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Energy Saving Tips for Cooking
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Do not preheat steam tables, grills, broilers, etc. For preheating ovens, 15 minutes is generally adequate, depending on the appliance and desired temperature.
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Keep equipment clean. Carbon and grease build-up make your cooking equipment work harder and use more energy.
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When feasible, do not use the range top. Instead, use other equipment, such as steamers and ovens that use less energy and add less heat to the kitchen.
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Cover all pots, which reduces heat loss and causes the food to cook faster.
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Do not use two ovens when one will do.
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Do not use large ovens when cooking small amounts of food.
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Schedule cooking times to utilize ovens fully and shorten daily operating times.
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Do not operate fryers higher than 350. Higher temperatures are less efficient.
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Pre-cook foods such as potatoes and chicken in a steamer before frying. Steamers are much more energy efficient.
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Integrate controls that turn down the heat input with sensors that determine when food is not present. A large percentage of food equipment continues to run (idle) at high heat input rates even when food is not present.
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Thoughts and Comments? Post as a member of Foodservice.com or Facebook below
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Posted by Brian Carrick on 2/1/12 at 8:40 AM EST
It is important to get everyone onto the same page so that there is no longer energy wastage due to lack of attention; however, I think we need to do something in the November election to get rid of what we have and go with someone who will allow us to build more power plants whether they be hydroelectric, nuclear, and even alternative. This is the United States, for
God's sake, not some hellhole Third World cesspool! Energy is what made America great! Brian Carrick 40+ years professional chef
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Posted by Amanda Schwandt on 2/1/12 at 10:34 AM EST
Thanks for your comments, Brian. As a company that sells and services all foodservice equipment, we hear from our customers often that they are looking for ways to save on energy and the cost. As a professional chef, what equipment do you see the restaurant industry moving to so they can save more money in their energy spending? Items with the Energy Star seem to be a popular choice. -Amanda, Horizon Equipment
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Posted by Brian Carrick on 2/1/12 at 12:33 PM EST
Energy Star is good but the problem will come when the government under the present administration makes gas as expensive as electric. Then, there will be many foodservice operations unable to compete in the modern arena and I am very fearful about the events of the past 15 years in general and the past three in particular. We have never had as business negative and energy-negative administration as we presently have and unless something happens in November, I believe the nation to be lost for the short-term and possibly the long-term. Cheap energy is the engine that powers democracy and when it is available or there is a possibility of being available ala the Keystone Pipeline and we can't do it, something is dreadfully wrong. It is more than equipment, it is the political outlook, the environmentalists pushing Global Warming, a concept proven to be untrue and the wide open border that is destroying the industry I love. God, I wish it was the 1970s again!
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