Kitchen Appliances
Kitchen appliances implies to machines like ovens used in kitchen. It can be described as part of home appliances specifically used in kitchen for preparing food. These appliances makes your life as a homemaker easier by reducing both time and energy.
The ever changing technology with time makes these appliances advance and convenient. The availability of numerous style, features, technology option, quality, choosing the one that suits you can be a daunting task. So create a design plan and conduct a well informed research before shopping will ensure a functional, stylish kitchen for your family while being in your budget.
Planning
Kitchen layout and budget
Function and lifestyle
Style and finishes
Buying smart
Choosing The Best Appliances
Once you have made your budget and created an idea for your kitchen, the next step will be to research exact appliances. You also have to consider the brands, features, style and performance that suit you the best.
Be sure to consider any G rated devices. It increases the energy efficiency of your home and saves money plus reduces impact on environment.
Essential Cooking Appliances For Your Kitchen
Range or cooktop
The most important decision regarding the choice of range or cooktop is design of your kitchen. Your choice for separate cooktop and wall oven combination or free stand range that is cooktop surface and oven in one appliance. There are advantages and disadvantages to both options. It actually depends on usage. For example if you cook dishes starting from burner and finishes in oven you will prefer the range. Plus freestanding range are economical and easy to install. But if two or more people are sharing the kitchen, the separate zones offer by cooktop and wall might be a better choice.
2. The layout or space of your kitchen like if an open kitchen or small kitchen may not accommodate separate wall ovens.
3.Your choice will also depend upon the type of fuel. While ranges are available and electric, gas and a combination. Gas range of iron grate and front- face controls. Dual fuel is popular cause it provides electric heating in oven together with gas burners on cooktop.Cooktop fuel sources are gas induction or electric radiant. Both electric radiant induction provides modern elegant look that are easier to clean than gas cooktops.
4. While induction is the most energy efficient choice transferring e
lectromagnetic energy direct to pans. It brings the required temperature faster than any other type of cooking range.
5.With induction cooktops you must use cookware containing high content of ferrous metal. This is because heat is transferred by magnetic interaction between pans and coils.
6.The right size of range for your kitchen needs to be selected. Standard range width are 30, 36, 48 inch while large professional size ranges are 36 and 48 inches.
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Wall oven- While choosing wall oven the amount of baking, roasting or broiling you do will affect the chosen features. Usually ovens come in standard size of 27 and 30 inch. They are available in single or double oven configuration. Double ovens are perfect for large families and families throwing many get togethers. Plus, if your kitchen layout can accommodate it. Wall ovens have to be installed under the counter for a combined look.
Another important feature of oven to be considered is convection. It uses fan to distribute air in oven in clockwise and anticlockwise direction for uniform cooking. With convection you can cook multiple item at same time thus saving on household energy.
2. Speed cooking ovens- This is a combination or a hybrid convection and microwave oven. It uses high intensity halogen light with ceramic and radiant cooking elements to cook the outside of food quickly. This combines with microwave energy to cook the inside uniformly.
These ovens are perfect for busy homemakers and for those who want functions of double oven in small kitchen space. When purchasing speed cooking ovens ensure that you purchase the appliance with correct voltage for your area.
They are essential as it removes steam, heat, odour from your kitchen and also helps in keeping cabinets and other appliances clean and grease free. You can choose from wall mounted hood, island hood or downdraft ventilation system.
An important feature to look in ventilation system is the fan or the exhaust ability to move air. This is measured in CFM( cubic feet per minute). The recommended best venting is 1 CFM per 100 BTUs ( British thermal unit) of heat output of your range or cooktop. Other hood features like lighting, warming lamps and utensil racks enhances the functionality of your kitchen.
Ducting is another important area. According to layout and location of your kitchen, ducting your ventilation to the outside will remove maximum amount of odour and heat. Second option is recirculating of ventilation hood or duct free. This relies on filtration for controlling the odour.
This is essential appliance as it keeps your food fresh and also eases your workload in the kitchen. The three major types of installation are:
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Freestanding- These refrigerators have large capacity and are easy to change their position in case you change your design or as in transfers. They are not flushed with your kitchen countertops when installed.
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Built-in- They fit flush with your kitchen countertops for a uniform look. They are taller than freestanding ones.
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Fully integrated or columns- These refrigerators blends smoothly or uniformly into your kitchen interiors that it becomes difficult to distinguish from rest of kitchen cabinet.
These three variants are available in different sizes and capacity so as to meet your family’s need for food storage.
The configuration of your refrigerator is the next important thing to consider. That is opening of doors, freezer compartments.The traditional top freezer model or French door model with bottom freezer or the popular side by side model which requires less swinging door space. It also provides easy access to the freezer even to children.
Larger families may opt for large refrigerator and freezer combination. If your kitchen space allows an all refrigerator and all freezer is a good option.
An essential appliance for your kitchen.
- You should start with styling that is choose a finish which coordinates with the rest of the interior of your kitchen.
- Most dishwashers are installed flushed with your kitchen countertops. The integrated dishwasher matching with your kitchen cabinets, using customised panels are the latest trend.
- The cleaning features of various dishwasher needs to be compared. A dishwasher with variety of cycles and options should complement your cleaning habits. Compare the number of jets and types of racks on the basis of kind of dishes to be cleaned. For example bigger family will need frequent wash cycle so you have to shop for dishwasher offering different capacity. While if you are entertaining a lot then consider one with stemware holders or cycles for fine china.
- Dishwasher should not make noise. The noise levels for dishwashers are rated in decibels. So lower the decibel the quieter the dishwasher that is rating of 45 decibels is preferable.
- Dishwasher are usually available in 24 inch width size and 18 inch width. The small 18 inch can be used as second dishwasher for wet bar.
- Become an eco friendly citizen shop for models with Energy star. That is those dishwasher that are superior in terms of energy efficiency thus reducing environmental impact.
These were some of the big appliances for your kitchen. They are important for functioning while kitchen top appliances or small appliances bring convenience and diversity to your kitchen. Some essential small appliances:
Toasters and ovens- Basic essential for toasting breads and bagels. Toaster ovens are necessary for warming the food and melting cheese.
Mixer- Essential for grinding dry ingredients and wet ingredients like cashew nuts, tomato gravy. Some also have juicers attached to it.
Blenders- Important for mixing sauces, soups and juices. It’s motor is less powerful and blades less sharp. So is best used for blending liquids with ice.
Food Processor- A must for veggie lovers. There are many units with various blade attachment for your processing needs.
Rice cooker- It helps in making rice the perfect way every time with just a push of a button.
Coffee maker- An indispensable small appliance. This is found outside the kitchen, office and hotel rooms.
Fryer- A popular appliance as it brings restaurant taste to your table though not a healthy option as grill.
Essential Tips To Save Money While Buying Kitchen Appliances
Know your needs do not make an impulse buying. Try to learn from others mistakes.
Track, compare, match and negotiate. Read the finer prints. While some experts are of opinion that getting quotes via emails is a better option. This saves your time plus the emotional salesmanship.
Check the dimensions of the appliances with that of your house.
Look for superficial imperfections that does not effects the working. You can even wait for holiday sales.
Listen carefully. Compare the decibel levels.
If possible buy what you need. That is if your new range throws too much smoke and steam it requires an exhaust fan.