Appliances

The interest in outdoor projects was limited during the recent pandemic. But, people now have renewed interest in outdoor living upgrades that are comfortable, practical and life affirming. This is especially true with an outdoor kitchen, food tends to taste better in the fresh air and this is a great way to combine cooking and socializing. In this article, we will look at six outdoor kitchen benefits in more detail, they are: 1.  Increasing the Livable Space in Your Home Let’s face it, most people don’t use their backyard much and this is a huge waste of potential. Indoor kitchens are an evergreen focus of remodeling projects because they add a lot of value and they serve a practical purpose. But, an outdoor kitchen can form the core of an entire entertainment, dining and socializing area. 2.  Cooking Outside When the weather is gorgeous outdoors, why should you have to prepare dinner indoors? A modern outdoor kitchen can have all the usual amenities that you need, including a refrigerator, an ice machine, storage, a dishwasher, cooking surfaces, an oven, counterspace, and much more. As an added bonus, you have ready access to your grill which is something that you certainly could not do indoors. When you cook outdoors the experience is much different, it’s easier to be social and prepare dinner at the same time. 3.  Effortless Expansion of Your Summer Menu When we split our cooking efforts between a kitchen and the grill outside, it’s easy to make mistakes.

If your living space is limited, it’s easy to believe that you cannot have all the appliances to meet your needs. But, this is not the case, there are compact appliances on the market that can help you to make meals, wash dishes and get your laundry washed efficiently. In this brief guide, we will take a look at some appliances that can be installed in smaller homes to make the most of the available space. Compact Cooktops and Ranges A kitchen range is a popular choice because you get two appliances in a single unit. As such, they are an ideal space saver for any size of home. There are electric and gas options and a standard kitchen range is 30” wide. But, if you have a smaller space there are compact electric ranges with a width of 20” up to 24” and gas ranges at 24” only. If you want a dedicated cooktop instead of a range stove, you can choose a two element electric or two-burner gas cooktop instead. These cooktops range in size from 12” up to 21”. A Compact Wall Oven If you go with a cooktop, you will need to consider a separate oven and this can be tricky when you have limited space. An ideal solution may be a wall mounted oven and microwave combo that gives you two great appliances in a single unit. This will preserve the counter space and the oven can be accessed easily. A compact wall oven can

Certain premium grade ranges have a built-in warmer drawer and other standalone appliances may have them as a separate installation option. A warmer drawer is a useful appliance that could change the way you prepare and serve meals in your home. When you take food from the kitchen to the table, there are a number of things that can go wrong. But, if you have a warmer drawer, cold food doesn’t need to be a problem anymore. In this article, we will look at five warmer drawer advantages in more detail. 1.  Preventing Food from Getting Cold When you’re putting together a meal, it can be tricky to coordinate the sides with the entree. Keeping mashed potatoes and green beans warm when you need to finish off the sauce is far easier when you have a warmer drawer. There is even room to keep entire finished dishes warm as you finish other tasks. For example: if you made a pizza, you can store that pie in the warmer drawer as you sear the veggie toppings. The best temperature range for food warming is 140ºF up to 250ºF depending on the food. 2.  Warming Plates During Meal Prep Warm food served on cold plates can ruin the entire meal and retaining heat is the only way to prevent these problems. To keep the food warm, it’s often a good idea to warm the stack of plates in a low temperature setting. In most cases, the lowest temperatures are ideal for keeping

Regular cleaning is essential to maintain a consistent oven performance. If your oven is not clean, it can not only ruin the aesthetics, but also compromise the quality, flavor, and safety of your food. Fortunately, there are some excellent self cleaning features on modern ovens that you may wish to consider if you’re buying a new oven. Catalytic Cleaning This is one of the most common types of oven models. They are popular as they are also one of the most affordable options. The interior walls of the oven are porous, which allows cooking grease and other residue to be absorbed. This helps to keep the interior surfaces clean at all times. After every use, the oven switches to its maximum temperature for 10 to 15 minutes to remove any residue. This type of oven is a great choice for those who use their oven to roast meat and vegetables, but don’t tend to often bake cakes or bread. Pyrolytic Cleaning Pyrolytic cleaning can eliminate sugar and fat, so the oven will not require additional cleaning. The temperature of the appliance can reach over 900ºf during the cleaning cycle, so everything inside is completely burned away. This type of appliance tends to be more expensive initially, but there is a lower cost of ownership compared to a catalytic cleaning oven. This type of oven is well suited to those who tend to bake often, since the self cleaning mode can remove both grease and sugars that tend to be typical

When it comes time to upgrade your appliances, many people love the idea of checking out the options at local appliance stores. While browsing the new models can be a good place to start, it can also lead to an impulse purchase that may not be the best choice for your kitchen. There are many things to consider before you make your final purchase decision, so here we’ve compiled some top tips for your appliance shopping. Set a Budget: This must be your first step before you even set foot into a showroom. While you will need to have a rough idea of how much new appliances will cost, it is important that you have a realistic budget. If you’re planning a kitchen remodel, new appliances can be a significant portion of your budget. So, if you overspend, you may need to compromise in other areas of your renovation. There is a vast choice of appliances on today’s market and the ones with the latest technology will have a higher price tag. So, if you head into the showroom without a budget in mind, you may be tempted to pick one with all the latest features. This makes it crucial to keep your budget in your mind and only look at the appliances that are within your financial reach. If you do find a model with some interesting functions, you will need to assess the additional cost to determine if it is worth the extra cost. Verify Your Measurements: Many

