Many homes use electric stove cooking and notice it’s very different than cooking with a traditional gas stove. Regardless of whether you own or rent, electric stove cooking comes with a learning curve. While many prefer it, just as many experience struggles.
Today, you will discover money and energy-saving tips to help ground you while experiencing electric stove cooking. And some say they transformed into better cooks too. With some easy tips and best practices, you also can become an aficionado cooking with your electric stove!
Why Choose Electric Stove Cooking Over Traditional Gas Ranges
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You might ask, why choose electric stove cooking over a gas range? Well, depending on where you live, you might not have a choice. Typically, rural areas and small towns don’t have access to gas lines. And this means the only method for cooking is an electric stove.
However, some homes prefer gas and install propane tanks to still cook with a gas range. But installing propane tanks can cost a lot more money as well. That’s why many folks choose electric stove cooking for their homes and rental properties.
Moreso, if you ask the experts, they say while it’s cheaper to operate a gas stove, you waste more energy. Typically, 74 percent of the energy produced on an electric range transfers to food, compared to about 40 percent on a gas range.
Plus, electric stoves are typically safer for households than gas. Noticeably, a gas stove has an open flame, and with it, there’s always a chance of fire. With a gas stove, you can run the risk of gas leaks. Therefore, if your home has a gas stove, you’ll also want to install a good carbon monoxide detector as well.
Nevertheless, when it comes to determining which stove works best for your home, it always pays to do the research first. Make sure you know what your needs are and what the resources in your area offer. Remember, electric stoves continue to improve and are incredibly energy efficient and easier to use.
1 – Keep The Lid On Your Pot When Cooking
As simple as it seems, keeping the lid on your pots will help you save money when cooking on your electric stove. Keeping the top on prevents heat from escaping and allows your food to cook more efficiently. Doing this when cooking dishes that require a long time to cook will help speed up cooking time.
Of course, you can remove the lid to stir your food, but remember to place the top back on when done. For foods that have shorter cook times, it’s not as effective. Bottom line, it’s always a good idea to keep the pot lids on when cooking. Remember, it’s still important to keep a constant eye on your pots when cooking on an electric stove as well.
2 – High Heat Conductive Cookware
Of course, the cookware you use also helps save time and money when cooking with your electric stove. The right cookware can determine how much heat you need for turning our utterly delicious recipes.
It always pays to use high-quality cookware for electric stoves as it’s durable and can reduce cost over time. While saving money in the short run with inexpensive cookware, you will pay more money over time. Plus, cheap pots and pans tend to warp and discolor over time. And they lose their ability to conduct heat effectively.
More so, you’ll want to pay close attention to the material of your cookware. You can purchase cookware made of carbon steel, aluminum, stainless steel, and even cast iron for your electric stove. Some material makes the cookware much more durable, while other materials will increase the cookware’s heat conductivity.
So, opt for the best quality cookware when possible to save yourself time and money. You might need to spend a bit more to buy this high-quality cookware, but it will last a long time and provide more efficient cooking.
3 – Always Cook With The Right-Sized Pots
The size of your cookware also determines how much power the electric stove will generate. That’s why it’s always a good idea to use cookware that compliments your stove’s burner.
According to EnergyStar, if you use a six-inch pan on a burner with a diameter of 8 inches, you will waste about 40% energy. If you used an 8-inch pan, you would have used all the burner’s energy. And this would have heated the food inside faster and thus reducing the power cost.
4 – Clean Stove Top Regularly
When it comes to electric stove cooking, keeping your burners clean often and adequately is essential. If you use the stove for a long time, you’ll notice the stovetop, especially the burner, will become black and heavy. As the burners darken, they will require more electricity to heat, requiring a lot more power.
To avoid this added energy cost, you need to clean the stovetop and the burner at least once every month. Doing so will keep the burner shiny and have power efficiency. You can use a product like Weiman Ceramic and Glass Cooktop Cleaner for your electric stovetop. A cleanser like this features a biodegradable formula and helps easily clean all cooktop surfaces.
Additionally, if your burners look beyond repair, you can always replace them. Typically, they are inexpensive and worth replacing. If you notice you only need to replace one burner, it’s worth it to buy all four and replace them all at one time.
5 – Decrease Your Cook Time For Electric Stove Cooking
Decreasing cooking time or keeping the stove on for a shorter time will save a lot of energy. Plus, this is a process that also compliments the previous point in this article. In your next cooking session, try leaving the lid on and turning off the stove near the cooking end. And leave the food to cook for a few minutes in its heat.
Doing so will also let your food cook evenly and through. As the stove will remain off for some time, it will prevent the food from burning. Remember, the less time your food needs to cook, the more energy and money you will save in the long run. While you want to follow the recommended cooking time for your recipes, you should also maximize the method of cooking.
Generally, by reducing cooking for shorter periods and at lower temps, you can produce better results. Your recipes will taste better, and veggies will not turn into soft clumps on your plate.
Electric Stove Cooking Final Thoughts
While you increase your learning curve cooking on your electric stove, it’s a good idea to note practice makes perfect. Yes, cooking with electricity is very different from with gas. But you can achieve perfection and produce delicious recipes.
How to Choose the Best Frying Pans for Electric Stoves
It’s not always easy choosing the best frying pans for those of us with electric stoves in our kitchens. That’s why it always pays to do the research. When you cook on an electric stove, knowing which frying pans to use is essential.
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