Kitchen

A cooktop is an important appliance in every kitchen and there are many options to explore. Some choose a gas or electric model, and over the years ceramic cooktops have become popular. They are smooth top appliances that are easy to clean and they have a clean design that matches ultra-modern kitchens. But, like any other appliance they have their unique pros and cons that must be considered carefully. How Does a Ceramic Cooktop Work? Before we get into the meat of this article, it’s important to understand how a ceramic cooktop works. The surface is made of tempered glass, it’s smooth to the touch and it’s easy to think that every model is the same, with a few useful features. But there are a few different options to pick from, and each of these works in very different ways: Radiant: These cooktops have metal coils that generate heat under the glass surface. Halogen: These models generate heat using halogen bulbs. Semi-Halogen: This is a combination of the radiant and halogen heating methods shown above. Induction: This is a magnet-based system that interacts with metal in pans to generate heat. The first three ceramic cooktops work in a similar manner, they cook the same and all the usual features and conveniences are present. The only real differences are that halogen bulbs heat up faster and radiant heating elements take longer to cool down. The fourth option is quite different. An induction cooktop will generate heat much faster and it can

Home appliances have an extensive safety track record, but only when they are used properly. There are rigorous safety tests for appliances before they ever make it to the shelves in your local retailer. This means that many appliance accidents are preventable and these tips can help you to stay safely cooking in your kitchen. Be Aware of Hot Surfaces It may sound obvious, but you need to avoid touching any hot surfaces. Manufacturers design areas of appliances, particularly portable appliances that can be safely handled to reduce the risk of injury. For examples, crock pots are designed with two handles to be carried safely. Other areas that tend to stay cooler are the control knobs, so if a knob or handle breaks ensure that you obtain a replacement from the manufacturer. Unplug Your Small Appliances There is a risk of electric shock from any appliance, whether it’s switched on or not. So, you should unplug all your small appliances when you’ve finished using them. This will not only drop the risk of an electric shock to almost zero, but it will also protect you and your home if the appliance develops a fault and starts to spark. Don’t Allow Cords to Hang Hanging cords can be a dangerous hazard around your home. Not only is a cord a trip hazard, but children can also be injured by snagging a cord and pulling an appliance down on themselves. This scenario can be made even worse if the appliance is hot

The heart of any successful party is the kitchen. Whether you’re having a house party or having friends over for dinner, your kitchen is an essential area for entertaining. Unfortunately, if your kitchen is not properly equipped, it can lead to your event being a flop. So, here we will explore the best tips for successful entertaining in your kitchen. Set Up a Bar Your guests will need drinks, and whether this is cold lemonade, punch or craft cocktails, you need an area set aside as a bar. Create a beverage station on a kitchen island or countertop where you can place glasses, an ice bucket and your selection of drinks. If you have an under counter beverage center outside, on a warm evening, you could create a bar area on your patio for an alfresco event. Even if you intend to prepare your guests’ drinks, keeping this area separate from food prep areas will help keep your kitchen flow at its best. Prepare Delicious Snacks Whether you’re planning on serving a gourmet meal at a dinner party or are hosting a sophisticated soiree, it is a good idea to have some delicious snacks available for your guests. Plan your hors d’oeuvres in advance and store them in your refrigerator until they can be baked off before your party. Even something as simple as mini quiches or fresh bruschetta will keep your guests happy. If you’re not planning on serving a meal, it’s a good idea to designate an area

It’s officially spring, and summer is right around the corner. We’re in the peak season for afternoon parties and gatherings, and if you’re playing host and looking for ways to keep guests entertained during your events, you might be inclined to gather in the living room or parlor. But if you’ve never considered your kitchen a space for fun, you’re missing out on a prime opportunity. When you’re all together in the kitchen, you have the chance for a more relaxed, intimate setting, and you’ll have the bonus of keeping all the tools you need for a great get-together right at your fingertips. Fridges and Chillers What’s a proper reception without drinks? When prepping a party area, the best tool to utilize is without a doubt a reliable wine cooler. Whether for storing wine or if you just want a place to chill non-alcoholic bottles, this can be an integral part of both your party and your kitchen. The wine cooler will cultivate the best temperature for drinks when a refrigerator isn’t quite specialized enough for the task. You won’t have to fuss about running out of ice with a chiller like this handy, either. Additionally, no party is complete without snacks, and a wine cooler can be great extra storage for cheeses, chocolate, olive oil, or anything else that might otherwise bulk up the fridge. With a handy wine cooler, it also offers you the freedom of versatility. Whether you’re pouring drinks or allowing self-serve, this appliance allows easy

Wine is no longer the exclusive domain of the super-rich. These days many of us enjoy a glass or two of wine, but we no longer need to visit a bar or restaurant. Most people enjoy drinking wine at home, and it has become a daily routine. If you want to enjoy your wine in true style, you need to stop keeping your favorite wines in a hidden cupboard and invest in a wine refrigerator. So, here is everything you need to know before you buy your new wine refrigerator. Consider Your Storage Location Wine refrigerators are available in a myriad of sizes and styles, which allows for placement anywhere in your home. Your choice of location will have an influence on the type of model you choose. If you want to store your wine in your living area, you may wish to consider a smaller wine refrigerator that utilizes thermoelectric cooling rather than a standard compressor. These types of wine coolers are energy efficient and very quiet as they won’t vibrate. This means that you can enjoy having your wine stored in your living area without any additional noise compromising your comfort. Your new wine refrigerator should be placed in a location where there is access to fresh air to help keep humidity and temperature fluctuations to a minimum. The Cost In 2016, the EPA set new conditions that required wine coolers to be tested for energy efficiency. This did drive the cost of wine refrigerators up, so models

Happy Holidays From Our Family To Yours!

