If you’re looking for ways to save energy and money in the kitchen this Christmas, try our top ideas for savvy festive-season cooking.

• Batch it up

When you’re cooking dinner, it makes sense to double or even triple the quantities. That way you’re cooking once but have meals for two or three more nights. Then simply warm up the leftover food in the microwave for the most energy-efficient way of reheating – which leads us to…

• Embrace the microwave

In the main, the microwave is more energy-efficient than the hob or oven. Loads of dishes work well in the microwave – try steaming veg, cooking eggs and even making risotto. And you can pre-cook a jacket potato for 5 minutes before finishing it off for a short time in the oven to save time and energy.

• Get out the slow cooker

A stew made in a slow cooker costs about half the price of one cooked in the oven. Plus, you can pop the ingredients in at the beginning of the day and have a delicious, warm dinner waiting for you when you get home. Check out our slow cooker Bolognese recipe for a great family meal https://southern.coop/recipe/slow-cooker-bolognese

• Maximise oven time

If you’re turning on the oven, use it to its full capacity while you’re paying to heat it. If you’re cooking a meal on one shelf, add a tray of chopped root veg to the other shelf while you’re at it – then you’ll have lots of nice ingredients to throw in your next lunch or dinner or even to make soup with.

• Get those lids on

If you do cook on the hob, make sure you use your pan lids. Putting the lid on will keep the heat in the pot and help food cook more quickly, using less energy as you do. And why not try our top tip for cooking pasta with less heat? Boil a kettle of water, pour into the pan and add your pasta. Bring to the boil, then turn off and pop the lid on for 1-2 mins more than the recommended cooking time, and you’ll have tasty al dente pasta every time!