If you have no idea how much water and energy you are possibly wasting in the kitchen, you aren’t alone. Now more than ever, Australian households should be focusing on ways to save our precious resources. Luckily, there are some simple changes that you can make in the kitchen to reduce both water and energy usage. Here are nine quick and easy ways to save water in the kitchen.
1. Change the way you defrost
It turns out how you defrost food matters. Instead of defrosting meat in a sink full of water, plan ahead and place frozen foods in the fridge overnight. Not only does this save water, but it’s also the safest way to defrost frozen meat. Winning!
2. Your dishwasher matters
Not all dishwashers are created equal. While Smeg’s underbench dishwashers come in a range of stylish designs, they also feature patented Orbital Wash technology that ensures even water distribution and high-performance washing. Additionally, Smeg’s Active Aquatest sensor automatically adjusts the water, temperature and wash action to suit the load. It’s Smart Dry feature means that, if selected, the door will open automatically after the wash cycle so that your dishes can air-dry naturally instead of with a fan. The result? A dishwasher that saves both water and energy ensuring a smarter, cleaner, greener wash.
3. Size matters
Bigger pots and pans aren’t necessarily better. The larger the pot, the more water you need to fill it. So the next time you’re whipping up a delicious meal, choose your pot size wisely and save water.
4. Steaming veg
Steaming is the best way to cook vegetables. This cooking method uses less water, and less water means your greens retain more nutrients. A great tip is to place the vegetable steamer on top of a pot of boiling rice or potatoes and cook two components with one element.
5. Reuse cooking water
Yes, water can be reused! Don’t let the water used to cook veggies and pasta go to waste. Instead, use it in the garden. Thirsty plants will enjoy the drink. What’s more, the extra nutrients in the water could provide some added fertiliser – just make sure you let it cool down first.
6. Avoid rinsing dirty dishes
Step away from the dishes: they don’t need rinsing. Scrape large chunks of food in the bin or compost, pop in the dishwasher and let the machine do what it was designed to do.
7. Fix leaky taps
A dripping tap is enough to drive anyone around the bend, but it’s also a massive waste of water. Fun fact: one leaking tap, dripping one drop per minute wastes 1,440 drips a day, which is approximately 128 litres per year. Fixing those taps as soon as they spring a leak can make a huge difference.
8. Fill the sink
‘Slow and steady wins the race’ – right? Well, this applies to washing your fruit and veg too. Sure, rinsing produce under a running tap might be quicker, but it sure does waste more water. Instead of letting the tap run, fill the sink and wash fruit and vegetables in the basin.
9. Cover your pots and pans
Save time and energy by covering your pots and pans while cooking. Trapping in the heat helps the food cook faster on a lower setting, uses less energy, and, in the long run, saves you money.
Every little bit counts!
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