#114: Guess What's Cookin'? (Friday, February 27)

So, I'm a huge fan of Top Chef, and seeing as how this week was the finale, I thought it would be appropriate to give some green cooking tips.

The Impact: Cooking in the average U.S. home uses enough energy to generate a half ton of greenhouse gases each year. Every gallon of water you boil produces a pound of greenhouse emissions.

The Idea: Boil only the amount of hot water you'll need; don't fill the kettle for a cup of tea. Cover pots instead of letting them boil opened. Don't pre-heat your oven, and if you're using the oven consider maximizing it's efficiency by using the oven for as much of your meal as possible. So if you're baking a chicken, consider baked potatoes rather than something that has to be prepared on the stovetop.

When shopping for cooking appliances, buy a convection oven (it produces 33% less greenhouse gases than a convectional one).

And finally, try to use a toaster oven or microwave if possible...smaller appliances are more efficient.

The Result: lower bills, lower emissions, and maybe even a healthier diet!