We live in an era where we can’t be separated from technology even for a day. We constantly have to check our social media updates, notifications, messages and calls from friends and family. Our reliance on Google for every little thing leave us with no choice either.

But a lot of people don’t know how to use their gadgets efficiently and because of that they run out of battery or are easily damaged.  Since all of our personal gadgets play a huge role in our lives, we should try our best to use them as efficiently as possible. Not only does this save energy but also because in doing so we reduce the carbon imprint.

Here’s how to do it:

 

1.     Get a laptop

If you don’t do any heavy stuff on your desktop computer such as graphic designing, running hardcore and professional software etc. and only use it for regular things like checking emails, web browsing or watching videos and playing light games then you need to get a laptop. Switching all of your work on a laptop is going to save a lot of energy because a CPU takes in more electricity to operate and this result in higher electricity bills. Look for laptops that are popular for energy efficiency and get one that suits your needs best.

2.     Get smart about smartphones

These days, everybody jumps on the bandwagon of getting the latest model of smartphone even though they might not know how to use even half of its features. Investing in a gadget that you don’t know how to operate is a waste of money and energy. They run out of battery really quick and you keep a phone that you don’t even want to use much.

If you are someone that just sticks to basics when it comes to a phone then get a regular low budget smartphone that is good enough for checking messages and emails, taking calls and pictures.

However, if you have already taken an expensive smartphone then the best way to save its energy is to close all apps when you are not using them. This protects the battery from depleting really quickly and you don’t have to charge it more often. Also, lower the brightness levels of the phone when using at night. Switch to flight mode while travelling and you will get a much more optimum level of battery on the phone. 

 

3.     Tablets

A lot of people make the mistake of using the tablet like a laptop, even though it is somewhat of a hybrid of a smartphone and laptop. The purpose of a tablet is mostly to be that of an eBook reader plus with some browsing. But people try to use them heavily for other purposes as well and that causes the battery to drain out easily.

Note: Always unplug the charger for any of your gadgets when the battery is full and don’t leave it charging for hours.

Make sure to get good insurance on your personal gadgets and go to https://row.co.uk/gadget-insurance to avoid any mishaps.

*The information in this blog is designed to provide helpful information on the subjects discussed. Please seek a professional for expert advice as we can not be held responsible for any damages or negative consequences upon following this information.

In Finland, they have a saying “there’s more than one way to roast a reindeer.” Although reindeer meat isn’t a common dish away from the northerly-most Arctic communities, it’s an apt little phrase for the modern kitchen, wherever you happen to be.

Take anything you wish to roast, and you are spoilt for choice with regards to how to do it these days. There are so many different cooking appliances out there.

One such example is the steam oven. Most of us will have heard of steamers - those tall contraptions that are designed to help you stop boiling your Sunday vegetables to a grey mush - but a steam oven? How does that work?

Before anyone gets any elaborate visions of cooking machines powered by steam engines, steam ovens do, in fact, work in a very similar way to an old-fashioned steamer, using the heat from steam to do the cooking. The main difference is capacity - steam ovens come in the size and shape of a standard oven, which means you can fit a lot more into them.

More often or not, you will find a steam oven setting as one of several options as part of a multi-function unit, along with conventional and convection functions.

Cooking on steam

But what is the difference between all three, and how does the steam part work? A standard oven cooks by making the air trapped inside the unit hot. This is fine, but conventional ovens do not produce consistent heat throughout. Hot air naturally rises, and the closer you get to the heat source, the hotter it gets. This makes it easy to burn some things while other food in the same oven is still undercooked.

Convection ovens solve this with the addition of a simple fan - hence the term ‘fan-assisted’ - which circulates the hot air more evenly around the unit. Again, this is great, it speeds up cooking times and gives a nice consistent temperature which helps to produce better quality roasts and baked goods. But the downside is that all that hot air circulating can easily dry out your food.

That is where steam comes into its own. By adding a container or reservoir of water to the oven, when it heats up, it fills with steam instead of hot air.

Great, I hear you say - but who needs to steam two or three shelves full of vegetables at a time? Well that is where the word needs to get out about steam cooking. It is far, far more versatile than most people think. Put simply, anything you can cook in a conventional oven, you can also cook using steam. All you are doing is switching the cooking medium from hot air to hot water vapour. And this also has several advantages.

Steam carries heat more efficiently than air, which means a steam oven delivers a more consistent temperature without the need for a fan and also cooks faster. Steam also avoids the risk of your food drying out, which also prevents burning. Another advantage is that it is thought the moisture helps to lock-in more nutrients, making steam cooking healthier - plus, you don’t have to douse food in fat like you do with a traditional roast.

Of course, there are times when we all want a little extra crunch - roast potatoes with the outsides crisped to perfection in hot oil, a roast joint with crackling - which is why it is common to see steam ovens available in combination varieties. Why not pack as many options as possible into a single unit?

Whichever type of oven you opt for, don’t forget to guard against any mishaps with Row.co.uk’s fantastic value appliance insurance, starting at just £1.49 a month!

*The information in this blog is designed to provide helpful information on the subjects discussed. Please seek a professional for expert advice as we can not be held responsible for any damages or negative consequences upon following this information.