Not only is Thanksgiving a great opportunity to spend time with friends and family, it’s a holiday where food can really take center stage. Here are seven easy ways to avoid gobbling up excess energy while preparing the perfect meal.

  1. Avoid frequent oven checks. Each time the oven is opened, a surprisingly large amount of heat is lost, meaning longer cook times and wasted energy.
  2. Cook more than one thing at a time. Foods with cooking temperatures within 25 degrees of each other can be cooked simultaneously. Give your turkey or main dish some friends!
  3. Use lids to retain heat. Placing lids on pots can reduce the time required to boil water by over 40%.
  4. Turn down your thermostat. Excess heat from the oven and your dinner guests will raise the temperature indoors quite a bit.
  5. Cook in ceramic or glass. These materials are known for conducting heat extremely well, meaning your food will cook faster, more thoroughly, and with less energy.
  6. Preheat wisely. Conventional ovens only require five to eight minutes to preheat. No preheat is required for roasting or broiling!
  7. Allow hot foods to cool down before placing them in the fridge or freezer. Placing hot food in a fridge or freezer puts unnecessary stress on the appliance, causing it to work harder to bring the temperature back down. Wait thirty minutes to an hour for the best results.

Have fun trying out some new energy-saving methods at your holiday gathering and have a very Happy Thanksgiving!