![\"save](\"http:\/\/images1.blisstree.com\/files\/2009\/12\/save-oven-energy.jpg\")
<\/p>\nYour oven is not the same sort of energy hog as your dryer or fridge but it can use more energy than it should. Here are some reasons why your oven may be increasing both your energy use and your electricity bill…<\/p>\n
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You’re a food checker – and not the kind in the store.<\/strong> Peeking in on baking goods is a great way to allow perfectly good energy to escape. In fact the NRDC<\/a> notes that opening the oven door to look at cooking food can waste as much as 25% of the heat inside an oven. That’s a lot and it adds up. Don’t peek, instead use the oven light. If you don’t have on, open the door very rarely.<\/p>\n You always preheat and cook until the timer says stop<\/strong>. Unless I’m making baked goods I rarely preheat. Most ovens heat super speed nowadays so preheating is wasted energy in my opinion. I usually put the food in, cook, then turn the oven off about 5-10 minutes early. If you leave the door shut your food will continue to cook.<\/p>\n You’re a clean freak.<\/strong> Cleaning your oven is smart, because clean appliances run better. However, if you’re so clean-minded that you cover your oven racks with foil you’re one, wasting foil and two food doesn’t cook as fast when heat is blocked by foil. Ovens are easy to clean without chemicals even if you skip the foil. Simply sprinkle a little salt on a hot oven spill, let it cool, then wipe it up with a wet cloth.<\/p>\n You cook one little thing<\/strong>. One potato to bake is no reason to turn on an oven. A microwave or toaster oven is a better bet for single items when it comes to energy savings.<\/p>\n Your gaskets are too loose<\/strong>. Gaskets are located between the panels on the oven door (or on the frame). If you can feel heat escaping from the oven door then you need to tighten or replace your gaskets<\/a>. This is a DIY project BUT make sure you unplug the oven before fixing them.<\/p>\n [image via stock.xchng]<\/p>\n Post from: Blisstree<\/a><\/p>\n