While you’re busy in the kitchen preparing your family’s holiday feast, be thinking about ways to keep your family safe and your energy bills low.
    According to the National Fire Protection Agency, cooking equipment is the cause of approximately 40% of home structure fires.
    Always know the location of a working fire extinguisher and know how to operate it. Cooking is also a great area to save energy. Keep these energy-efficient tips in mind while preparing your holiday meals this year:
    • Think small. Use a smaller appliance, such as a toaster oven or microwave, whenever possible. Efficient microwave ovens use around 50% less energy than conventional ovens.
    • Turn the oven or stove burners off a few minutes before your food is ready —they will remain hot enough to finish cooking the food.
    • Don’t preheat the oven unless you are baking, or a recipe requires it.
    • Bake with ceramic or glass pots and pans— this will allow you to lower the oven temperature by about 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Don’t peek. Opening the oven door can lower the internal temperature by as much as 25%.
    • Don’t cover oven racks with foil. This reduces heat flow and increases cooking time.
    • Make sure your pan covers the coil of your range. If you can see coil peeping out from the sides of your pan, you need a bigger pan (or a smaller burner).
    • Put a lid on it. Cover pans while cooking to prevent heat loss.
    • Plan ahead. Defrosting food in the microwave may be convenient, but it costs nothing more to defrost in the refrigerator.
    These steps are easy to follow and come at no extra cost. Making a habit out of them will save you both energy in the kitchen and money on your electric bill.