It can often seem like an expensive meal, but a few savvy hacks can reduce costs and maybe reduce your carbon impact.
Choose You Centrepiece Wisely: Chicken or pork tend to be cheaper (and better for the environment) than beef or lamb.
Reduce Cooking Time: It’s quite simple the longer the oven is on the more it costs. Depending on what you are cooking you can try different options:
- Don’t take meat straight from the fridge to oven, allow it come to room temperature before cooking.
- Spatchcocking or jointing a chicken rather roasting it whole will significantly reduce cooking time.
- Avoid opening the oven door frequently to check on your roast. Each time you open the door, you lose heat, and the oven has to work harder to maintain the temperature.
- Invest in a meat thermometer to ensure your roast is cooked to the desired temperature. This prevents overcooking, which can waste energy.
- Residual Heat – Turn off the oven a few minutes before your roast is finished cooking. The remaining heat will continue to cook the food, saving energy.
Go Big on The Veg: Your roast may be the star but for me it’s the side dishes that steal the show. Roast or mashed potatoes, if the oven is on for the main then roast parsnips and carrots are a cheap side! Arrange your roast, vegetables, and side dishes efficiently in the oven to make the most of the available space. Avoid overcrowding, which can slow down cooking and increase energy usage.
The More the Merrier: If you are feeding a crowd you don’t necessarily have to increase the size of your roast. You could bulk out with a cheaper option – chicken thighs or some sausages (pork or veggie), a good tasty stuffing can go a long way, and extra portions of veg can really fill a plate.
Microwave Veg: Using a microwave to cook veg can be cheaper than cooking on the hob – sliced carrots in a microwave-safe dish with a bit of water, cover, and microwave on high for 3-5 minutes until they reach your desired tenderness, stirring halfway through (add a nob of butter and a drizzle of honey before you cook them for added sticky goodness!).
Plan in Leftovers: Whether it’s a classic Roast Dinner Hash or another leftover meal, there are many ways to make a tomorrows meals from todays leftovers. Cooking a little bit of extra veg while the oven is on for the sunday roast will mean there is enough for Monday or Tuesday.
These energy saving tips should mean you can enjoy your Sunday roast (and Monday leftovers) while reducing your energy consumption and cutting down on your cooking costs.