HOME BAKED ENERGY SAVINGS

This money saving tip falls in the category of small improvements, that add up over time, to save you money.

Some cooks can tell when the bake goods are done just by using their sense of smell, the rest of us use a timer. If you are like most folks when you roast or bake something in the oven, you set a timer to remind yourself to check it when you expect it to be cooked.

I know at our house, when the timer alarm goes off, the first reaction is to open the oven door and look at what ever is cooking. The next action is to organize a search party to find the big kitchen fork. When the long handle fork is located, the food in the oven gets poked a few times to see if it is done. This is usually followed by taking the food out of the oven for closer inspection.

If the cooking directions were right, the food is done and ready to eat. The next step is to prepare the food item for serving and the very last action taken is to shut off the oven. You did remember to shut the oven off right.

Let’s step back and change the program.

When the kitchen timer alarm goes off the first action should be to shut the oven off. Then open the door to look inside. This stops the heating element from drawing more power or gas from your bank account, while you decide if the food is ready to eat. Opening the oven door will cool the oven temperature sensor and the heating element will come on, almost right away, unless you shut it off first.

If you decide that the food needs to cook 5 minutes more, quickly put it back in the hot oven. Wait for it to finish cooking without turning the oven back on. Wait one extra minute since the oven will not be as hot as it was.

A hot oven will coast for a long time allowing you to finish the cooking with the oven off. I know that last minute seems like an hour while you wait for something good to eat.

Why change, you ask?

That big heating element in an electric oven costs you about 9 cents for every 10 minutes that it is on. Natural gas ovens cost a penny or two less, but the principle is still the same.

How many minutes of oven heating time can you save a month? It will show up as savings on your energy bill. The savings depends on how many batches of goodies you bake in a month.

I really like oatmeal cookies and those healthy one’s made with applesauce instead of sugar. Plus, I like….. You know I don’t think I’ve meet a cookie that I did not like. Then there are apple pies, blueberry pies, pumpkin pies, homemade bread… Yes, you are right I am spoiled.

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