Make sure the reflector pans beneath your stove's heating elements are bright and clean. Shiny reflector pans help focus heat rays on the bottom of cooking utensils. Use tightly fitting lids. Food in covered pans begins boiling or steaming quicker and lets you use lower temperature settings. Turn the surface element or oven off a few minutes before cooking time is up.
Electric stoves stay hot for a few minutes after they're turned off.
Use a pressure cooker. It cuts cooking time to one-third that of conventional methods. Use small appliances like a toaster oven or electric skillet. On average they use half the electricity of a full-size oven. Use a microwave oven.