted veg takes about 12 mins with no pre heating oven as opposed to a good 30 mins+ in the oven. I got quite a large one on FB marketplace for £40 so it's worth scouring the local ads for anything that comes up.

NikTutKen

BBQ? (I do so all year round, great for chicken, lamb etc)
Bulk cook Bolognaise, Chilli, Savoury Mince? Freeze them, same for Lasagnas, portion them up and freeze.
Stews the same! 
Air Fryers are ok, Halogen Oven is better, Mike’s cheaper than running a conventional oven. Good for Roasts, grilling etc
Home Made Won Ton Soup?
10 or 12 Itsu Gyozas (frozen section of supermarket)
2 tsp of Won Ton Soup Powder (£7.99 from Amazon, lasts ages!)
chopped Pak Choi and spring onions, maybe some red pepper, cooks in under 5 minutes on the Hob

Floss

OP, have you checked that you are getting everything you are entitled to? And have you checked the Rowntree Family Fund for help to replace any white goods / oven?

Ms_W

I only have a gas cooker and a slow cooker, I was also wondering how to reduce running costs. I fill my oven up when cooking and I also batch cook.. But if I feeze meals say lasagne or cottage pie they take ages to cook or / and warm all the way through, so it feels like I am defeating the object because the oven is then on just for that one tea. I defrost and leave them ut all day before cooking them. Warming up teas for my sons who finish different shifts etc is also a problem. I do not have a microwave ( and really do not want one), nor a toaster, or an airfryer. I feel abit stuck?

goldfinches

Ms_W said:

I only have a gas cooker and a slow cooker, I was also wondering how to reduce running costs. I fill my oven up when cooking and I also batch cook.. But if I feeze meals say lasagne or cottage pie they take ages to cook or / and warm all the way through, so it feels like I am defeating the object because the oven is then on just for that one tea. I defrost and leave them ut all day before cooking them. Warming up teas for my sons who finish different shifts etc is also a problem. I do not have a microwave ( and really do not want one), nor a toaster, or an airfryer. I feel abit stuck?

I can see that presents a bit of a problem and suggest this way of coping with it.
Batch cook, using the slow cooker, and prepare meals that can be reheated on the hob combined with sorting out a pan that will fit a single portion.

Serve the heated up single portions with accompaniments such as cous cous which only needs to be steeped in hot water from the kettle or breads which you've cooked and then frozen and after defrosting can be toasted to go with the hot food.

If you're wanting something very like mashed potato, but that uses much less energy to prepare, to add to a dish I can recommend the bean bit of this recipe and I used Marks tinned ones which were delicious so don't worry about finding them in jars Portobello Mushroom Steaks Recipe | Ottolenghi FLAVOUR (thehappyfoodie.co.uk)

I hope you think my suggestions are helpful and good luck with coming unstuck soon.

Ms_W

thank you for your post, lots of helpful tips. If I did purchase an air fryer, could I warm up teas in them ie cottage pie, lasagne etc . I have this idea that they just make chips, roast potatoes in them. Can you cook from scratch, like raw ingredients ( how you would use a slow cooker )  they drawers always look small in the pictures 

goldfinches

Ms_W said:

thank you for your post, lots of helpful tips. If I did purchase an air fryer, could I warm up teas in them ie cottage pie, lasagne etc . I have this idea that they just make chips, roast potatoes in them. Can you cook from scratch, like raw ingredients ( how you would use a slow cooker )  they drawers always look small in the pictures 

I haven't joined the air fryer club yet myself so can't give any helpful advice on the subject but suggest that you might find this thread on the subject helpful.

Multi cooker — MoneySavingExpert Forum

I have been keeping an eye on it myself to see whether or not it would be worth my buying another gadget to add to my kitchen and a lot of the people who commented on it were clearly very experienced air fryers and some of them gave ideas about other groups you could have a look at too.

Happy reading and hopefully you'll find it helpful.

CJRyder

As an air fryer owner (Tefal Actifry paddle type) I can say they do oh so much more than just chips. I regularly make curries, stews/casseroles, etc. in mine. Any dish that requires frequent stirring (bar risotto - paddle doesn't stir of lid is open) can be made in the air fryer. I am sure that those with the static type can provide you with recipes for roast chicken, carrot cake and all sorts of other oven delights for a fraction of the energy.