Tips for a Greener Kitchen

Here are a few recommendations for greening up your kitchen:

1. Spray Mister for Cooking Oil: Instead of wasting money and filling the land fill with disposable spray cans at the grocery store, visit a kitchen supply store and buy a spray mister which you can fill with your favorite oil. If you use several different kinds of oils (extra virgin olive oil, olive oil, peanut oil, et. al.), buy a mister for each kind. The misters come in a variety of colors and shapes for you to distinguish one from the other.

2. Towels: Ditch the paper towels and use dish towels, old towels, whatever is on hand. These you can toss in the washing machine and reuse over and over.

3. Cloth napkins. Stock up during the sales after each holiday and you'll slowly build your inventory. Have each member of your family choose a color or pattern each week, then when it's time to wash a load of towels, just toss them in.

4. Appliances: When it's time for a new appliance, consider an ENERGY STAR appliance which will save you money by using less electricity and water (where applicable). These machines are designed to work better, smarter, faster.

5. Spices: Buy good spices in small quantities. This will ensure that they stay fresh, thus enhancing the flavors of your culinary creations.

6. Microfiber cloths: Linen towels used to be the best for drying dishes and now microfiber cloths have come along to do the work of both cleaning and drying everything in your home from dishes, to furniture, to floors, and beyond.

7. Baker's Racks and Pot Racks: These make a great display of your pots and pans that you use on a regular basis, keeping them handy, yet out of the way.

8. Cook: Plan your meals and cook at home. This will save you money and with a little preparation, you can have a home-cooked meal even on those busy days when you are walking in the door at dinner time. There are delivery companies that will ship groceries to you. Better yet, get together with some friends to prepare meals or go shopping together and split the cost of bulk items.

9. Crockpots: Yes, there really are good recipes for meals you can toss into the crockpot on your way out the door in the morning or if you have a busy day planned at home.

10. The refrigerator: clean the coils, reseal it if you can pull a dollar bill out from the door when it's closed, and reset the temperature--cooler in the summer time and warmer during the winter months.

Feel free to add your tips and tricks below.

Enjoy your day,
Suzanne