There are
daily dilemmas
now that we are struggling with the high cost of living and looking for ways to save on everything, while also giving further impetus to the ecological transition.
How to cook while saving money?
How to wash clothes trying to cut costs?
The culinary tips of the Nobel Prize in Physics Giorgio Parisi who shared on his Facebook wall a method to cook spaghetti while saving gas have been around the world.
The original post was by Alessandro Busiri Vici who explained 'after having brought the water to a boil, throw the pasta and wait two minutes, then you can safely turn off the gas, just use a lid and calculate about an extra minute.
At least eight minutes of gas savings. '
After the rediscovery of the lids, used no longer only to speed up boiling but to cook while saving on the bill, other practical strategies reduce household consumption allowing to reduce the costs of bills.
Eva Alessi, WWF Italy sustainability manager, did the accounts for ANSA LIFESTYLE on cooking strategies, electric oven to microwave,
To save money, wash dishes by hand or in the dishwasher?
According to statistics, dishwashers, when fully loaded and with the eco program, are faster, energy and water efficient than hand washing.
A dishwasher with 14 place settings consumes on average only 12 liters per wash cycle.
Also erroneous is the habit of performing a sort of pre-washing of the dishes under running water to eliminate residues and grease.
Up to 38 liters of water are saved if you choose not to rinse the dishes before washing.
Just remove the residues with a used napkin and insert the dishes directly into the dishwasher, still obtaining perfectly clean dishes ”.
Buying a new kitchen, is it better to buy gas or electric induction burners?
At home it is important to evaluate the efficiency of each device, to keep consumption low, and therefore the amount of bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Even in the kitchen, the best solution is the magnetic induction hob.
Therefore, those who are considering changing the kitchen will be able to orient themselves on electric induction hobs: the technology is much cleaner and more efficient than natural gas stoves.
The former in fact guarantee up to 90% energy efficiency, compared to just 40-50% of the classic gas models.
These hobs are made of ceramic or glass, they are quite elegant, easy to clean and above all more sustainable.
Does the induction or gas cooker cook earlier, so it consumes less?
With the induction hob, a 1-liter pot of water is brought to a boil in just 3-4 minutes, compared to the approximately 7-8 minutes it would take on a gas hob.
The induction plates speed up cooking times, thanks to the great speed in heating the pot, they reduce heat dispersion by heating only the pot and not the surface of the hob and therefore allow to reduce consumption.
Finally, the temperature control is extremely accurate and they are safer due to the lack of flame.
It should also be said that all those who own a photovoltaic system will be able to enjoy a kitchen at no cost!
At the time of purchase, we invest in an energy-efficient hob, it will have a higher initial cost, but the savings on the bill will be substantial.
Is it better to cook at high or low temperature to consume less energy?
With induction cookers, to keep consumption low, it is possible to prefer slow cooking, keeping to medium levels without setting the maximum power.
For example, setting a level of 5 instead of 7 can save over 400W of electric power, while turbo modes can go up to 2,400W of power, although they greatly reduce cooking times.
Is it better to use the gas stove or the microwave to heat a vegetable side dish?
Heating very watery foods such as vegetables with the microwave is very fast as opposed to with gas.
From the point of view of costs, the cost of gas was once less than electricity, but with the increase in methane prices due to international events, this is no longer the case.
Furthermore, it is increasingly urgent to eliminate fossil fuels (editor's note such as methane gas) and switch to electricity from renewable sources: this is the solution to lower emissions and combat the ongoing climate change.
Obviously, high energy efficiency appliances are needed so, if we are about to change, let's remember to invest in the higher efficiency classes, moving all those activities related to gas such as cooking to electricity.
Does the microwave oven or traditional oven consume more?
A good microwave oven consumes about half the energy consumption of a traditional electric oven and cooking times are much shorter.
For the microwave, it is important to use suitable containers with a lid: you save time and therefore energy.
Always choose washable containers, not disposable and preferably not made of plastic, a material that can transfer some contaminants to our food.
Better to cook a dish of pan-fried chicken legs or roast in the oven?
Methane gas is a fossil fuel and its costs have also increased significantly.
The traditional electric oven is energy-intensive but the new ones are more efficient and without heat loss.
Also equipped with multilevel cooking for the simultaneous cooking of several dishes, optimizing consumption.
The ventilated mode favors the circulation of hot air and lowers cooking times, also allowing you to use the oven with about ten degrees less than the static mode.
Small tricks help to promote savings, such as not opening the door to avoid dispersing the heat, avoiding preheating which is no longer necessary on the latest generation ovens.
Switching off a few minutes before the end using the residual heat is also an excellent strategy.
Are there any tricks to cook in half the time, saving consumption, without losing the flavor of the dishes?
The lid is an accessory that is generally used to shorten the boiling time but it is good to use it more often to avoid heat loss during cooking.
It is also important to choose a pan, pot or saucepan of the right size and not excessive in relation to the amount of food you want to cook, making sure it is right for the stove we want to use.
If we have to boil some dish we use the right amount of water and not excessive: in addition to not wasting another precious resource, less energy will be needed for cooking.
Finally, it is very useful to cook food preferably starting from room temperature, or taking them out of the fridge a few minutes before, thus avoiding the consumption of electricity or gas that would be used to heat them from 4 ° C due to our refrigerator.
Finally, watch out for the refrigerator: making sure it works properly reduces consumption.
Check that the seals are intact and that the temperature is correct.
For the fridge the ideal is between + 4 ° and + 5 ° C, for the freezer between -18 ° / -20 ° C.
For the washing machine: is it better to make it a little full on a short cycle or fill it up and do a long cycle at high temperature?
Reject the high temperatures.
Water heating is the phase of washing in the washing machine with the highest energy consumption, as well as having the greatest environmental impact in terms of CO2 emissions.
Washing at a high temperature is almost never necessary, most of the time 30 ° C is more than enough, also thanks to the latest generation detergents.
Cold washing is a gesture of respect for the environment, as well as a method to better preserve the fabrics and save money.
What practical measures can help reduce the consumption of the washing machine?
To save money and obtain excellent results, it is advisable to separate the laundry according to the type of fabric and dirt, choosing the most suitable program for each group of garments.
In addition, always start the washing machine with a full load, in order to save on energy and water.
Treat stubborn stains before washing by giving up the pre-wash function.
Finally, regularly clean the filter because impurities hinder the correct functioning of the washing machine and leave the detergent door and door open after unloading the laundry so that the appliance dries, avoiding mold and unpleasant odors on the laundry.
Dosing the detergent correctly, based on the load of the washing machine, without adding an excessive and useless amount of product also allows faster rinsing.
The most economical method of all?
Let us also remember that drying laundry in the air on the clothesline is a free method that saves energy, money and does not damage fabrics.
Electric dryers can be kept switched off.