If you have found yourself wondering "is slow cooking energyefficient" recently, you are not alone. With energy prices soaring,we are all looking for ways to cut down our usage. As the nightsdraw in and temperatures fall, slow cooking might be the solutionyou are looking for. Not only is slow cooking energy efficient butthe resulting meals can be the perfect winter warmers. Learn moreabout how a slow cooker can help you save energy and money, whilstalso eating well this winter.
Table of Contents:
- Is SlowCooking Energy Efficient?
- Is It Cheaper to Use a Slow Cooker than an Oven?
- How Do SlowCookers Work?
- What is theBest Meat for Slow Cooking?
- What Are theBest Slow Cooking Recipes?
- SlowCook Better Meat with Farmison
Is Slow Cooking EnergyEfficient?
Yes, slow cooking is considered energy efficient. According tothe Energy SavingTrust, a slow cooker is one of the most energy efficientkitchen appliances. On average, a slow cooker draws about the sameamount of energy as a standard electric light bulb. This means thatdespite being on for a longer period of time, a slow cookeractually uses very little energy.
Is it Cheaper toUse a Slow Cooker than an Oven?
More often than not, it is cheaper to use a slow cooker than aconventional oven. A survey carried out by the energy supplierUtilita, revealed that runninga slow cooker cost an average of £59.76 to use a year. Incomparison, electric ovens cost an average of £316.54 per year.Microwave ovens are considered to be marginally more energyefficient than slow cookers. However, if you are preparing meatsuch as a lambjoint or stewingbeef, slow cooking will create a superior meal.
How Do Slow Cookers Work?
Most slow cookers are made of three main components:
- A metal outer casing
- A ceramic inner container
- A lid
The food is placed inside the inner glazed ceramic container.This is heated by low wattage coils in the metal outer casing.Meanwhile, the lid helps to keep heat contained within the slowcooker. The lip also traps in any steam given off by the foodduring cooking. This helps to keep your food moist, tender anddelicious. A slow cooker works by running at a low temperature fora long period of time.
What is the Best Meat to SlowCook?
Some of the best meats to slow cook include dicedmutton and beefchuck steak which are delicious in stews and curries. Ingeneral, fattier meats tend to be well suited for slowcooking. Dark meat such as chickendrumsticks and thighs also work well. The beauty of slowcooking is that all the taste is locked into the food. Anyvegetables that are put in with the meat, soak up the juices andare imbued with these delicious flavours. Meanwhile the connectivetissues in the meat are being broken down to give you a tender,melt in the mouth experience. For more inspiration, our MichelinStarred chef JeffBaker shares his tips on the best way to slow cook for a perfect cosy wintermeal.
What Are the Best SlowCooking Recipes?
Not only is slow cooking energy efficient but it can create somewonderfully flavoursome meals. This means you can still save energywithout sacrificing your enjoyment of top quality meats. Some ofour favourite recipes includeslow cooked pork shoulder which is a great option for an energyefficient dinner party or for feeding the family. For somethingextra special you could try our slow cooked ox cheeks on yorkshire puddings recipe.
Slow Cook Better Meat withFarmison
Part of our mission at Farmison is to make restaurantquality meat more widely available. That means delivering thefinest grass fedlamb, free rangechicken and more direct to your door. As a result, you can savemoney by eating in but still enjoy gourmet style meals. Try one ofour energy efficient slow cooking recipes and Eat Better Meat thiswinter with Farmison.
