Thanksgiving dinner is the star of the show. A few simple steps can help you save money as well as enjoy time with family and friends this Thanksgiving.
- Do a little cleaning before the big day. It helps your oven and stovetop to cook efficiently when clean.
- Match your pots to stovetop spaces. Use the right size pot on the stove top space to conserve electricity and save on your power bill.
- Don’t peek in the oven. Use the oven light and look through the glass as every time the oven door is opened, the temperature inside is reduced by as much as 25 degrees. This forces it to work harder and can lead to your meals not being cooked in time.
- Gobble up that oven space. Cooking several dishes at once is the best way to conserve energy and spend less time cooking.
- Use time and energy savers. Slow cookers and pressure cookers prepare food in less time and use less energy, which saves you money.
- Turn down the thermostat. If it’s cold outside, but warm inside due to crowds and oven use, turn down the heat a few degrees. Turning your thermostat down several degrees can save your money on your power bill.
- Let in the light. Open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home, and close them at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
- Load that dishwasher. Dishwashers use half of the energy it takes to hand wash dishes.
- Be merry, bright and save. If you follow Thanksgiving Day with Christmas decorating, invest in Energy Star-quality LED lighting strands. They use 75% less energy and are cool to the touch.