Healthy Communities

If you are taking steps toward green living, one question you may be asking is “How can I go green in the kitchen? Here are a few tips that can help.

Select long lasting cookware and utensils. Unfortunately, many of the “new and Improved” forms of these items have only a short life before they must be thrown out. Good cast iron or stainless steel cookware will often last several generations. Sturdy wood or bamboo utensils of good quality last a long time. Use cloth towels instead of paper. Knives need to be high quality and those that can be hand sharpened for longest life.

While the greenest choice is not to replace the appliances in the kitchen, when time comes for an upgrade, select energy efficient appliances. Be sure that you recycle the old appliances. If there are hazardous materials or chemicals in an appliance, be sure that it is correctly disposed.

Avoid preheating unless cooking a very delicate dish. Most of the time, items can be placed in the oven as the heat is turned on. In addition, consider turning the appliance off to allow the dish to finish the cooking in the already hot oven. Electric stove tops work in a similar manner.

When using the oven, cook more than one food. If you are only cooking a small dish, try using an energy efficient toaster oven. Use the microwave for reheating to save energy. Use the microwave to cook whenever possible. When cooking on the stovetop, match the pot to the burner size to save energy. Consider cold dishes that need no cooking at all for even more energy savings.

Many pre-packed foods are not the greatest choice for the green kitchen. Choose fresh foods that avoid the energy to freeze or dehydrate and a lot of the energy used for transportation. An even better alternative is to plant your own garden. Do not forget to compost waste to keep the cycle going.

We live on a planet with limited resources. Choosing a green kitchen can help to do your part in reducing waste and treating the planet well.