Cooking

Efficiently cooking is always a good thing, whether you want to minimize your time in the kitchen or maximize the amount of deliciousness you can crank out. For most, cooking is the third biggest energy-using source. Generally, efficiency is how well the heat source transfers heat to the cooking vessel.

• Gas ranges are 30% efficient
• Standard electric ranges are 75-85% efficient
• Induction ranges are 85-90% efficient

The remaining percentages goes into heating the cooking surface and air around the kitchen.

Upgrading your cooking experience

Is your range held together with tape? Do all of your burners or elements function? It's time for an upgrade and we're here to help you decide which type might be best for you and your space. 

1. What do you currently have and is it (prior to malfunctioning) meeting your needs?
   • Range or Stove: Appliance containing several burners or elements and one or two ovens together. "Stove" is a historical term evolving from a cavity for burning wood or coal and were used to heat homes.
   • Burner: Individual part of a gas stove from which flame and heat is produced. Typical residential stoves have 4-6 burners.
   • Element: Individual part of an electric stove from which heat is produced. Style varies across types of electric stoves. Typical residential stoves have 4-5 elements. 
   • Cooktop: Stand-alone appliance containing only the burners or elements. Most often set into the counter. 
   • Oven: Enclosed compartment for cooking and heating food or drying. Can be fueled by gas or electric. Can be located within the range or installed directly into the wall or cabinets.
2. What energy source does your current cooking tool use?
   • Cooktop heating style:gas, electric (elements include round metal coils, solid metal disks, and ceramic glass radiant), dual-fuel (used gas and electric), and induction (often confused with the look of a more traditional electric ceramic-topped cooktop, but the elements will only activate with a ferric cooking vessel because of the electromagnetic energy source).
   • Oven heating style:conventional (no fan, just the flame vents or electric coils) or convection (there is a fan in your oven).
3. Do you have any safety or health considerations you need to take into account?
   • Do you have a range hood or range vent? Is it functioning? It is sized appropriately for your cooking surface? Does it vent outside or recirculate back into your space? For our customers who love specs, here is an excellent place to get some info on properly sizing one. 
   • Anyone in your home with asthma or other respiratory concerns? Is cooking with gas inside your space without ventilation a concern to you? 
   • Are there people who tend to forget the stove or oven is on? Or frequently set items on the stove surface where there is potential to accidently turn the heating surface on? 
   • Are there little hands or paws that can reach potentially hot surfaces?
   • Is the existing appliance beyond safe operation?
   • What is your plan during a power outage? 
   • Is the temperature of your kitchen tolerable while cooking and/or baking?
4. What kind of rebates or incentives are available?
   • The State of New Mexico offers tax credits for certain cooking appliances.

Test drive the power of induction

Curious about an alternative to natural gas or an upgrade to the standard electric cooktop? Induction cooking uses electromagnets to transfer energy directly to the pan placed on the cooktop surface, reducing cook-time and giving you more time to do other things you love.

Induction heating

• More powerful than cooking on a gas stove
• Directs 90% of induction heat into your food by heating up the cookware and not the surrounding stove surface
• Is safer around pets and children since the heating element is never exposed while on
• Has better temperature control than other cooking methods, allowing for a transition from a rolling boil to a simmer in seconds
• Reduces indoor air pollution compared to cooking with gas
• Will run on clean energy as your DPU works toward becoming a carbon-neutral power provider

Borrow an induction cooktop kit for free

Are you a customer of Los Alamos's Department of Public Utilities? If yes, you can sign up for the Induction Cooktop Loaner Program and test-drive the power of induction for yourself at home.

Under the program, you may take a kit home for two weeks to get hands-on experience with cooking on an induction cooktop. This opportunity is great if you have an aging range that needs replacement, if you are considering a kitchen renovation, if you are working toward carbon neutrality, or if you are simply interested in trying out the technology. The kits include:

• A portable single-burner induction cooktop
• A choice of an induction-ready pot, pan, or wok
• Some colorful utensils
• Instructions
• Magnet to test other pots for induction-readiness
• A nifty carrying case

Induction cooktops are also available for checkout from the Library of Things at Mesa Public Library and White Rock Branch Library.

Library of Things - Induction Kit