The holiday season is the perfect time to gather friends, family and loved ones for some delicious home-cooked food, and Wolf appliances are sure to provide the power and quality you need in a busy kitchen. Wolf is recognized as an innovator in the premium appliance space, bringing commercial-quality products to the comfort of your own home. While the company is best known for its full-sized cooking appliances, Wolf also produces a host of impressive countertop appliances that pack exceptional features in small packages. Wolf’s products provide the very best in professional-grade home appliances, and this holds true in its selection of countertop appliances, which are specially designed to bring restaurant-quality dishes to your home. To help prepare your kitchen for the holidays, we’re providing an overview on some of Wolf’s best countertop appliances. Countertop Oven Your oven is one of the most heavily used appliances in the kitchen, but there’s only so much space in a single unit. If you’re planning a massive holiday feast, you may want to invest in additional oven space, and a Wolf countertop oven is sure to meet your needs. This premium appliance offers the precision and quality found in a Wolf wall oven in a compact design, boasting six cooking modes and advanced convection functions that help you achieve delicious results with each and every use. This appliance is ideally suited for caramelizing vegetables, roasting pork, broiling fish, baking small pastries and re-heating previously prepared dishes. Thanks to superior components and exceptional design,

While most homeowners turn to a premium refrigerator for their food and beverage storage needs, if you’re a wine collector you know that the only appliance that will effectively meet your needs is a wine cooler. Wine coolers, also known as wine refrigerators, are specifically designed to store and preserve wine, providing a host of advanced features and functions that ensure your wines taste absolutely exquisite. But what should you look for in a new wine cooler? To help with your search, we’ve compiled some useful information on things you need to consider when investing in a wine cooler. Wine Cooler Storage Space You need a wine cooler that can properly store your entire wine collection, and the first thing to consider when searching for a new unit is the amount of storage space you need. Wine coolers come in a variety of sizes that help homeowners store both big and small wine collections. Most mid-sized units can hold between 20 to 50 bottles of wine, but there are also massive coolers that can store over 100 bottles. Should you only have a small selection of wines you want to preserve, you can invest in a small wine cooler to hold around 10 to 15 bottles. There are even miniature units available that preserve two bottles of wine. Thanks to a host of offerings from premium brands, you’ll be able to find the right cooler for your wines no matter the size of your collection. Temperature, Humidity and Wine Racks

Today’s kitchens are built around a philosophy of innovation and convenience, and are filled with an array of powerful appliances that expand your food and beverage possibilities. A coffee maker is a common small appliance in many homes, but for greater coffee capabilities, you’ll definitely want to invest in a coffee system. Coffee systems are premium coffee makers, offering additional features and luxury style to the modern home. But is a coffee system really worth it? To help you decide, we’ve compiled information on some of the benefits of a coffee system. 1. Convenience The most obvious advantage of a coffee system is the convenience it brings to your kitchen. Thanks to a powerful coffee system, you’ll have no need to head to the local coffee shop for top-quality brews. Instead, you can enjoy great tasting coffee from the comfort of your own home with breakfast, after a delicious dinner or any other time you want. The best convenience feature of many coffee systems is their ability to brew multiple cups of fresh coffee at once, saving you time in the coffee-making process. 2. Coffee Beverage Variety The standard home coffee maker only brews one thing — coffee. Meanwhile, a more advanced coffee system will allow you to craft a host of coffee beverages from the comfort of your own home. While each coffee system has different capabilities, many of today’s premium units are able to produce exceptional coffees as well as espressos, cappuccinos, macchiatos and lattes with ease. Moreover,

The holiday season is in full swing, and there’s never been a better time to invest in a high-quality cooking range. You’ll be crafting a host of delicious dishes and desserts through the season and all year round, and a powerful range is a must-have appliance in any home. This Black Friday, you can take advantage of amazing savings on two of GE’s best cooking ranges, bringing exquisite style and premium cooking capabilities to your kitchen. If great value is your top concern, you’ll definitely want to consider the GE JGSS66SELSS range. This affordable model offers two power boil burners, steam clean and an extra large non-stick griddle, and comes with a special savings of $400 for Black Friday. For additional premium features, you should take a look at the GE PGS930SELSS cooking range. This unit boasts all the benefits of the JGSS66ELSS unit, but with additional Wi-Fi connect options and convection functions, making it the ideal appliance for holiday baking. On Black Friday, you can save up to $1000 on this impressive and powerful range. Can’t shop on Black Friday? Don’t worry, because this offer is available through November 29th. With two great ranges and two great deals, there’s no doubt that you’ll find the perfect new toy for your kitchen. For more information, or assistance in picking out your new range, contact Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center. We offer a vast selection of the best cooking ranges from GE and more, with a team of home appliance experts