Energy Saving Tips for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one week away and before enjoying your Thanksgiving feast, Missouri’s Division of Energy would like to offer 15 energy-saving tips to save money and energy this holiday season.

Meal Prep:

• Plan to cook side dishes in the oven alongside the main course. This will save energy and time.
• It is not necessary to preheat your oven when slow-roasting a turkey (or any kind of meat) for several hours. Let the bird warm up slowly with the oven.
• Do not stuff the turkey before cooking. Cooking a turkey with dressing takes more time, so cook the turkey and dressing separately.

Cooking the Meal:

• Try lowering the thermostat in your home. The heat from your oven will warm the house.
• Use your oven’s convection setting when possible – it will cook the food evenly and use less heat.
• Cook with a slow cooker (or microwave), whenever possible, a slow cooker uses less energy than an oven.

After the Meal:

• Let the leftover food cool before placing in the refrigerator. Putting hot or warm dishes into the fridge causes the refrigerator to work harder to cool the food.
• After the meal, scrape plates instead of rinsing them with hot water. This will get the dishes clean without a pre-rinse.
• If possible, skip hand-washing dishes – a dishwasher uses less water.

Expecting Guests?

• Do not buy a turkey bigger than the group that will be partaking in the feast. A smaller turkey takes less time to cook.
• If guests are expected, lower the thermostat a few degrees before they arrive. A large gathering will generate heat.
• If possible, install automatic lights for when a room is unoccupied.

Leaving Town?

• Set your thermostat to a lower setting when leaving for the holidays.
• Set your lights on a timer. Setting a timer will not only help you save energy but the timer will also ensure your home does not look unoccupied while you are away.
• Lower the blinds and close the curtains. Doing this will keep heat from escaping.

Interested in more energy saving tips for the winter? Visit https://energy.mo.gov/resources/winter-heating-tips .