Aaron Hutcherson & Matt Brooks
THE WASHINGTON POST – Since 2020, many of us have spent more time feeding ourselves than ever before. Planning, shopping, cooking and cleaning feel like never-ending tasks as we have become more acutely involved in securing three meals a day, seven days a week for our households. We’re constantly in our kitchens, and this has forced many of us to become that much more aware of the environmental impact of our meals.
Although we are not experts on climate change and the environment, we are authorities on food and kitchens, and we’re often looking for ways to reduce waste in our cooking, cleaning, food storage and more. If you’re of the same mind-set, we’ve assembled a list of actions – some easy, some a little more involved – that you can take right now to become a more sustainably minded home cook.
If this feels like a long list, start by picking one or two things to try adding to your routine. Each small daily decision can make an impact in the long run.
WHEN BOILING WATER, PUT A LID ON IT
Doing so traps the heat inside, meaning that it will require less energy to bring the water to a boil and also does so more quickly.
PUT DOWN THE PAPER TOWELS
Though it might be an instinct to tear off a sheet for cleaning messes or absorbing moisture, more sustainable options work just as well. Dish towels and sponges are great for wiping up spills, and a wire rack is in many ways better for draining fried foods.
REUSE PARCHMENT PAPER AND ALUMINIUM FOIL
Parchment paper is great for simplifying cleanup and keeping foods from sticking, but it, along with aluminium foil, can also be reused. As long as it’s not ripped or extremely soiled, simply wipe it down (or even throw it in the dishwasher in the case of aluminium foil), fold it up and save it for another use. Looking for a more durable option? Silicone baking mats make cleanup a breeze.
DITCH THE PLASTIC BAG
Some countries have banned single-use plastic shopping bags, and a number of states charge fees for plastic bag use, forcing stores and consumers to make reusable bags a habit.
Take another step by leaving the plastic produce bags behind, too. Most produce, including potatoes, onions and citrus, can go straight into your shopping cart, as they’ll be washed or peeled before being consumed anyway.
GIVE ZIP-TOPS A SECOND LIFE
Tired of tossing plastic zip-top bags in the trash? Just hand wash and dry thoroughly and they can live to see another day. However, you shouldn’t reuse plastic bags that contained raw meat, seafood or eggs. For a modest investment, silicone food storage bags are extremely durable.
DO AWAY WITH DISPOSABLE PLATES AND CUTLERY
We’ve all probably reached peak dish washing fatigue and appreciate the convenience of disposable plates and cutlery, but think about the environment the next time you’re deciding how to serve up a meal. Even for upcoming picnics when paper plates are the norm, pulling dishes from the cabinet can add an extra dose of sophistication to the affair.
SAVE THE WATER YOU USE TO RINSE RICE AND PRODUCE
Use it to water your plants. Rice water in particular is more beneficial to plants thanks to the added starch, which encourages the growth of healthy bacteria.
RUN THE DISHWASHER ONLY WHEN IT’S FULL
For those with the luxury of a dishwasher, it tends to be more eco-friendly than handwashing. However, you should wait until it’s full to run it, and use the “economy” option if you have it. Also consider turning off heat drying and letting the dishes air dry.
DON’T LET THE FAUCET RUN WHEN WASHING DISHES BY HAND
For those of us washing our dishes by hand, if you have a two-compartment sink, it’s best practice to fill one side with soapy water to wash dishes and the other side with clean water to rinse them – and don’t let the faucet run – to reduce water loss. Willing to make an investment? Install a low-flow aerator to save even more water.
USE SMALL APPLIANCES MORE OFTEN THAN THE BIG ONES
When cooking a small amount, countertop appliances (microwaves, toaster ovens, air fryers, etc) use less energy than heating up a full-size oven. These small appliances also heat up the environment less, so they’re great to use in the summer to cut down on the need for running the air conditioner.
KNOW WHAT’S IN YOUR FRIDGE, FREEZER AND PANTRY
Keeping a list of what you have in your fridge and freezer can prevent you from holding the door open while you try to figure out what to cook or what you need to pick up on a shopping trip. And for those items with shorter life spans, keep them in one area as a “use first” station to cut down on food waste.
BE SMARTER WHEN PREHEATING THE OVEN
For items where a stark temperature change isn’t important – ie: baked potatoes – you don’t need to preheat the oven at all; just put the food in and let it start to cook as the oven climbs to the desired temperature. And when preheating is needed, use an oven thermometer to determine how long your oven takes and try not to do so longer than necessary.
EMBRACE LEFTOVERS
While we all can appreciate a freshly cooked meal, dishes eaten a few days later can be just as good, and in some cases even better. (We’re talking about you, chili.) Eating leftovers not only helps reduce food waste, but it can help save time and money, too. Another benefit: Reheating last night’s dinner will probably consume less energy than cooking a new meal from scratch.
CHOOSE REUSABLE COFFEE EQUIPMENT
Small changes to our daily routines can have a lasting impact. Start with your morning cup of Joe: If you pick up your coffee on the go, bring a reusable coffee cup along for the ride. If you make it at home, the French press doesn’t require any extra tools, and certain electric coffee makers come with their own mesh filters. There are also options for reusable pods and cloth filters to replace single-use versions.
OPT FOR ECO-FRIENDLY CLEANING PRODUCTS
Look for sponges made from recycled materials and dish soaps and detergents that are biodegradable and free of phosphates and other harmful materials that can threaten marine life. Buy bulk products with less packaging, and consider purchasing biodegradable trash bags the next time you run out.
CHECK YOUR REFRIGERATOR’S TEMPERATURE
Your refrigerator should be running around 37 degrees (check with your manufacturer for the exact temperature). Too high and food safety risks arise, too low and you’re expending more energy than you actually need. Your best bet is to buy a fridge thermometer (if you have one installed in the appliance, it isn’t always accurate) and adjust the temperature accordingly.
CLEAN YOUR FRIDGE COILS
Even a small amount of dust on the coils – beneath or behind your refrigerator – can significantly reduce the appliance’s energy efficiency. So every year or so, unplug the fridge and use a vacuum or duster around the coils to help keep it running as it should.
REEVALUATE YOUR MEAT AND DAIRY CONSUMPTION
According to the analysis of a 2018 study published in the journal Science: “Avoiding meat and dairy products is the single biggest way to reduce your environmental impact on the planet.” Beef is often cited as the worst environmental offender. “Giving up beef once a week in favour of beans, over the course of a year, is the equivalent of not burning 38 gallons of gas,” Tamar Haspel wrote in The Washington Post. Even if you’re not prepared to go vegetarian or vegan, eating fewer animal products – particularly red meat – is a win.
There’s always a number of things to take into consideration when trying to do what’s best for the planet, but we think this list is a good starting point for actions to consider.
