Ideas for a Green Kitchen

There's more to a green kitchen than using little water and turning off the lights when you leave the area. By following these tips, you can not only help the environment - but also save money in the long run as well:

The right utensils do matter, so get the best you can afford to save on constant replacements. Ceramic, soapstone and glass cookware are much more energy-efficient than regular metal pans.

The popular commercial non-stick coating on your pans is unhealthy; try natural cast iron, which does not poison your bloodstream.

Imagine how much non-biodegradable plastic and paper you dump in the trash every day. Replace said wasteful paper and plastic with better alternatives: dishtowels, cloth napkins, a cloth bag, or even a woven basket at your local store. If you still insist on paper towels, then you can get recycled paper towels to assuage the guilt.

Reusable plastic storage containers are much better than resealable plastic bags as you do not throw them away. You also take better care to ensure the food does not go bad as you'll have to wash the stench off the containers yourself.

Fill up the refrigerator so it uses less energy; fill up the oven and bake things together to conserve energy, fill up your dishwasher and try to reduce the frequency of washing.

Taste and radiation fears aside, the microwave oven is most efficient cooking method. It is fast and uses about a third of the energy a regular oven would consume. Use old 'kitchen faithfuls' like pressure cookers and steamers. They speed up cooking at a fraction of the time.

Organic, locally grown food is good, better when you cook it yourself so that you know exactly what goes into the pot. You can even grow your own garden with compost made from kitchen leftovers - you can create your own compost bucket, or purchase one at the store.

Get energy efficient appliances that will last. A 'green' dishwasher uses much less water and electricity. It has to be eco-friendly in order to be better than washing at the sink, or you will end up wasting gallons of water.

If remodeling, look for 'green' eco-friendly material as well, like cork, bamboo and recycled wheat straw wood for cabinets. It would be best if the kitchen is done in light-colored material to encourage you to use natural light for as long as possible.

And yes, you can easily grow your own herbs and spices! A mini container garden on your windowsill (remember that compost?) will ensure a fresh supply of herbs for tasty, organic food.

Article Resource: Khadija Darani