The kitchen is a centrepoint for energy usage within any home, and with energy bills significantly rising, we want to focus on ways that can make you more energy efficient and keep those bills low.

Being more energy conscious and mindful of the way you cook could significantly reduce the amount of energy you are using, and therefore bring down those heavy costs.

When deciding between gas and electric, it has always been said that if you use an electric cooker you will use fewer units of energy but, because electricity costs more than gas per unit, this will still end up costing you more. Your choice of gas or electric will obviously be influenced by what you are used to with previous cookers, your own personal preference and what your kitchen is set up to use.

According to tests set up by consumer watchdog Which?, if you use your cooker for an average of five hours a week, you will pay on average just £17 a year for a gas cooker and around the £40 mark for an electric induction cooker (March 2022). 

The Great British roast dinner, a staple meal in many people’s lives. When it comes to cooking all the different dishes that make up this traditional dinner, there are lots to think about when it comes to the cost.

For example:

Ingredients cost total

Cooking time

Cost of gas/electric per unit

Total units used

Total cost

According to NetVoucherCodes.co.uk, there are a few changes we can make to our daily cooking routines to help save energy in our homes. So when cooking your Sunday roast, make sure you take note of some of these very handy tips:

Cook as much as you can in the oven at the same time

When cooking a large meal such as your roast dinner, make sure you prepare all of your vegetables and accompaniments so they can go in the oven at the same time. By getting the timings right, you can make sure that all of the heat and energy is properly used. This should lower the amount of time you will need the oven on.

Choose the right pans for your hob

If you own an electric hob, you should make sure you buy flat bottomed pans. These work best at making full contact with each electric zone and allowing heat to spread more evenly. In turn, this will cook your food faster and save energy.

Use fan-assisted or convection ovens

Fan assisted or convection ovens circulate the heat around your food, cooking it at a lower temperature than a traditional oven. Fan assisted ovens use 20℃ less to reach the equivalent of gas mark 6, making them a more energy-efficient option.

 

Parboil your potatoes and vegetables before roasting

Parboiling your veg for five to ten minutes before roasting them not only helps to soften them but also means they take less time to cook in the oven – saving some all important energy within.

 

Shorten your cooking time by defrosting your meat in the fridge overnight

If you plan on cooking your meat from frozen, take it out the day before and leave it to defrost in the fridge overnight. This could halve your cooking time and save you money.

As electric ovens can be more expensive than using a gas one, why not try switching off your oven 10 minutes before your food is fully ready. The temperature of the oven will remain the same and continue to cook your food.

 

Try using glass or ceramic dishes

Glass and ceramic dishes retain heat far better than metal ones, so using these will not only cook your food faster but be more cost effective. You can even set the heat slightly lower when using these dishes because of increased efficiency.

 

Boil your water in the kettle before cooking

When boiling your potatoes or vegetables, use your kettle to boil as much water as you need, then transfer it to the pan on the hob. Using the electricity to power the kettle will cost less than boiling it from cold on the hob.

 

In the battle between gas and electric, it is said that although gas ovens use more energy, they are in fact cheaper overall. Gas energy itself is significantly cheaper than electric, however contends with the fact it is less eco-friendly. Since April 2022, 1kWh of electricity actually costs 4x as much as gas, which is something to consider when making your choice. However, because induction hobs are much more energy efficient, you won’t need to leave it on as long as a gas hob.

Here are some of our Rangecookers top picks for you to have a look at, whilst keeping all of the above advice in mind…

Rangecookers Select 90ei2 

Our very own Rangecookers Select 90ei2, the first induction model in our Select collection. A sturdy and reliable electric range cooker that is designed to appeal on all fronts, this model will suit your budget nicely without compromising on quality. It features a multifunction, programmable main oven with conventional second oven, two integrated grills and a sleek induction hob. Not a standard build, the competent Select 90ei2 is manufactured to Rangecookers' considered specification at a specialist Italian factory chosen for its engineering credentials and great track record.

Rangemaster Classic 90 FX
This new dual fuel model is available in five colourways: Black, Cream, Slate, Stone Blue and Mineral Green, all with a choice of chrome or brass finishes for the controls, handle and towel rail. In addition to this, it has a colour matched fascia and a premium white time display. This exciting new cooker boasts a 114 litre oven, featuring a unique Energy Saving Panel (ESP) that allows you to split the oven in half. A five burner hotplate on top also now includes the added feature of a new, removable Teppanyaki griddle plate, making this a truly flexible and energy conscious appliance.

Bertazzoni Professional 90 Twin

Featured on the Professional models are five shelf positions clearly lit by two oven lights, and ample storage for all your cookware and accessories in a handy compartment below. The coordinated design of this particular series continues with the iconic controls and handle design, which have had a slight update. Reflecting the luxurious look of this contemporary model, every control panel, handle and oven window are made to align perfectly in configuration and make such a simple design so beautiful to look at.

ILVE Panoramagic

The Panoramagic brings an extra touch of indulgence to your kitchen, with a futuristic style range cooker certainly becoming an eye-catching centrepiece. The red LED backlit control knobs matched with the stainless-steel body makes this a stylish choice. The Panoramagic 120 8 Burner is a striking appliance. Behind the triple glazed, soft close doors is one 91L multifunction oven offering 15 different settings including fanned, conventional, pizza mode, intensive cooking and rotisserie. Alongside this is a 43L multifunction oven with five different settings including conventional, base heat only and rotisserie. To compliment the two ovens are eight highly efficient solid brass burners with easy to clean black nanotechnology coating, giving them a non-stick thermal durability.

Falcon 1092 Continental Induction

If you’re looking for a solid and reliable range cooker, look no further than the Falcon 1092 Continental Induction. This induction model brings all the power you could need in the form of five cooking zones with useful features like power-boost, boil-dry detection, auto-heat up, simmer and zone-link functions, all being operated by clear and simple control knobs.  

To find out more about energy efficiency of our cookers, you can give our team a call on 01244 402 975 or visit our website now.