A kitchen remodel can be a fun way to improve your home, but it can be a costly process. If you want to set your budget, you may end up asking yourself if you should replace your appliances during your remodel. Aesthetics While price is an important factor in your remodel, you do need to think about how your current appliances will impact the overall aesthetics. There is no point in going to the expense of new cabinets and countertops if the eye will be drawn to tatty, old appliances. Unless you are planning on putting your appliances behind cabinetry, you will need to take an honest look at the appearance of your appliances. Most kitchen appliances can have a tough life, and this can show in the finish. So, if your white appliances are looking a little yellow or the shine has gone from your stainless steel finish, it could be time for an upgrade. You also need to think about the new look of your kitchen. If you’re going for a more traditional look, contemporary appliances will look out of place. Functionality You also need to consider the functionality of your appliances. If your oven struggles to get to the desired temperature, your fridge tends to run hot or your dishwasher is prone to leaks, these appliances have no place in a new kitchen. You should also think about whether a new appliance with the latest features will add to the functionality of your kitchen. If your appliances

When you’re remodeling your kitchen, there are lots of things to plan and budget for. One of the most difficult decisions is should you buy new appliances for your new kitchen. While you may want the aesthetics of a shiny new appliance, what should you do if it is basically in good working order? So, here we’ll explore the argument for replacing each of your kitchen appliances. Refrigerators The refrigerator is likely to be the hardest working appliance in your home and it is vital to keep your food safe for consumption. The average lifespan of a typical refrigerator is 10 to 15 years, but the older the appliance is, the less likely it is to be energy efficient. Today’s energy efficient models use up to 60 percent less energy compared to models made in 2000. However, you can expect to pay $900 to $8,000 for a new refrigerator depending on the type, size and features. So, you need to think about the expense vs the savings. If your refrigerator is only five or so years old, you are only likely to save less than $20 a year on your energy bills by upgrading. However, if your appliance is older, there is the potential to save up to $200 a year. Ranges A range is typically one of the most durable kitchen appliances and you can expect it to last up to 20 years with maintenance and some minor repairs. A new model can cost $650 to $2,000+, so if

If you’re interested in a greener lifestyle, you need to consider your home appliances. While making transport changes and adopting ecofriendly habits are a solid start, if your appliances are plugged in 24/7, have a leak, or are not adjusted to the optimal settings, it could compromise your green intentions. So, here we’ll explore energy saving tips for your home appliances, so you can feel confident that you are doing your part for the planet. Fix Any Leaks A leaky washing machine or dishwasher can have a massive impact over time. While it may appear to be a harmless drip or two, it can add up to several gallons in a month. This not only adds hundreds of dollars to your water bills, but it wastes a precious resource. So, if you suspect that there is any type of leak near your appliances, you should call in a repair technician to resolve it as quickly as possible. Adjust Your Settings If you have central air, remember that it doesn’t need to be running constantly. While you want to remain comfortable, keeping your thermostat at a moderate temperature, particularly in summer and winter can reduce your bills and ecological damage. You should also look at your fridge and freezer settings. While these appliances need to be cool to keep your food items fresh, keeping the settings on high can actually be detrimental. You may find that your items get freezer burn or end up frozen if they sit too near the

The holiday season is when families and loved ones come together to enjoy delicious food and drinks. If you’ve got the responsibility to host a celebration like this, you will have to make preparations and still have time to spend with your guests. This can be tricky, but you can make your life easier if you have the right kitchen appliances. But, a great kitchen isn’t just for the holiday season; it’s the gift that keeps on giving for the entire year! In this article, we will take a look at seven kitchen appliances that we believe are essential to get the most out of your holiday hosting experience. A Warming Drawer Any holiday host will find that a warming drawer can be a real help when they’re preparing food for larger groups of people. When you’re working on many dishes at the same time, it’s very difficult to keep food warm until you’re ready to serve it. Meal prep takes time, and certain courses cannot be cooked until the guests have arrived. Keeping food hot is important to maintain food safety when you won’t have time to reheat or check each food item individually. Look for a unit with a variable temperature and humidity controls to keep your food in excellent shape until you’re ready to serve. A sleek warming drawer may also have a modern aesthetic appeal to complement your kitchen. 2. A Double Wall Oven A double wall oven allows you to cook more food at the

Any good kitchen remodel should include placement ideas that work well together to make the entire space efficient and easy to use. Due to its size and bulky nature, it can be tricky to place the refrigerator in the areas where you want it to reside. For this reason, the refrigerator is often forced into the corner, which can be a clumsy compromise at best. But, the layout and size of your kitchen can play a huge part in the decision for a final location for your refrigerator. In this article, we will look at four cool refrigerator placement options for your kitchen remodel. 1.  The Default Corner Placement Let’s start with the most common refrigerator placement that we tend to see in pretty much every kitchen. The most obvious reason for this placement is that you want to avoid impeding movement when the refrigerator doors are open. Another consideration is that a refrigerator tucked in the corner won’t attract attention away from more desirable features. The first concern is valid, but depending on the layout of your kitchen it may be possible to allow access without creating an obstacle. The second problem can be solved if you invest in a refrigerator with a more attractive aesthetic appeal in-line with the rest of the space. Alternatively, you can conceal the refrigerator with clever cabinetry solutions to make the space more uniform and consistent. 2.  Pantry Placement Considerations When you’re thinking about the placement of your refrigerator, it’s a good idea