To avoid hijacking the thread too much....diamond lil wrote: ↑Thu Aug 25, 2022 7:51 pm Nah I just needit to defrost and heat stuff Andy. Gas cooker - but I do a lot of slow stews on the hob, 2-3 hours simmer. So this way they'll just need a couple minutes heating through on the microwave.
What preps am I doing this week........
....... Trying not to waste energy on the oven or hob!
As ItsyBitsy said, Oven should be avoided, though, of course, for some things they are the only way, unless someone knows how to bake a pie , from scratch by microwave. Don't warm those plates in the oven, Use them instead of saucepan lids. Hot dishes for free!
In simple energy usage terms, Microwave wins hands down, simply because all the energy input goes into heating the food. Your microwave might use 1000 Watts, but can heat up or cook your food in a few minutes. Your Oven maybe uses 2000W to 3000W and might need to be on for a couple of hours. Stove tops are not much better in that the electric hobs might be 1000W and unless your Pan is optimum size, with a lid, you will waste energy warming your cooker and cooker hob and kitchen and Pumping heat outdoors through your extractor.
For COOKING Meat, Stews, and soups, For simmering, My vote goes to the Slow cooker which burns between 100W and 150W, Something like 10% of a hob ring or 5% of an oven.
Slow cooker to COOK it. Perfect for simmering.
Microwave to Re-Heat it ( If you must )
Ovens for baking.... And if the oven is on... Fill it!!!!
If you must use the hob, use a pressure cooker or shallow fry super quickly..
If your kitchen ends up feeling warm, you've been wasting energy.
