Energy Saving Tips for Your Kitchen

Whether it’s to reduce your environmental impact or just lower your running costs, there are many great ways to optimise your kitchen to use less energy.

From the initial design & installation to long-term running costs, professional kitchens do not come cheap. As such, it’s not uncommon for start-ups to save money by buying basic entry-level kitchen appliances. Of course, there’s plenty of occasions where entry-level machines are a great choice, but if your priority is to keep running costs as low as possible, it may be worthwhile looking into a wider range of options to get machines which are more efficient or have extra functionality.

Here are our top four suggestions to help you save energy and reduce your running costs.

Induction

Gas has long been preferred by chefs around the globe. And why not? It has always been historically cheap, highly precise and incredibly fast. But as kitchens get smaller and gas prices start to soar, many professionals have turned to induction cooking as a fantastic energy-saving alternative.

Incredibly efficient, induction cookers use powerful magnets to channel heat directly into the cooking vessel, so there’s no energy lost to the environment. And now, the technology is being expanded further into many different appliances, so it’s not just induction stovetops. From induction woks and soup kettles, to induction fryers and induction oven ranges, you can fit your kitchen with a huge variety of energy-saving induction-compatible appliances.

Induction cookers offer several advantages over the traditional gas or electric stoves.

No Heat Escape
Induction cookers use magnets, so the cooking surface remains cool, preventing heat from escaping into the kitchen, creating a more comfortable environment with less strain on ventilation systems.

Auto Shut-off
These cookers only consume energy when pots are on them, reducing energy wastage. They also feature an auto shut-off function to prevent damage if a pot boils dry.

Precise Temperature Control
Induction cookers come with digital controls for setting precise temperatures and timing, leading to faster cooking and less food waste.

Safety
Unlike gas or electric stoves with exposed flames or elements that can cause burns, induction cookers have cool surfaces even after use, enhancing safety.

Easy to Clean
Induction hobs have smooth glass surfaces without pan supports, making them easier to clean compared to gas stoves.

Simple Installation
Most induction cookers are efficient and do not require specialised installation, making them easy to set up without the need for complex wiring or costly gas connections.

Refrigeration Efficiency

Professional fridges and freezers are often some of the most energy-intensive appliances in a commercial kitchen. After all, they are always on and are usually fighting against hot kitchen temperatures – especially during the warmer summer months. Aside from reliability and functionality, efficiency is commonly one of the most important factors when buying a piece of refrigeration.

The fastest way to judge the efficiency of a fridge, freezer or blast chiller is to check the energy rating. The higher the rating, the more efficient the refrigeration is and the difference between the ratings can be surprising. For example, a highly efficient double-door counter fridge with a 5 star efficiency rating could cost around $XXXX to run over five years, whereas a similar 1 or 2 star-rated counter fridge could cost nearly $XXXX in the same amount of time.

Energy efficiency isn’t the only marker of a good refrigeration set-up. Here’s a few other tips to keep your running costs down:

Think about your doors
Stable doors, found in some fridges and freezers, are smaller partial doors that access specific parts of the cabinet. These doors help retain refrigerated air inside, reducing the need to re-chill warm air when opened. This simple yet effective design is an energy-saving solution.

What’s your maintenance look like?
Proper defrosting and maintenance are crucial for energy efficiency in refrigeration. Neglecting cleaning and maintenance can lead to increased energy consumption. Regular maintenance, including defrosting and cleaning, can significantly improve energy efficiency. Units with automatic defrost features streamline this process.

Where are your fridges?
The positioning of refrigeration units plays a vital role in energy consumption. Placing units in the coolest part of the kitchen can enhance energy efficiency. However, accessibility during food preparation or service should also be considered for overall kitchen efficiency.

Do you have the space for a cool room?
For those seeking increased storage capacity while minimising power consumption, considering a cold room is beneficial. While individual fridges consume significant power over time, a cold room offers ample storage with lower power requirements. Some larger outdoor cold rooms can operate efficiently on a single 13A plug, making them a cost-effective and energy-efficient option compared to multiple individual fridges.

Dishwashing & Glass Washing

With hygiene being such a critical part of any kitchen, it’s no surprise that dishwashers and glasswashers are among the most resource-intensive appliances you’ll use. It’s not just energy – water, chemicals and dishwasher salt are all needed to have reliably consistent cleaning results.

