Save Energy Cooking Thanksgiving Dinner Outside
From Atlanta to Savannah, we in Georgia typically enjoy some pretty great weather on Thanksgiving. And that’s good news if you’ve been watching Georgia gas prices lately. But, the moderate temperatures and sunshine provide the perfect atmosphere for outdoor cooking, and energy savings, even for your traditional Thanksgiving meal. Although the forecast for Georgia this year is looking a little cooler, around 54° and sunny, that doesn’t have to stop you from adding a fun twist to this turkey day. So, let’s talk about outside cooking tips to save energy on Thanksgiving.
Why Cooking Outside Lowers Energy Use
Standard natural gas stovetops and ovens are only about 40% efficient. That means about 40% of the heat goes to your food and the rest of that heat is going into your kitchen and heating up the house. This may not be significant for your average dinner, but cooking all day can lead to a stuffy house and a lot of wasted energy. Add guests to the situation and your house may heat up to the point where even the A/C kicks on.
When you move cooking outside, you remove a major heat source from the house. That means your furnace runs less and your guests stay more comfortable. Plus you cut down your natural gas bill!
How to Cook a Georgia Thanksgiving Outside
Let’s start with the star of the show: the turkey. Although you could cook the turkey on a grill, it’s better to save that for your other dishes. Instead, go for a smoked or deep-fried gobbler. Smoking a turkey can take about 6 hours or more. On the other hand, deep fryers aren’t super efficient but they are fast! That means it will save you on fuel costs.
When it comes to sides, your grill is a great option. However, if you’re cooking multiple dishes like dressing, sweet potatoes, green beans, etc., you will need to factor in some planning to get everything done on time. A slow cooker is also a great option for sides! Plug it in indoors or out and either way, you won’t be adding much heat to the house.
Finally, it’s time for dessert! My best tip for managing this part of your epic outdoor thanksgiving dinner is to make your desserts ahead of time. Bake your pies the day before, then heat them up on the warm grill while enjoying dinner. You can actually bake the pies on the grill as well. But, baking them in the oven the day before is not likely to have a significant impact on energy use.
More Energy Saving Tips for a Comfortable Thanksgiving
Here are a few more ideas to make your natural gas savings go even further on Thursday!
- Use ceiling fans on low and reverse to help circulate air as things heat up.
- Open windows early to let in cooler air if you feel warm instead of using A/C.
- Don’t preheat too early if you do use your oven. Give yourself just 10 minutes or so for preheat and shut the oven off as soon as you’re done.
For more energy savings tips and cheap natural gas plans, visit us today at https://www.georgiagassavings.com.