Fourteen Tips for a Green Sustainable Kitchen
Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast
Episode 138
14 Tips for a Green Sustainable Kitchen
Too many times I hear people complain about the cost of a sustainable lifestyle. But what most people frequently overlook is that making the right choices for your well being is quite often easier on your bank account, better for your health and better for the planet. The same holds true for your kitchen.
The vast majority of our household waste is related to what we do in the kitchen. But changing that is yet another way that can easily be apart of our green transition. Eating green, energy efficient food preparation, kitchen equipment made from sustainable materials, proper cleaning habits, and eliminating toxic chemicals all play a part in becoming the green gourmet.
So stay tuned for episode 138 which focuses on simple, straight forward ways to have a sustainable kitchen.
Welcome back everyone to the Adventures in Sustainable Living podcast. This is your host Patrick and this is E138 which is called 14 Tips for Having a Green Sustainable Kitchen.
You know, a big part of having an eco-friendly lifestyle is truly a matter of perspective. Our perspective on the world and how we think affects what we value. And we tend to protect what we value. We go through our everyday lives never giving much thought to the thousands of mundane things we do and the underlying reality of how that has an impact on the environment. The same is true for what we do in the kitchen.
The average person spends 67 minutes a day in the kitchen. Yet what we do in the kitchen produces the vast majority of our household waste. As you will soon see, it is the little things that make a difference.
Being green and being sustainable in the kitchen is far easier and less expensive than what most people realize. Sadly it is very common for people to spend thousands of dollars on a nice new updated kitchen before they even learn how to cook properly. But this is just another example of how we get sucked into the same silly consumerism that is so pervasive in our culture.
You do not need an expensive gym membership to get into better shape. You do not need a brand new computer to be a better writer. And you do not need an expensive kitchen to be the best green gourmet on the planet. All you truly need is some passion, devotion, common sense, some basic tools, and a little experience and you can be eco-friendly in the kitchen under pretty much any circumstances. The simple and straight forward suggestions in this episode will help you to accomplish just that.
- Invest in proper cookware
As with most things in life, any job or task is made easier by having the right tools. The same is true for cooking. The first thing you should do is invest is cookware that will stand the test of time. The good news is that you can do this without breaking the bank. Just follow a few simple guidelines.
First off, ditch the Teflon cookware. The normal wear and tear of everyday cooking is going to eventually ruin the non-stick surface and it will have to be replaced. This means just another thing that is going to the landfill.
Instead choose something that is going to last. Cast iron cookware and stainless steel are by far the best. Cast iron is truly my favorite and it is the first thing I reach for when cooking. Cast iron is versatile and can be use stove top, in the oven, on top of the wood stove and even over the camp fire. If properly cared for it will last for generations. I have had the same cast iron cookware for over 20 years. Cast iron is affordable, it holds heat well, it is easy to clean, and comes in a variety of sizes and shapes.
The same principles hold true to cooking utensils. Choose the thicker wooden utensils and stainless steel. Both are going to last vitally a lifetime. You may pay more for these up front. But that is better than sending yet another thing to the landfill.
2) Purchase an energy efficient stove
From a sustainability perspective, choosing the right stove can be difficult. You have the choice between gas and electric. Gas of course is a fossil fuel. But 60% of the electricity in the United States is generated form the use of fossil fuels so I am not sure if it makes much of a difference at this point. Additionally, if you live off the grid like I do, it is difficult to produce enough electricity to run an electric stove. So you may not have a choice but to use propane.
That is to say that the stove you choose will most likely depend on the price and your particular lifestyle. So the greenest thing you can do is choose an appliance that you are going be happy with for at least 10 to 15 years. If you do so, time, money and materials are saved from the manufacturing perspective.
So here is a quick run down of your options.
Induction stove tops
If you have electricity, an induction stove is going to be the most efficient. They use electromagnetic technology to transfer energy directly to the pan. They are more energy efficient, allow for precise control and cook food in about half the time relative to a standard electric range.
However, not all cookware will work with an induction stove. You need to use stainless steel, cast iron, or enameled iron. If you have doubt about your present cookware, you can test it with a strong magnet. If the magnet will stick to the bottom of the pan chances are that pan will work on an induction top stove.
Gas stoves
A gas stove offers instant on and off heat so there is little if any waste of energy. These stoves also offer precise heat control. Modern gas ovens use a fan to disperse heat so there is no need to preheat the oven.
If you are shopping for a new gas stove, the lower the BTU output the more efficient it will be. You must also know that gas stoves are generally considered less healthy than electric stoves due to the output of CO2 and NO2 into the household. These gases can cause damage to your lungs and exacerbate lungs issues.
Ceramic glass cooktops
Ceramic glass cooktops are second in line as far as energy efficiency. They use halogen elements for a heat source.