Recent technological innovations have helped to reduce the environmental impact and running costs of professional washers significantly.

There are some other great ways to reduce how much you spend on washing:

Full loads
try to avoid starting a cycle with partial loads. Washing full loads uses similar amounts of energy compared to washing empty loads, so it’s best to only wash when necessary.

Double skinning
If you’re in the market for a new washing machine, consider purchasing one with double skinning. This feature adds an extra layer of insulation between the cavity and the exterior wall, which improves energy efficiency and reduces noise during use.

Heat recovery
Some premium washing machines also have a heat recovery system that captures steam and heat. This system is used to pre-heat the cold inlet water, which reduces demand on your kitchen’s cooling and ventilation.

ECO modes
Many washing machines also have an ECO mode, which is a more economical and less intensive cycle. Although these cycles take a little longer, it’s a good idea to use them when demand is low.

Commissioning
When you get a new washing machine, don’t just use the default settings. Every kitchen is different, and by getting the washing machine set up professionally (commissioning), the unit can be configured to your exact needs. Commissioning ensures the correct combination of water, chemical, and temperature is configured to deliver first-time results, preventing the need to re-wash items and reducing wasted resources.

Ventilation & Heat Management

Effective ventilation in a commercial kitchen can be a game-changer for saving energy. Rising temperatures and contaminated air can have negative effects on everything and everyone in the kitchen. Poor airflow can significantly reduce the performance of refrigeration, which can lead to additional energy use and higher running costs.

Commercial kitchen canopies are typically installed above gas ovens, fryers, and other large appliances that expel heat, steam, and grease. However, it’s essential to understand that you may need additional ventilation beyond where it is legally required. Despite the initial cost, additional ventilation can reduce running costs, improve the comfort of kitchen staff, and ultimately pay for itself.

With many appliances expelling heat and steam, it’s vital to address this quickly to make the kitchen more efficient and comfortable. Here are some often-overlooked methods to bring down kitchen temperatures:

Use lids
It sounds simple, but using a lid on a pan or gastronorm can save a surprising amount of energy – not just in terms of the heat expelled into the kitchen. Not only does this prevent heat from escaping into the kitchen, but it also reduces energy waste by up to 60%. Using a lid can also help food cook faster and reduce the energy needed to keep it warm.

Microwaves
Despite their reputation, they are a great choice for kitchens with limited space or that need to avoid excess heat. Microwaves can defrost and reheat food in minutes and are highly compact. Alternatively, high-speed ovens like the [EQUIPMENT TYPE] offer the speed of a microwave with the browning of a conventional oven or grill.

Built-in canopies
For larger appliances like pizza ovens, free standing fryers, or combi ovens, a built-in ventilation hood can help keep kitchen temperatures down.

Planning your kitchen carefully can make a huge difference in terms of profitability and staff morale, just like the beginning of any service. By considering all the points mentioned above, you can save a lot of money and be confident that you’re doing your part for the environment. For those who want to push energy-saving to the maximum, there are some other fantastic ways to eke out even more energy efficiency:

Switch off at the plug
Some appliances use energy even in standby mode. Even if it’s just a display or an LED light, it still wastes energy and costs money. To avoid this, switch the appliances off at the plug to ensure no energy is wasted. Note that some programmable appliances may need power to retain their programming. In such cases, use “sleep” or “eco” modes.

Lighting
Similarly, there’s no point in lighting a room when it’s not in use. Changing old bulbs for energy-efficient LED bulbs can save a lot of money over time.

Training/Signage
Education is an essential part of energy efficiency. Highly visible signage like a “switch off after use” sign or instructions on how to use an appliance correctly can help reduce waste and costs.

Combi Ovens
Sometimes, bigger is better. Although combination ovens consume a lot of energy, water, and chemicals to maintain, they can lead to significant savings when used with some smart planning.

You can achieve the same results as multiple separate steamers, ovens, and hobs with just one machine. Compared to other appliances, combi ovens take up less space, require less ventilation, and are easy to use after training.

Setting the standard for excellence, innovation and craftsmanship, Caterall is WA’s leading provider of hospitality equipment solutions. Our mission? To support Australia’s vibrant hospitality scene. To speak to one of our team about your kitchen’s set-up, give us a call on 9302 1299.

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