Cook less to save more

Your Challenge

This challenge is a good one for summertime when fresh fruit and vegetables are abundant. The challenge is to try and reduce how often we use the oven, and prepare food in more energy-efficient ways instead. 

Here are some tips:

1. Instead of cooking just one meal (or turning the oven on for an hour to cook one baked potato), try batch cooking enough to make lunches or meals for the week and then pop them in the fridge or freezer.
2. Reduce cooking times by chopping the same food into smaller pieces: for example, cut larger joints of meat in half before they go in the oven, or make your roast potatoes smaller.
3. Defrost food properly to keep cooking time to a minimum.
4. Use the microwave – it heats the food, not the air around it and can save energy and money compared to an oven. But check the energy efficiency rating of your microwave. This doesn’t mean you should switch to ready meals: a healthy balanced diet is much better for the planet.
5. Try an air fryer – these can be more cost effective than an oven for small households, but always check the energy consumption for the different settings on an air fryer to be confident it will save energy compared to an oven. If you’re using an air fryer, reduce the number of times you open the compartment to save energy.
6. Electric is more efficient than gas. Electric hobs and ovens are more energy efficient (though you pay more per unit of energy than gas). This also means you can reduce your dependence on fossil fuels by choosing a renewable electricity tariff. 
7. By cooking slow and low (temperature) with a slow cooker, you may save money compared to your oven – but check the settings to be sure. Remember to switch it off when finished, and choose the eco setting if there is one.
8. In warmer months, enjoy salads or cold buffets! Learn to make more raw food dishes using fruit and veg, look to Mediterranean cooking for inspiration.