Whether you spend Thanksgiving cooking in the kitchen or watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, our electricity usage jumps as we move from one gadget or kitchen appliance to another. Prepare a drool-worthy feast with tips that give your energy bill a break this holiday season.
Plan ahead
As you write out your Thanksgiving to-do list, start with easy ways to implement energy savings into your holiday routine.
- Buy a smaller turkey. While gatherings are limited this year, choose a turkey that’s suitable for your group. Preferably one that’s not too big so it can cook in less time.
- Prep your side dishes. If you have many sides that will cook at the same temperature, put them in simultaneously.
- Lower the thermostat a few degrees. Give your furnace a break this holiday as the heat from the oven will warm up your home. Turn on a ceiling fan to circulate that toasty air.
Cook up energy savings
As you roast the turkey and bake the pumpkin pie, simple swaps in cookware and habits in the kitchen can make all the difference in energy-efficiency.
- Choose glass and ceramic baking dishes. They retain heat better and continue cooking the food after you’ve taken it out. Lower the oven by 25 degrees while getting the same results.
- Cook the stuffing and turkey separately. Without the stuffing inside, the turkey can cook faster.
- Keep the lids on your pots and pans. The lids will prevent heat loss, allowing the food to cook at a lower temperature on the stove.
- Don’t peek with the oven door open. As tempting as it is, when you open the oven door frequently, the temperature drops as warm air escapes. Check on your food through the window instead.
- Turn on the oven’s convection setting. The fan and exhaust will blow hot air onto the food, helping it cook faster and more evenly.
- Use the slow cooker. Cook side dishes like stuffing or mac ‘n’ cheese right in a Crock-Pot slow cooker to use less energy. Plus, you can easily work on other dishes as it
Leave it to the dishwasher (for never-ending dishes)
After recovering from that food coma, cleaning is the last thing you want to do. Luckily, a dishwasher can make it easier on you and the electricity.
- Scrape plates off into the trash. You can clean most plates enough for the dishwasher without having to rinse them off.
- Use the dishwasher. As Thanksgiving uses many pots, pans, and plates, a dishwasher will help you save time, money and water. Plus, you’ll have an excuse to skip out on doing dishes in the sink.
- Air-dry dishes. Instead of using the dishwasher’s heated air-dry cycle, open the door to cut back on energy.
Pack your favorites for leftovers
The Thanksgiving feast keeps on giving as leftovers become sandwiches or our dinner for the days ahead. While packing leftovers, be strategic in how you store them in the fridge.
- Let leftovers cool. Putting hot foods in the fridge makes it harder to keep a low temperature.
- Don’t overcrowd the fridge. Organize the containers so there’s enough air to flow through. If it’s jam-packed and blocking the vents, cool air can’t reach all your groceries and leftovers.
Although Thanksgiving might look different this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, City Power and Gas is committed to helping you celebrate safely at home this holiday season.
As the go-to Electric and Gas Company in Pennsylvania, City Power and Gas is committed to helping you manage your energy consumption. These simple tips can help you enjoy a festive and energy-efficient Thanksgiving.