If you have ever hosted a Thanksgiving meal, you know how pricey it can be. Between buying food and decorating your home, the bill can add up quickly. So this Thanksgiving, don’t spend more money than you have to on your energy bill. Follow these five tips to make your Thanksgiving both fun and frugal!

Use Glass or Ceramic Cookware

Glass and ceramic dishes hold heat much better than metal pans. If you opt for this cookware, you can set your temperature for 25°F degrees less than the recipe calls for.

 

Avoid Opening and Closing Appliances

Frequently checking on the food in the oven will bring the temperature of the oven down, and your oven will need to exert more energy to get back up to temperature. The same thing will happen to the refrigerator if you are continuously opening and closing it.

Cook Your Whole Meal at Once

Even if the foods you are cooking have slightly different cooking temperatures- 25°F degrees in either direction-you can still cook everything at once. Just make sure your meats are fully cooked before you serve them. According to FoodSafety.gov, a perfect turkey should have an internal temperature of at least 165°F.

Turn Down the Heat

Turn the oven and stove off 5-10 minutes before the meal is finished cooking. As long as you keep the food covered and the oven shut, it should stay hot enough to finish cooking your food.

Additionally, it may be a good idea to turn your thermostat down a couple degrees if you are having a lot of guests. The heat from cooking will make your home warm and comfortable.

Alert Your Alarm Company of False Alarm

What’s worse than burning a turkey on Thanksgiving? Being fined by the fire department for a false alarm. Depending on your town laws, the fire department may charge you if multiple false alarms are received from your home. If you alert your alarm company immediately of a false alarm, they can contact the fire department before they dispatch, saving you from potential fines.

 

NEXT STEPS:

• Subscribe to our blogto stay informed about the latest security news and insight.
• Stay up to date on security topics such as home alarm systems, business security systems, video surveillance systems, IP video networks, remote video monitoring, fire alarm systems, and fire alarm inspection.