Fall has arrived in full force and so has a nip in the air.
Yesterday morning I heard the thermostat kick on for the first time since April and I was like here we go… Ready or not, the cold weather is on its way.
If you live in an area where the temperatures dip significantly and you rely on propane, natural gas or heating oil to keep warm, you’re probably like me and always looking for ways to save a little on heating expenses.
Even if they do seem trivial at times. Like leaving the oven door open after baking something.
While I wouldn’t do this during the summer months with the a/c units on, I definitely pop the oven door open the rest of the year for that residual heat.
And it drives my husband a little bonkers. He thinks it’s silly. But hey, we paid for that heat!! Why wouldn’t I take advantage and use it?
So I have to ask, do you leave the oven door open after baking too? I know I can’t be the only one that does this.
~Mavis
Barbara says
Yes I leave the oven door open after baking in cool weather.
Rebecca says
YES! “I paid for that heat, why would I waste it” is my answer as well!
Nancy Settel says
Oh no I am sure you are not the only one! We don’t pay for heat here in the apartment but we still keep the oven door open after using it if it is in the cool months. While we don’t have as early fall/winter as you do nor as cold it sure does get nippy here. In fact we did it just the other day. Mid Atlantic weather can be all over the place.
R says
I used to do this, however I have a new oven and the knobs are in front of the burners. The manual actually says not to leave it open after turning it off- apparently it disrupts the cooling cycle specifically for the knobs/ control panel ! I was honestly a little disappointed to learn I can’t use that little bit of heat. Waste not want not!
Amy says
I do to and so did my mom.
SueD says
It costs less to have the light on propping the oven door open than it does to run the fan in it. We always prop the door open. I remember my mother doing the same thing when I was growing up.
Paula says
Yes, I would but my dogs may get burnt. My mom always did it. Sometimes in the winter, she would turn on the oven and open the door to warm the kitchen. She always turned the heat down at night.
Erin says
I definitely leave the oven open during cold weather! It’s free heat! I got so excited this morning seeing the outside temp was 47. My neighbor is already making morning fires, but I can’t heat the house this early, since it warms up so much in the afternoon sun. Maybe I’ll use some heat or a heated blanket during the weekend storms, but otherwise it’s windows open & sun shining to heat my house right now. I love this time of year!
Tammy says
Also air-dry dishwasher.
Kath says
Yes! Ours actually pops open when it’s done and the door stays about 4 inches open. I love it!
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes!
Eliz says
Open. Need all the heat I can get.
Can you tell me your instructions for cooking bacon in the oven?
Mavis Butterfield says
It’s the only way we cook bacon. https://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/cooking-bacon-in-the-oven/
Elizabeth says
Thank you
Julie V says
Yes! I bake in my smaller oven or air fryer/oven combo, as appropriate, and prop the door open after it’s done and turned off once it’s weather appropriate. I have a double oven and I think I have only used the larger oven once or twice.. it stores pans and bakeware. I do most baking in fall/winter months and smile thinking of the bonus I get from the residual heat.
Vanessa Strawder says
Always in cool weather!
Ashley B says
Growing up, up North, we did this after cooking and it was a nice bonus to using the oven. Now I live in Florida and it’s the opposite, I can’t wait for the cool weather to come so my AC unit isn’t running non stop and our electric bill goes down significantly. Of course our cool down rarely comes with snow or ice.
Jen says
Yes, always!!
Kath says
You are not alone. We open ours once the weather gets cold. Tell HH that there is a reason the oven door will stay propped open just a bit. I think they are made that way just for doing this.
Kathy says
Always in cool weather!
Elaine says
Always!!
Lesley says
I have always done this and so did my mom. On the coldest days, I will stand in front of it and warm my hands over the open door.
Lynn says
Absolutely! Did that yesterday for the first time in months. Makes zero sense to trap that heat in the oven. Although I do remember my father leaving the oven door open while he was changing the water in a small fish bowl & he dropped a fish. Did not end so well. So there may be times when it’s best not to leave the door open.
Dawn says
Once the weather starts to cool, I do.
Randini says
Yep, did this last night.
Nan says
Absolutely it’s not silly at All!!
Especially what we will be paying this year!! The HH should be thankful you do these things hey every little bit helps
Honeybee says
Me too! Did that yesterday. I turn off the light in the oven.
suzanne says
I hate to be that person but opening the oven door causes the heat to escape faster. Possibly out your windows and doors and possibly causing heat and moisture damage
to surrounding cabinets. Keeping the oven closed will radiate the heat for a longer period. The total thermal energy transferred will be the same. It’s the laws of thermodynamics. Old habits die hard.
Anne says
Agree! I have to say it’s not nearly as satisfying to not have the whoosh of hot air come in but either way, the total heat transferred is the same.
Elaine N says
I’m doing it right now as I am reading this!
Teri says
Yes!
Heidi N. says
Yes, I always do this during cool weather & so did my mom! Grew up in Michigan, so we did it a lot.
Claudia says
Actually I’ve been baking, just so I can leave the door open!
Sue says
That heat is already inside your house and doesn’t have a way out. So it will dissipate into the house whether the oven door is open or not, the only difference is whether it dissipates fast or slow.
I leave the oven door open for “feel-good” warmth when I walk past, if the house is chilly, but if it’s already comfortable temp indoors then I close it and let that heat seep into the house slowly, later in the evening when the house is otherwise cooling down.
Wendy Steele says
Always leave the oven door open in the fall and winter after using. Every little bit of heat in the house is welcome.
Lisa says
I always do this in the winter. And I turn off the heat a few minutes before I take food out of the oven too. I figure it’s warm enough to finish cooking whatever is in there.
Mavis Butterfield says
That’s what I do too. Makes sense to me.
Cindy says
This is the time of year that I play “how long can we go without turning the heat on” so yep I crack the oven door
Emily says
I suspect that heat is going to dissipate into your house either way. Where else would it go?
Rebecca Briscoe says
I don’t use my oven all summer, but once cold weather comes, the oven door cracks open after I use it!
Heather T says
Absolutely! Every little bit helps and it makes my kitchen feel extra cozy. I spend a lot of time in there so why wouldn’t I want that?