Cutting costs in the kitchen - Low energy, low cost meals

With rising energy prices on everyone’s mind, finding ways to save money has become more important than ever. The kitchen is a great place to start, with plenty of opportunities to cut costs, save time, and reduce energy use—all while enjoying delicious meals.

On average, households in the UK spend about £418 a month on food, and the Energy Saving Trust found that all that food accounts for around 3% of the annual energy bill. But with a few adjustments, you can make your kitchen more efficient and budget-friendly. Here are some tips and tricks to help you save money and energy while you cook.

How could you cook more efficiently?

Choose energy-saving appliances

Switching up the appliances you use can have a big impact on your energy consumption. Microwaves, slow cookers, and air fryers all use less energy than a traditional oven, making them a great option for low-maintenance, low-cost, and low-carbon cooking.

Microwaves: When it comes to cooking quickly and affordably, microwaves are an excellent choice. Unlike an oven that heats the surrounding air, microwaves heat food directly, making them highly efficient. For example, cooking a jacket potato takes only about 10 minutes in the microwave, compared to almost an hour in the oven—saving you both time and energy. Microwaves can do more than just reheat; check out some easy microwave recipes for inspiration!
Slow cookers: Despite their longer cooking time, slow cookers operate at a much lower temperature, sometimes using less than a tenth of the energy of a conventional oven! Plus, they’re ideal for those with busy schedules. Just pop in your ingredients in the morning, and a few hours later, you have a hot meal ready to enjoy. For some meal ideas, explore our favourite slow cooker recipes.
Air fryers: Air fryers heat a smaller space than a traditional oven, using rapid air circulation to cook food efficiently. They reach the required temperature quickly, helping you save on energy. From cakes to French fries, air fryers are versatile little appliances. Discover a variety of air fryer recipes to try.

Make the most of your oven

Although ovens are among the most commonly used appliances, they’re also the most energy-intensive. Since avoiding them entirely isn’t always possible, here are a few ways to cook more efficiently with your oven:

Keep the oven door closed: Each time you open the door, the oven can lose up to 25 degrees of heat, requiring extra energy to get back to the set temperature. Try to resist the urge to check your food until it’s close to done.
Batch cooking: If you’re cooking a dish you know you’ll want to enjoy again, consider doubling the recipe and freezing the leftovers. Batch cooking saves time, cuts down on energy use, and makes it easy to have a tasty meal ready in minutes. Dishes like chilli, Bolognese, and casseroles are great for this!

The secret to low-carbon, low-cost meals? It starts before cooking

Plan your meals and use what’s in your fridge

Planning your meals is an easy way to save money and prevent food waste. Try setting aside a few minutes each week to review what’s in your fridge. You may be able to create meals using ingredients you already have, or try a recipe generator to get inspiration for those trickier ingredients. This approach helps you save on groceries and energy costs by using what you’ve got

Opt for low-carbon foods

The food we eat has a significant impact on the environment, with food production responsible for a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. By making mindful food choices, we can reduce our carbon footprint. The BBC’s food carbon emissions calculator can show you the environmental impact of your favourite meals.

Here are a couple of simple ways to reduce your food-related carbon footprint:

Load up on veggies: Meat and animal products contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, so reducing them even a couple of times a week can make a difference. Consider trying a few plant-based meals—this shift can help save water, reduce pollution, and conserve forests. Not sure where to start? Check out some delicious vegan recipes.

Buy seasonally: Eating foods that are in season supports both your budget and the planet. For example, strawberries in winter can be twice as expensive as in summer and have likely travelled a long way, adding to their carbon footprint. The National Trust’s seasonal eating guide can help you plan meals around what’s fresh and local.

Try these low-carbon, low-cost meals:

Slow cooker vegan chilli

To kickstart your low-carbon cooking journey, here’s a delicious and simple vegan chili recipe for the slow cooker. It’s packed with low-carbon ingredients, easy to make, and comes together in just three steps! And if you’ve got more of a sweet tooth, check out our vegan brownie recipe which can be made in the air fryer.

Vegan chilli

Ingredients

8 spring onions, trimmed and thinly sliced
450g sweet potato, peeled and cut into chunks
1 yellow pepper, seeds removed, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 tsp dried chilli flakes
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1/2 cinnamon stick
1 tbsp soft brown sugar
150 ml hot vegetable stock
400g tin chopped tomatoes
395g tin red kidney beans in chilli sauce
400g tin mixed beans, drained
1 tsp dried mixed herbs

Recipe instructions

Put all the ingredients into a slow cooker. Stir well then cover with the lid and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 8-10 hours, or until the sauce is thick, the sweet potato is tender and the spices have mellowed.
If you get a chance, stir the chilli halfway through the cooking time, quickly replacing the lid.
Serve with freshly cooked rice, sliced avocado, dairy-free yoghurt, fresh coriander and lime wedges for squeezing.

Vegan brownies

Ingredients

2 tbsp ground flaxseed
200g dark chocolate, roughly chopped
1/2 tsp coffee granules
80g vegan margarine
125g self-raising flour
70g ground almonds
50g cocoa powder
1/4 tsp baking powder
250g golden caster sugar
1.5 tsp vanilla extract

Recipe instructions

Heat the air-fryer to 160c and line a square cake tin (that can fir in your air-fryer) with baking parchment. Then combine the flaxseed with 6 tbsp water and set aside for at least 5 mins.
In a saucepan, melt 120g chocolate, the coffee and margarine with 60ml water on a low heat. Allow to cool slightly.
Put the flour, almonds, cocoa, baking powder and 1/4 tsp salt in a bowl and stir to remove any lumps. Using a hand whisk, mix the sugar into the melted chocolate mixture, and beat well until smooth and glossy, ensuring all the sugar is well dissolved. Stir in the flaxseed mixture, vanilla extract and remaining chocolate, then the flour mixture.
Pour the batter into the prepared tin and air-fry for 25-35 mins until set with a slight wobble in the centre. Leave to cool completely before cutting into squares.

Did you enjoy those recipes? Here are plenty more low carbon recipes to explore!

We hope these tips and tricks have inspired you to think about not only what you’re cooking but also how you’re cooking it. Looking for more ways to make your home truly low carbon?

Have you thought about reviewing your energy tariff?

Visit our energy efficiency section!