Whether it’s for cooking up some comfort food or browning sweet pastries for a snack, the oven is one of the most popular appliances in French kitchens. However, with an average consumption of 1,000 kWh per year per household (i.e. about 30 euros), it is also one of the most energy-intensive pieces of equipment, which translates into higher bills. And with electricity and gas prices constantly rising, it is better to take the initiative and not consider these expenses as insignificant. What’s more, sometimes all it takes is a few good habits to save money in a simple and easy way. Here are some tips and tricks to help you save energy with your oven.
1- Start by choosing your appliance wisely
If your energy-guzzling oven is getting old or you need to buy a new one, it may be time to invest in a new oven, and not just any oven if you want to save money in the long run. The first thing to check is its energy consumption. An appliance with at least an A++ or A rating will give you better value for money than an oven with a lower rating. This rating will guarantee a consumption of less than 0.800 kWh, compared to 1 kWh for ovens with higher consumption.
2-Turn off the oven a little before the end of cooking to save money
At the end of cooking, the oven remains very hot for a long time, even when it is switched off. So do not hesitate to turn it off and leave the door closed during the last minutes of cooking. Your dish will finish cooking quietly and you will save energy.
3- Don’t give in to the temptation to open the oven too often.
With good smells coming out of the oven and impatience arising from hunger or greed, we keep opening the oven door, ready to pull out our poutine and devour the dish! The problem is that opening the door too wide encourages heat loss. As a result, the oven consumes more energy as it has to heat up to bring the pan to the right temperature. It is best to limit the number of openings, especially by following your recipe instructions and relying on the view through the glass.
4-Don’t use the oven at all to save money.
The oven consumes much more energy than other cooking methods. Therefore, it is best to avoid its systematic use, especially if there are dishes for which you can do without it. There are many recipes without an oven, even for pastries and desserts. And if you want to reheat the previous day’s dish, perhaps the microwave or the casserole are perfectly viable options?
5) Never neglect cleanliness!
A clean and well-maintained appliance will consume less. That’s why it’s essential to clean both the inside and outside very regularly. Do not hesitate to wait until after cooking, when the oven is still a little hot. The grease will remain soft and then you can easily remove it with basic household products (detergent, white vinegar or baking soda). A simple cleaning after each use will work wonders.
6- Do not rely on pyrolysis, which should be minimal.
Pyrolysis ovens are very popular, because no one likes the chore of cleaning the oven. However, this type of oven is not ideal for saving money. This process consumes a lot of energy. The appliance is heated to 500°C for at least an hour to burn off grease and dirt, which is very expensive. In addition, these ovens are poorly insulated, which makes them less efficient for cooking food. If you don’t see yourself cleaning your oven in the traditional way, opt instead for a catalytic oven, an appliance with a self-degreasing function that is more economical and consumes less energy.
7- Unplug the oven whenever possible to save money
It may not seem like much, but the small LED that shows the time consumes energy. And even when not in use, the oven remains in standby mode, which can increase your energy bill. So if you go on vacation, don’t forget to unplug the oven.
8- Defrost mode disappears
The oven defrost mode is very practical, but it also consumes a lot of energy. Therefore, we recommend that you leave the food to defrost in the refrigerator.
