How can you cook economically during the winter? Start planning effectively, using seasonal ingredients and using the right kitchen equipment. The functional plan should start with the preparation of the weekly menu. A menu planned in advance minimizes unnecessary cooking and reduces energy consumption. It thus helps to make better use of stored food and reduces waste.
Money can be saved by preparing larger portions. Always cook food for several days, especially soups, sauces or stews. You will save time and energy compared to cooking every day. Another suitable procedure is the use of seasonal raw materials. In winter, use root vegetables, cabbage, pumpkin or potatoes for cooking - they are available, cheap and less difficult to store.
When cooking, try to use appliances that can save not only your time, but also reduce energy consumption. These include, for example, a kettle in which you can not only heat water for tea and coffee, but also use it to cook pasta or prepare soups. It is faster and more energy efficient than heating water on the stove.
Modern pressure cookers, whether traditional or electric, can cook food up to 70 percent faster than conventional cookers, thereby significantly reducing energy consumption. They are suitable for preparing soups, broths, legumes or stewed meat.
The multifunctional pot Orava MH-04 can replace several appliances at once thanks to nine pre-set programs. Pressure cooking ensures that nutrients are preserved to the maximum extent in the food. In the multifunctional pot, thanks to the high-quality non-stick ceramic surface, no food will burn, and the container with a volume of up to six litres will satisfy even a large family.
Induction cookers work up to half more economically than electric or gas appliances, heating the dishes directly, not the surrounding air. A hot air fryer uses less energy than a conventional oven and is ideal for baking or frying without a large amount of oil.
Thanks to the revolutionary design and ventilation technology of the air fryer with a power of 1,700 watts, the Airy-4 hot air fryer ensures an even and gentle effect of heat on food. It ranges in temperature from 40 to 200 0C on eight pre-set programs for preparing fries, chicken fillets, steaks or hamburgers. A hot air fryer can save almost 60 percent of cooking time and at the same time preserve the juicy and crunchy taste of the prepared food.
It is efficient to use a microwave oven for heating ready meals or preparing smaller portions. We recommend cooking stews and soups in a slow cooker. Although it cooks longer, it uses low power and allows food to be cooked overnight or during the day.
If you use a lid when cooking, you will reduce energy losses by up to a third. Preheat the oven only for pastries or desserts, it is not necessary for meat and vegetable dishes. On an induction or electric hotplate, turn off the heat before finishing the dish and use the residual heat. You can also bake several dishes in one oven, for example meat with a side dish.
Instead of reheating, keep ready-made food warm in a thermos or an insulated bag. Use cookware with good conductive properties, such as stainless steel or cast iron, and a suitable plate size to avoid unnecessary heat loss. Invest in quality equipment and energy-saving appliances with a low energy class.
The Orava Grillchef-3 home grill uses both an upper and a lower plate. The temperature can be set in the range from 80 to 230 °C, you can also set the time for preparing the given food. A large LCD display is built into the front bar of the grill, and the device also includes a bowl for dripping juice or oil. With the Orava HR-111 toaster, you can treat yourself to crispy toasts both salty and sweet every day. It has six heat levels and can bake two toasts at once.
Focus on the so-called one-pot dishes such as stew, risotto, lentil dhal or chilli con carne. They are nutritious and energy-saving in preparation. Winter is also the perfect time for soups. Thick vegetable soups, such as pumpkin or broccoli soups, satiate children and adults alike and are easy to reheat. If you decide to bake, consider preparing several dishes at once, for example baked pasta and vegetables or chicken with potatoes.
