Did you know that cooking and baking makes up 3% of the total energy we use in our homes in Ireland? While it might not sound like much, many of us are using cookers, microwaves, food processors and lots of other appliances and gadgets to prepare and cook our food each day. What’s more, as we spend more time at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are cooking and baking now more than ever. The good news is that there are lots of simple things we can do to save energy when channelling our inner MasterChefs, and this will help to keep those energy bills low as well!
So what are Codema’s top tips for saving energy when cooking and baking at home? Here’s some we prepared earlier...
Keep it shut
Don’t open your oven door too often during cooking times, as you can lose up to 20% of the oven’s heat when you do this.
Cook in batches
Batch cook meals together, such as a vegetable lasagne and apple pie. This will reduce the amount of energy your oven uses, and let’s be honest, who’s gonna... read more
Use that heat
Make use of residual heat (this is heat that has built up) by turning off the oven for the last few minutes of cooking time. When finished, you can leave the... read more
Size it up
Use pots and pans that cover the whole of the size of the cooker ring. When you are almost done, turn off the rings and use the heat that has built up so far to... read more
Put a lid on it
Use lids on pots and pans while cooking. This will speed up cooking time and save energy.
Boil, baby, boil
Boil the water in your kettle before using it for cooking. This will speed up cooking time.

Timing is key
Make sure that you have all your timings down to a tee so that you aren’t turning on ovens or other appliances any longer than you need to.

Be prepared
Get all your ingredients ready at once so that you are not constantly opening and closing your fridge and freezer, as this will use up more energy.

Weigh it all up
Carefully weigh out all your ingredients to reduce food waste.

Plan your meals
Making a meal plan for the week will help you to cook three or four dishes in one go. This will reduce the amount of energy your oven uses and you can then... read more

Protect the mess
It’s fun to get messy when you're cooking and baking but remember to protect your clothes with an apron to cut down on that washing load!
Toast, don't grill
Use the toaster instead of the grill for toasting bread.
Use appliances correctly
Be clever about how you use kitchen appliances, such as a food processor or sandwich maker. Make sure to only use them at the correct temperature and for the... read more
maker. Make sure to only use them at the correct temperature and for the required amount of time. read less
Microwave for small amounts
Use a microwave for smaller meal amounts instead of using your oven or stove.
Keep your oven clean
Cleaning your oven isn’t the most exciting task but keeping it clean will help to reduce cooking time, as the cleaner your oven is, the quicker it can reach... read more
Replace oven door seals
Replace the door seals of your oven if they are worn, split or broken, as this can decrease the efficiency of your oven.
Slow and steady
Consider using a slow cooker or pressure cooker as they save both energy and time while producing great food.

Need all those gadgets?
When baking, ask yourself if you really need so many gadgets (food processor, electric whisk, etc.). Baking by hand is a more traditional method and is often... read more

Time yourself
Use the timer on your mobile phone to track the cooking time so you are not using your oven and hob more than you need to. It will prevent you from burning your... read more
Fill that dishwasher
Run your dishwasher on the eco setting and ensure it is always full before you turn it on. If you can, turn off the dishwasher before the drying cycle and let... read more
Cool it
Cool hot food before putting in the fridge or freezer, otherwise these appliances will have to work harder to cool it down.

Only boil what you need
Boil only as much water as you need to steep pots, etc. when you are cleaning up. Better still, invest in an eco-kettle, which will help you boil only as much... read more
Freeze those leftovers
Make sure to freeze those leftovers to use another day. Not only are you cutting down on food waste, but keeping your freezer full is more energy-efficient.
Set fridge/freezer at right temperature
If you are storing leftovers in your fridge or freezer, make sure these appliances are at the right temperature setting. Your fridge should be set between 3-5... read more
+353 (0)1 707 9818