Discourage leisurely open-door inspections of refrigerator contents by family members looking for snacks. Locate refrigerators and freezers away from direct sunlight and other warm-air sources such as ranges and dishwashers. Do not allow ice to accumulate more than one-fourth inch on manual defrost refrigerators and freezers. Use pots and pans with absolutely flat bottoms on your range. To cook efficiently, heat must transfer directly from the surface element to the pan.
Warped bottoms leave an air gap which provides an escape route for heat.
Select pots and pans that are the right size to completely cover the surface element. When any part of the surface element is exposed, you're wasting heat and energy. Keep reflector pans beneath surface elements shiny and clean. Tight-fitting lids help keep heat in a pan, permitting you to use lower temperature settings and shorter cooking times. Heat only the amount of water you need for cooking.