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Use these six eco-friendly cooking tips to reduce the emissions originating in your kitchen. Read on!
We should all be aiming to find a way of reducing our environmental impact. This is especially important in the kitchen.
According to some estimates, home cooking can create 61 percent of the emissions associated with producing food. The good news is that there are some simple ways that you can lower your carbon footprint in the kitchen. Let’s look at some of the options you can explore.
Source Your Ingredients Carefully
Much of the environmental damage associated with cooking will come from the ingredients that you are using. There are a few things that you should be looking for when buying food. First, you should try to choose organic food. This means that no pesticides will be used during the farming process. The run-off of these harsh chemicals has been known to negatively impact the ecosystem.
You should also try to buy local foods. This is because most of the emissions associated with food will come from transporting it to the supermarket. In some cases, food can travel 1,500 miles before it reaches your plate.
You should look for foods that don’t come with excessive packaging. Most of this will be plastic, which will end up in landfills.
Lastly, you should consider the type of food you are cooking. Try to reduce the amount of meat you are consuming. It’s estimated that one pound of beef will take 1,799 gallons of water.
Choose Energy Efficient Appliances
Once you get your food home, it’s time to start thinking about how you are cooking it. It’s important to consider how much electricity your appliances will be using. Plus, you’ll be lowering your electricity bill. It should be easy for you to discern how much power the device will consume. It should come with a star rating.
Use an Electric Indoor Grill
Grilling is one of the most popular ways of cooking food. However, the way that you are grilling can have a big impact on the environmental impact you are having. Though a charcoal grill might give you great flavors, it isn’t very good for the environment. It’s estimated that a charcoal grill will release double the emissions of a gas grill.
It’s best to use an indoor grill. These won’t produce any soot or smoke. Plus, if you are getting renewable power, you won’t be creating any emissions. There are plenty of options for you to choose from, depending on your budget and the amount of benchtop space. This list of indoor grills will compare the most popular options to help you get started.
Compost Food Scraps
When you are cooking, you inevitably create food scraps. Putting these into the trash will see them getting sent to landfills. This is a waste of potentially valuable nutrients. Instead, you should start a backyard compost pile. Over time, these will break down into useable soil for your garden. If you don’t have enough space for a garden of your own, see if there is a community garden in your area. They will be glad to receive your scraps.
Make Larger Meals
Finally, it can be a good idea to cook a larger meal. This will allow you to prepare two or three dinners at once. Then, you can divide the meals, storing them in the fridge. When you are ready, you’ll just need to heat them in the microwave. Not only is this a great way to lower emissions, but it will also help you save time.
The Takeaway
Cooking in the kitchen can release a lot of emissions. The good news is that there are some easy ways that you are lower your environmental footprint. Hopefully, these tips will allow you to do this.
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