Cooking Tips

·       The Department of Energy recommends keeping refrigerators at 37 to 40 degrees and 5 degrees for the freezer and suggests testing the seal with a piece of paper – if it can be pulled out, the seal needs to be replaced.

·       Ameren says to check the color of the flame on a gas stove. A blue flame is the optimal color. Yellow suggests the gas is burning inefficiently and the burner should be cleaned with soap and water.

·       KCP&L recommends only opening the door to a conventional oven when absolutely necessary, warning that temperature drops by as much as 30 degrees with every peek. They also suggest opting to use a microwave or toaster oven when possible. The smaller units are more energy efficient and can use half the energy of a conventional oven.

·       Laclede Gas recommends preheating a conventional oven only when absolutely necessary and to plan on baking several dishes that require similar temperatures at the same time. They also remind consumers that thawed food cooks faster and covered pots boil water faster.

·       The Department of Energy also suggests placing the faucet level on the kitchen sink on cold for small amounts of water. The hot position will draw hot water even if it never reaches the faucet.

Cleaning Tips

·       KCP&L says that utilizing a dishwasher, especially when there’s a full load, is more efficient than washing by hand.

·       The Department of energy says to scrape and not rinse food from plates and to avoid using the “rinse hold” that uses 3 to 7 gallons of hot water per use. They also recommend allowing dishes to air dry by either selecting the option on the machine or propping the door open after the final wash cycle.

·       Laclede Gas recommends drying a full load without overstuffing and not to over dry clothes, which can harm clothes and waste gas. They also recommend always cleaning lint traps between loads to improve dryer efficiency. Laclede Gas also suggests line drying – even during wintertime – to use less gas and add more humidity to a home.

·       KCP&L says consumers can save $30 to $40 a year waiting to wash clothes when there’s a full load and using cold water when possible.

Contact: Adrianne Marsh 
(314) 827-6141

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