Cooking with Less Energy

I've always used my toaster oven instead of my full size oven to cook things if they fit because it's more convenient. It doesn't need time to heat up and it usually cooks things a little more quickly than the large oven. I can cook chicken nuggets in ten minutes flat for the boys if I need to.

I never gave much thought, though, to the fact that using the toaster oven uses a lot less energy than the large oven, but it does. 

There are lots of little ways that you can use less energy when you cook - every little bit you save helps.

• Use the toaster oven instead of the regular oven.
• Use a slow cooker (Crockpot) - even if it's plugged in all day, a newer model can use less energy than an oven uses in one hour.
• Cook on the stove top with the lid on when possible - things will heat up more quickly and you will have the time the stove is on will be reduced.
• If you're cooking something that freezes well, double the amount that you cook. It will take less energy to defrost and reheat the frozen meal than cooking it all from scratch.
• Remember to unplug small appliances when you are done using them. Toaster ovens, microwaves, coffee makers, slow cookers and other small appliances use a small amount of energy if they are plugged in, even if they are turned off.