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Look, I love baking as much as you do. I think it’s an excellent creative outlet that’s accessible to most people.

That said, it can consume a lot of energy, both physical and electrical. We can’t have that, can we?

Don’t worry. I’ve got you covered. In this post, I’ll show five simple steps for energy-efficient baking that minimize energy, heat, and gas consumption.

1 – Bake in Batches

Let’s say you wake up in the morning craving cookies. You’ll probably bake a small batch, just a few cookies to have with a glass of milk, right?

At first glance, that might seem like an efficient way to go about it, but it’s actually the opposite. The most effective way to bake while minimizing energy consumption is to do it in batches.

So, if you’re baking cookies, make a large batch that could last you for days and throw it in the freezer. The next time you crave cookies, you won’t have to start from scratch.

You can grab a few from the freezer and heat them up. In fact, I’d argue that you should bake more than cookies.

The oven is already on. Why not take the opportunity to bake a few scones, muffins, or madeleines while you’re at it?

That way, if you crave something other than cookies, your diverse batches will save the day.

2 – Focus on Quick Recipes

Look, I love baked Alaska. I could give up savory food and live off of it my entire life.

Let’s be honest, though: It’s a hassle to make. Baking a sponge cake itself is already challenging, and it’s just the first step in this recipe.

Needless to say, you can’t save energy when you’re making fancy desserts. So, you want to focus on quick recipes.

Not only will they take less time, but they also won’t drain your oven as much. It’s a win-win situation.

I know what you’re thinking: “What kind of quick recipes are you talking about?”

I don’t think anyone can disagree that the classic pound cake is one of the quickest desserts you could make. Sugar cookies are also easy and flavorful.

Ultimately, you have an endless list of easy recipes to choose from. So you won’t have trouble finding a few quick ones to bake.

3 – Start Using the Microwave

I bet you’ve already seen these viral TikTok mug cakes that you make in the microwave. You just mix a few simple ingredients in a mug and put it in the microwave for a minute or two.

Open your microwave, and you’ll end up with a chewy, flavorful cake that you can eat with a spoon. The idea behind this method is to make a delicious dessert without putting in the time and energy into baking a regular cake.

Of course, it won’t have the same depth of flavor as an oven-baked cake, but it’ll be fulfilling enough.

4 – Adapt Energy-Efficient Baking Practices

Just because you’re baking quick recipes in the oven doesn’t mean you can’t do it efficiently. Let me ask you this: Do you open your oven’s door constantly when you’re baking?

Most beginners do that to ensure that their pastries aren’t overcooked. Well, now might be a good time to stop.

Opening and closing the door constantly takes about 20-50% of your oven’s heat. That means it’ll take more time to bake your cookies than if you had kept it closed.

Oh! You already keep your oven’s door closed while baking? You can still save some energy.

How? Two words: Residual heat. That’s the heat that remains in your oven after you’ve turned it off. It’s not as strong as real fire, but it’s still enough to slightly bake your pastries.

You don’t want to depend on it too much, though. Just wait until the last couple of minutes in the baking process, turn the oven off, and let the residual heat finish the job.

Sure, these short minutes will only save you a bit of energy, but if you stick to it, you’ll save more than you think in the long run.

5 – Use Energy-Efficient Baking Equipment

Look, equipment won’t make you a better baker. It’s all about skill and technique.

However, since we’re talking about minimizing energy consumption, you can’t just use any random tools. You want to focus on energy-efficient equipment. Like what?

Well, Alusteel baking molds that come with black paint can bake your pastries quicker, minimizing heat and gas consumption.

Final Thoughts

There you go. Five simple steps for energy-efficient baking. It’s not that hard, is it?

I can’t say you’ll get a good grasp of these practices right away. It might take some time to get used to that lifestyle.

Once you do, though, you’ll save more physical and electrical energy than you could imagine.

Sarah Bridenstine

Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.