I’ve been making this everyday cooking mistake that could be wasting energy and racking up my bills, according to an expert

As the cost of living continues to rise, many of us are actively looking for effective ways to save energy at home and keep our household bills down.And while I make a conscious effort to switch off lights when leaving a room or unplug my electronics from standby, it turns out that my everyday cooking habits could be quietly hiking up my gas bill.According to an energy expert, homeowners should start by looking at how they cook meals if they really want to save energy. What’s more, this common habit is often overlooked — and I’ve been guilty of doing this.So if you’re after a simple way to slash your energy bills, avoid this common cooking habit.Not adjusting the stove burner properly

Pot of water being taken off the stove (Image credit: Pexels)Since I cook on a gas range, I often turn the heat up high at first before turning down the burner. However, this simple routine might actually be driving up energy costs, meaning it's essential to find the right balance.“The point is to use the heat you're actually getting some benefit from, rather than having a flame running much higher than the job requires,” advises Steve Ferguson, director of Jefferson Gas. “Pay particular attention once food has reached temperature.“If you're simmering something, you don't need the same amount of heat that you needed to bring it up to temperature in the first place. That's where people can end up using more gas than necessary simply because they haven't adjusted the burner.”Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.