Kitchen appliances are among the most frequently used in the home, and some, such as refrigerators, are among the most energy-consuming. Here are some ways to curb your energy use in the kitchen.

* Be sure to clean your refrigerator’s cooling coils regularly. For most models, this will mean at least twice a year. Dirty coils put strain on your refrigerator’s motor, shortening the life of your appliance and preventing it from operating efficiently. For more on this maintenance, see How to Clean Refrigerator Coils. For more tips on how to maximize your refrigerator’s efficiency, read Refrigerator Energy-Saving Tips.

* Clean your microwave often. This keeps it running efficiently while also preventing residual food odors from seeping into other dishes. Boiling a bowl of water with lemon in it will freshen up the microwave and soften caked-on spills and splatters so that you can easily wipe them up.

* Cook several things in your oven at once. Preparing several dishes—or even meals—at the same time can save you time, money, and energy. Just freeze what you don’t need to eat immediately.

*Consider whether or not you even need to use your oven to heat your meal. Perhaps a smaller appliance—such as a pressure cooker, wok, or toaster oven—will cook your food more quickly and efficiently.

* Do tasks by hand, when possible. Using manual eggbeaters and can openers instead of their electric counterparts can save energy and money over time.

* Clean your gas stovetop after cooking. This ensures that your gas jets will work efficiently and that your food will heat evenly and in a timely manner. For more on this maintenance, see How to Clean and Maintain a Stovetop of Kitchen Range.

*Make sure the flames on your gas range are burning blue. Yellow flames mean that your range is not operating efficiently. To learn how to make adjustments, see How to Adjust a Gas Burner.

*Check to see that your oven door shuts tightly. A loose seal means heat loss and wasted energy. Carefully clean the oven door’s gasket and the place where it meets the cabinet with a commercial kitchen cleaning product or hot, soapy water to ensure that grease and food particles are not getting in the way of a good seal.

* Only run your dishwasher when it is stacked full of dishes. But do not over-fill your dishwasher; dishes that are packed in too tightly will not come out clean. For more on dishwashers, see How to Save Energy While Operating Your Dishwasher or Dishwasher Energy Efficiency.