'Cheapest' method to cook food which could save households hundreds on energy bills
From air fryers to slow cookers, numerous methods exist for cooking and warming up meals. Despite common misconceptions, microwaves aren't merely for heating yesterday's dinner—they're actually among the most economical cooking options available.According to Tesco Real Food, microwaves are capable of preparing virtually anything. What's more, they're extremely affordable to operate. The experts highlighted that this appliance costs significantly less to run compared to traditional ovens.Indeed, apart from a slow cooker—which requires considerable cooking time—a microwave represents the "cheapest" cooking method.They said: "Microwaves cook food really quickly, meaning they use less energy and are subsequently more energy efficient than ovens."They explained that a large microwave consumes roughly 1kW hourly, equating to 34p in running costs. Since the appliance typically operates in brief intervals, it proves highly economical.Nor does microwave cooking diminish nutritional value, provided the food isn't overcooked during preparation or reheating.The experts noted: "This can happen with any cooking method. Microwaving food can actually preserve more nutrients than other cooking methods, as it heats food so quickly."A wide variety of dishes can be prepared using them, including meals typically made on the stovetop. This includes poached or scrambled eggs, steamed vegetables, and even single-serve cakes.For steaming vegetables, chop them into uniformly sized pieces, then transfer them to a microwave-safe dish with two tablespoons of water. Cover the container and cook until tender.All vegetables require different cooking times, but broccoli, peas and carrots are particularly well-suited to this method.Certain foods that don't fare well in the appliance include garlic, reheating tea or coffee, or boiling an egg.The experts warned: "As an egg cooks, there's nowhere for the steam to escape, so you'll end up with an exploded egg and a messy microwave."
Comments (0)