For ovens and cooktops, energy savings are less dependent on the model and more tied to the choices made by the cook about what type of appliance to own, and which appliance and cookware to choose for a particular task.
The greatest energy leak in the kitchen is your oven—only a fraction of the energy it consumes cooks the food. If you must turn it on, then bake several dishes at once, avoid preheating, and turn off the oven before the baking time is complete. When possible, opt instead to use the stove-top, a high-quality toaster oven, an electric cooker, or a microwave—depending on the situation.
Self-cleaning ovens are better insulated and thus more efficient, as are convection ovens, which cook food more quickly and at lower temperatures. On top of the stove, induction cook-tops offer the greatest energy efficiency (though they are expensive). Induction cook-tops generate a magnetic field under the stove’s glass surface, creating heat in an iron or steel pot. The heat is confined to the cookware and food, leaving a cooler kitchen and consuming less energy.