Electric coils
You can also choose the long standing electric coils for cooking. Just know that these are by far the least efficient as far as electric stoves are concerned. However they are also the least expensive.
3) Energy efficient kitchen appliances
And while we are on the topic of kitchen appliances, there are many other ways to be greener. There are numerous energy efficient appliances on the market these days and I am going to give you some tips on how to make the right choice.
-Look for the Energy Star Label. This is a trusted label for increase energy efficiency.
-Choose the right size of appliance. For example, it the refrigerator is too big for what you need, you are simply going to pay more for the appliance and pay more for yearly operating cost. If the dishwasher is too big and is being used while half empty you are wasting energy.
-Find eco-friendly ways to use your appliances. Open the door to the refrigerator less frequently. Refrigerators with either top or bottom mounted freezers are more energy efficient. Choose an appliance with eco friendly or holiday modes to reduce energy consumption while you are away.
-Consider a chest style refrigerator and freezer.
These are by far the most energy efficient. The reason for this is that when you open the door you do not lose all the cool air. These are what we have. Granted, I will be the first to admit that a chest style refrigerator has its storage challenges. But it save us a tremendous amount of energy. Our freezer and refrigerator uses less electricity in 24 hours than a 100 watt light bulb.
4) Energy Efficient Cooking
Another easy to follow tip is to practice energy efficient cooking methods.
One of the first things you can do it to stop preheating your oven. Most of todays modern ovens come to temperature so quickly that preheating is just not needed any longer.
The next tip is to use your stove more efficiently. If you are baking cook more than one thing at a time. If you need to reheat something use the microwave or toaster oven instead. Using the correct sized pot on the stove top can also save energy. If you are using a small pot on a large burner you are wasting at least 40% of the energy produced. When cooking in a pot use a tight fitting lid. This will help bring to food to cooking temperature much more quickly.
Additionally, I recommend using a pressure cooker as much as you can. They save energy in two ways. Pressure cookers can reduce your cooking time by by as much as 70%. They also cook food faster because they are well insulted.
You know since I love to cook I also bake on a regular basis. But if I am baking bread, I cook more than one loaf and freeze the extra. If I am making cookies, I put two or three pans in the oven at once. If I need to season a cast iron skillet I wait until I am going to bake something anyway. I do not use the oven if a pressure cooker is far more efficient. So, there are all kinds of ways you can get creative.
5) Cook From Scratch
One of the best ways to be eco-friendly in the kitchen is to cook from scratch. This is far more healthy because you can control exactly what goes into your food. You are starting with fresh ingredients. You can control your calorie consumption, eliminate chemicals and preservatives, and save a considerable amount of money. You also eliminate all the extra packaging, processing and shipping required to produce frozen or prepackaged convenience foods.
And bye the way, I devoted an entire episode to this topic. It was called The Benefits of Slow Food. So, go back in listen to E 110.
6) Grow your own
And another way to be healthier in the kitchen is to of course grow your own. It does not get healthier or easier than walking outside and picking your own fresh produce.
If you can’t grow your own then consider supporting a local community agricultural co-op in order to support local farmers.
7) Eat raw.
And speaking of picking your own, the most environmentally friendly and energy efficient thing you can do is leave out the cooking process altogether. In other words, eat raw foods. So don’t forget about salads, chilled dishes and other foods that can be eaten with little of no preparation.
8) Buy local ingredients and eat what is in season
Think in terms of the fewer the miles from farm to table the better. Just consider that the food you bring into your kitchen is just as important as your tools and gadgets you use. We have become so accustomed to having what we want, when we want it. But that is not exactly eco-friendly. Those nice plump grapes imported from South American might taste fantastic in the middle of the winter, but think of the environmental impact of getting them to the supermarket that time of year.
So, learn to eat what is in season. When I was a kid helping out on the farm, extra veggies and fruits were canned to tide us over to the following Spring. That way we never had to worry much about what was in season.
9) Buy in bulk and cook in bulk
Purchasing in bulk not only saves you money but it also saves the use of all the extra packaging. It is almost impossible at times to find goods, especially food, that comes without any packaging.
Approximately 30% of the waste we produce annually is simply from packaging materials. Buying in bulk at least helps to reduce the amount of waste that you produce. And of course you can recycle as much of that packaging as possible.
Cooking in bulk is another way to save money and reduce your environmental impact. Whenever I cook soups, chilis, and stews I always make more than we need and I freeze the extra. I especially does this with burritos, breakfast burritos, homemade pizza, bread, muffins, and cookies. The extras are frozen and this becomes our on-the-go, busy day, home made convenience food.
