COOKING BY ELECTRICITY.

Shannon News, 25 July 1924, Page 2

COOKING BY ELECTRICITY.

SHANNON EXPERIENCE. Al the ilorowhenua Power Board'b meeting- last week, Mr W. 11. Gunning the ShdUiiou representative of uuBoard gave some interesting figures relating to the working of an electric range which he had recently purchased. This range was of the McCleary pattern such us were recently on exhibition in Levin and was purchased troin the Power Boai'd.

On the No. 2 top which registers 800 watts, ;i quart of water was put on ar. 10.13, the switching being turned on at the same time. The water boiled at 10.31,. or 18 minutes alter the current was turned on. The two oven switches were turned on. at 10.22 and at 10.40 the oven registered 200 deg. Fahrenheit; at 10.44 400 deg; 10.46, 450 deg.; and at 10.48, 500 deg. One switch was then turned completely off and the other turned to "low," but at 10.55, the temperature as registered by ihe thermometer in the over door' had risen to 600 deg., the outside of the range remaining quite cool all this time, owing to the completeness of the insulation.

Roth switches were then fumed off and at 11.25. the register-showed 450 deg. which had decreased to 400 deg. bv 11.30.

As the temperature required for cooking various foods is given at for cake, 300 to 400 deg., bread 450 deg., roasting 450 deg., it will be seen that the time required for heating the oven is not considerable.

Several joints, Mr Gunning explain ed had been cooked, and although the outside was very nicelv browned the m,eat appeared to hold the juice better than when cooked bv other means. The range had been put in on Thursday and used almost constantly since then, the consumption of current, up 1o Sunday being 12 units, which at IV 1 per unit amounted to Is 6d. This amount had enabled several meals to be cooked as well as water to be boil c ed. etc. When all the cooking elements in the range, three on top and two inside the oven were turned on, the consumption amounted to 2 units ner hour, cost 3d, a.n important thing however being that as soon as the oven is heated, practically the whole of the current can be cut off in this direction, and the insulation will enable the beat to be retained, so that the cost will be considerably reduced. "Mv experience is." Mr Gunning concluded "that cooking by electricity is considerably cheaper than" by any oflfcr means, and T will have no hesi- • tation 1n recommending it to . my mends,".