Tips for a Green Kitchen

• Be a Smart Shopper - Plan ahead to avoid additional trips and bring your own reusable bags!
• Look for 'Green' Products - Buy products that are either organic or sustainable.
• Pick it Local - Consider shopping from local farmers and orchards first.
• Compost when Cooking - While baking, save your egg shells, apple cores and fruit peels to add to an outdoor compost pile. Then use as a super fertilizer for your garden.
• Be Oven Wise - Use a timer to figure out how long it takes for your oven to preheat. Going forward, only preheat the time necessary for your dish to bake.
• Avoid Fridge Follies - Pull out as many refrigerated items as you can at one time when gathering ingredients.
• Pick the Right Pans - Using glass, ceramic, silicone or stone bakeware helps to conserve energy; some warm up quicker or retain heat longer than metal pans.
• Don't be Wishy-Washy Washing Dishes - Many newer dishwashers have a catch for food or built-in garbage disposal, so pre-rinsing is unnecessary. Fill your dishwasher as much as you can before you run a load.
• It's Cool to Start Canning - Canning is a fun, eco-friendly hobby that will give you fresh fruits, jams and preserves during off-seasons.
• Bake a Bunch from Scratch - It costs far less than purchasing ready-made foods, and you cut down on consuming foods that are processed and need transportation. Double up recipes so you can freeze some.