10) Don’t waste food or anything else
It is hard to believe that 40% of the food in our supply chain goes to waste. That is enough food to feed all the hungry people in the world twice over. This is a significant problem that can easily be corrected.
You can cut back on your food waste by purchasing only what you need when it comes to perishable items, if you have left overs freeze them, cook in smaller portions. As vegetables age, make soups and stews. Now I devoted an entire episode to reducing food waste so I am not going to dwell on this topic. If you want more extensive tips then listen to E 135 Stop the Rot, How to Avoid Food Waste.
But, there are other things we can do to reduce the waste that is generated from our kitchens. You can take you own bags to the supermarket. Buy fresh unwrapped produce. Purchase perishables in smaller portions. Refuse everything you can as far as packaging is concerned. If you can’t avoid the packaging, then make sure the packaging is biodegradable.
11) Use eco-friendly cleaning products
There is a whole long list of toxic chemicals we commonly use in our households including the kitchen. Think about it. Oven cleaners, dish soap, floor cleaners, ammonia, bleach all have very concerning toxic properties. All of these products are also toxic to the environment and eventually end up in our water supply because we wash them down the drain.
Fortunately there are also a long list of safe, eco-friendly, alternatives to many of these products. One of the easiest cleaning product to make is by mixing 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar with 1/2 cup of water and a few drops of your favorite essential oils. I think it is safe to say that for everyone of the toxic products you use in your home you could easily find a non-toxic replacement. This is where a little internet research will do wonders.
12) Ditch the paper towels
Every year we spend nearly $5.7 billion on paper towels. We use 13 billion pounds of paper towels every year. It takes 20,000 gallons of water and 17 trees to make one ton of paper towels.
Paper towels are a complete waste of resources. There are numerous alternatives. Purchase reusable clothes towels in bulk and just wash them. Use Swedish dish towels.
We actually gave up paper towels about a year. We purchased bulk cloth towels and Swedish dish clothes. We also cut up old clothes into cleaning rags to be used on the really gross stuff. When finished, we rinse them and place them in the laundry basket.
13) Recycle and compost
If you can’t avoid certain things then recycle and start composting. After all 28% of the waste that goes to the landfill is organic material that can be composted. All the excess organic material just results in increased release of methane which is a potent green house gas.
14) Proper food storage management
Roughly 20% of our home food waste results from improper storage. One of the easiest things to do first make sure your refrigerator is at the proper temperature. Then be sure to store dairy products in the coldest part of the refrigerator. Use the vegetable crispier to keep things fresher. Put left over in the freezer. And go through your refrigerator twice weekly so that you can rotate items and use the oldest items first. I often take aging vegetables and make a soup or a stir fry so that things do not get wasted.
Summary
As you can see the tips that I offer here are very simple things. But the reality is that very few of us actually pay attention to all the little things we do that are wasteful. We truly have to realize that the world is no longer the limitless place we perceived it as being when we were children. And it is getting even smaller. We are now at the point where we actually need to be mindful of what we use and how much we use. We have to pay attention to the little things.
Most of us would never consider taking a chainsaw once a day and just walking out and cutting down a tree for absolutely no reason. Yet that is exactly what you are doing by continuing to use disposable paper products. You are cutting down a tree for absolutely no reason because there is a perfectly acceptable alternative. So make better choices.
Everyday in the United States, we produce 3,000 tons of paper waste. This adds up to wasting 18 million trees and 21.9 billion gallons of fresh water every year. If we do not stop what we are doing, there will be no more rain forests left by the year 2100.
You may not think too much about tossing a plastic bottle in the garbage. But in the big picture, this happens 60 million times a day in the US alone.
You may not think much about some of your food at home going to waste. But, did you know that as much as 40% of the food in our supply chain in the U.S. goes to waste. That is enough food to feed all the hungry people in the world twice over.
How much energy would we save if we all used a pressure cooker which reduces cooking time by 70%.
Most of us never think much about leaving various household devices plugged in all the time. Yet this electricity usage now amounts to 23% of our monthly utility bill and cost Americans $8 billion annually.
As you can see, the little things do add up. We truly need to get into the habit of questioning everything about our daily reality. This is because some of the most obvious and important realities are often the ones that are the most difficult to see. On average we spend over 400 hours a year in the kitchen and that is where we generate most of our waste. Why not make it a mindful 400 hours and do something for the planet.
As I said, the little things make a difference. If you changed one habit every two months to something that was more sustainable, think of how different your life would be 5 years from now. It is in fact the little choices we make over time that alter our daily realities in remarkable ways. So simply focus on all the small things. Take one small step at a time.
Well folks that is about it for now. I certainly hope you have enjoyed this episode and will joined me again next week. Until then, this is your host Patrick signing off. Always remember to live sustainably because this is how we build a better future.
Patrick
