Maybe we're all about to run dry on what other things we can do to lower our energy use beyond the obvious (putting lid on, etc). Below are some pages with information on low energy cooking methods:
Microwave Vs. Toaster Oven
Microwave Vs. Stoves
Different Simple Cooking Methods
"Common Sense" tips
Appliance comparisons
Some crazy ideas?
If you have any other links or useful resources, feel free to share! :D
On another note, a participant has blogged about his experience on his Tumblr page. One of his concerns is whether his favorite food, steak, will taste worse if he were to try saving energy by putting the lid on. What do you guys think? Any steak-cooking pros out there? Or advice through experience?
Nick's blog entry
Hope you guys are doing well with your cooking and moving on to the one-pan/pot experiment! (Look at previous post).
~Go team!~
not sure if covering the lid would make any difference...I'd think that I'll just have to keep a closer eye at how cooked the steak gets so I don't over cook it (it'll be too tough when it's too well done).
ReplyDeleteI can experiment and get back to you though!
ABOUT MICROWAVES:
ReplyDeletea lot of places say they are more efficient when it comes to producing the heat that is needed...
but they don't seem to be as able as a stovetop or oven to make different kinds of dishes that people would like to eat. For example, I can't imagine getting anything crispy out from the microwave... and every time I heat something up, there's always excess water that comes along with the stuff I'm cooking.
What do you guys think about using the microwave?
Don't put a top on the steak. It will stew it a little. You are better off putting pepper that you have crushed in a mortar and pestle on the steak and salt on the bottom of a cast iron pan. Sear both sides of the steak on high and then cook it on medium-high for another 3 to 5 minutes on one side, turn it over and cook it for less time on the other side and let it sit in the hot pan for a few minutes before you cut into it. It will save some energy and taste better.
ReplyDelete@Andy: Actually, I tried putting the lid on to cook steak, and it didn't get stewy. I cooked it on medium heat with lid, and it cooked the same. It's not as seared/charred as cooking it with high/medium high without the lid, but it still tasted good.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the difference is the pan? I used a nonstick...
- Carmen