Towngas & LPG appliances

General Cooking Hints

These apply equally to cooking with electricity

• A pressure cooker saves up to 2/3 cooking time, saves energy, and preserves the goodness in your food.
• A slow-cook pot also uses a great deal less energy.
• Use cooking utensils that conduct heat well.
• Boil only as much water as you need.
• Use the right size of rice cooker for your family - an oversized cooker wastes energy.
• Always use the lids on pans to trap heat; this saves a lot of energy.
• Once your food has boiled, reduce it to a simmer.
• Use pans, etc., which completely cover the sources of heat from your stove.
• Turn your oven or ring off before you have finished cooking, and let the residual heat gently finish the job.
• Do not spend too long pre-heating your oven: 10 minutes is usually enough.
• Cook several dishes in one session when using the oven; foods requiring the highest temperature first.
• Do not cook too far ahead of meal time - reheating/ keeping food warm simply wastes energy.
• Defrost frozen foods before cooking them.
• Use efficient appliances like a toaster oven for cooking and baking in small quantities.
• Check your oven door seal for heat leakage, and replace it if necessary.
• Keep your oven clean for maximum cooking efficiency.

Gas Hotplate/Cooker/Oven

• Choose a cooker/oven of a suitable size for your family's needs, and consider using it in conjunction with a microwave oven.
• A multi-jet cooker/oven offers you more versatility, and can minimise wastage.
• Adjust the flame to fit the bottom of your pan. Gas flames going up the side of a pan are a waste, can be dangerous, and do not increase cooking efficiency.
• Use the simmer burner rather than the oven to reheat casseroles and other food.
• Steaming and stir-frying is an energy-efficient way of cooking.
• Use your grill to its full capacity, rather than cooking one item at a time.
• Keep you cooking appliances clean and well maintained, and have them inspected from time to time.

Water Heater

• Take a shower instead of a bath. You'll save about 50% in heating costs.
• A low-flow shower head also saves water and heating energy.
• Don't leave hot water running when shaving, rinsing dishes, etc., and use cold water where hot water is not absolutely necessary.
• When not using your water heater, switch off the pilot light.
• Have your water heater inspected from time to time to ensure its efficiency and safety.