Which is the most energy efficient ?

[snailracer]

Use a panful of hot water from the tap - it's already been heated and will be boiled and sterilised anyway.

Energy will be lost when the hot water lying stagnant in the pipes cools. If your pan is small, it may not be the most efficient way.

 

[Night Train]

I use the kettle, but just before it finishes I put a small amount of water in the pan and heat that up, so I don't end up putting the boiling water straight into a cold pan.

That's what I do.

 

[summerdays]

Having just gone to warm up a drink in the mircowave ... there is an option you haven't considered ... whether for just heating the water ... or I have been known to cook salad potatoes in it - those little narrow ones.

 

[rich p]

Energy will be lost when the hot water lying stagnant in the pipes cools. If your pan is small, it may not be the most efficient way.

Damn your eyes - my efforts to save the planet have been wasted all these years by a simple lack of understanding of physics!

 

[Aperitif]

Energy will be lost when the hot water lying stagnant in the pipes cools. If your pan is small, it may not be the most efficient way.

Rich is a pan technician - the earth moves when he boils spuds. And yes has a small pan with a lidl top. I thought the Dagenham girl Maris Pipers played tubers? Well blow me!

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Having just gone to warm up a drink in the mircowave ... there is an option you haven't considered ... whether for just heating the water ... or I have been known to cook salad potatoes in it - those little narrow ones.

boiling water in a microwave isn't recommended as it can get 'superheated' and explode on you. Boiling potatoes in the microwave might work, it's to do with whether the water manages to create bubbles when it boils or not (not = superheated) IIRC...

 

[meenaghman]

Ahem.. how big are your spuds .. bigger ones take longer to boil through, so you may want to cut them up. Also tend to use less water that way due to smaller ISG (Inter Spud Gap). Then there's a thing called a pressure cooker which does work but rarely seems to be used these days. As regards which method I haven't a clue. I know I tend to boil a kettle to get pasta started, as thats quickest method of getting water up to temperature, but not necessarily the most energy efficient. I don't do it for spuds as its best to cook from cold.

 

[snorri]

Boiling potatoes in the microwave might work, it's to do with whether the water manages to create bubbles when it boils or not (not = superheated) IIRC...

Might work? It has worked almost every day in the last 25 years for me!

 

[coffeejo]

For mash get smash (and then roll them into potato-like shapes).

 

[rich p]

How weird Jo! Dayvo has exactly the same effect on me too!

 

[Glenn]

4.184 joule of heat energy (or one Calorie) is required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water 1°C, according to

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/The_amount_of_heat_necessary_to_raise_one_kilogram_of_water_one_degree_Celsius_is#ixzz1gLl40KZo

​

 

[gbb]

Might work? It has worked almost every day in the last 25 years for me!

We do that quite often. I reckon (without any proof) that the microwave has to be the most efficient.
One downside, our previous microwave (now my work one) with a painted inside started to suffer from the paint coming away where the turntable ran, probably because of the excess moisture.
We now have a SS lined one, so that shouldnt be a problem anymore.

 

[ianrauk]

For mash get smash (and then roll them into potato-like shapes).

Smash.. can anyone who ate Smash actually say they enjoyed the taste?

 

[coffeejo]

Smash.. can anyone who ate Smash actually say they enjoyed the taste?

My ex. Note the use of the word "ex"...

 

[ASC1951]

I steam vegetables, including spuds. They taste better.