7 Ways to an Eco Friendly Kitchen

The kitchen is generally considered the heart of the home. It is where the most activity takes place, where food is prepared and served with love. Just as an unhealthy heart can lead to a body riddled with disease, so is the health of the kitchen important to the overall well being of the family and the home.

With World Environment Day just around the corner, it is worth looking at the state of our kitchens and see how eco friendly they are. If you’re a little confused about where to start, don’t worry! Here we list out 7 simple ways towards a much more eco friendly kitchen.

7 Ways to an Eco Friendly Kitchen

1. Use Energy Efficient Appliances

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In this day and age, it is virtually impossible for us to imagine a life without kitchen appliances. While it’s okay to use them, buy ones that are energy efficient with the Energy Star rating. They not just cut down on your electricity bill, they use electricity much more efficiently than appliances without the Energy Star rating. Also, buying quality appliances will last longer, thus cutting down on consumption and waste.

2. Cook Smart

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There are numerous ways you can save valuable cooking fuel by cooking smart. Cooking with a lid is faster, as is using pressure cookers. Induction cookers are more fossil-fuel friendly than gas or electric cookers. Turning off the heat just before your dish is completely done also saves gas. Microwaves use almost 80% less energy than conventional cooking methods.

3. Reduce Wastage

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When cooking, it’s always better to cook extra, so that you can freeze the leftovers for another day. This saves fuel, time and effort. When entertaining, make a careful estimate of the number of guests and cook accordingly. Buy perishables only in small quantities to avoid spoilage and use the freezer as much as possible. Store food properly according to the type of food, and don’t leave food uncovered in the fridge or freezer.

4. Buy from the Source

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‘Food miles’ is a concept that experts are now talking about; it refers to how much your food has to travel before it reaches your table. The fewer food miles, the better it is for your health as well as for the environment. Buy local as much as you can, and buy foods that are in season. It is always better to buy food stuffs from their original source, to ensure authenticity and better quality. Check out uIndia for a range of authentic ingredients directly sourced from their places of origin.

5. Clean Green

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Kitchens use up a lot of cleaning products – dish washing liquids, disinfectants and other specialized cleaning products for the floor, stove and countertops. These aren’t exactly eco friendly, as they’re all made up of chemicals. A combination of vinegar, baking soda and warm water can clean nearly anything - your sink, countertops, fridge and microwave. And if you miss a nice, clean scent, just make a kitchen air freshener – just boil some water with cloves and let it sit for a while. The kitchen will smell naturally lovely, without any synthetic scent.

6. Ditch the Plastic

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It is unbelievable how much plastic enters our homes on a daily basis, even though a lot of it can actually be avoided. Carry strong cloth or jute bags to do your grocery shopping. Avoid instant and packaged foods as much as you can, and cook with natural ingredients. Another good way to cut down on plastic packaging is to buy in bulk. Ingredients like dry fruit and spices keep well if stored properly, so it’s good to buy these in bulk.

7. Recycle Waste

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However much you try, some amount of waste is inevitable in your kitchen, but you can do your bit to dispose of it in a more environment friendly manner. Keep plastic and glass separately – there are many individuals who’ll gladly take them, especially if they’re already sorted. As for food waste, invest in a compost bin – you’ll get natural fertilizer for your garden. You can also install a bio-gas stove, which will make use of the gas produced by your compost heap.

As you can see, there’s a lot you can do to work your way to an eco friendly kitchen, without spending too much time, money or effort. There’s no excuse now for greening up your kitchen to help the environment!! As Margaret Mead said, “We won’t have a society if we destroy the environment”.