Refrigerators

Many people have opened their refrigerator for a few moments and noticed that some neglected food has spoiled. This could be leftovers from the night before or some healthy leaves that you were planning to eat last week before you forget about them. The contents of your refrigerator can become uncontrollable in short order if you don’t have a system.  In this article, we will look at two simple tips to help you organize your refrigerator to improve the efficiency of your cold food storage. 1.  Sanitary Considerations Let’s face it, the main cause for concern for most people will be the chance that they may become ill when they eat food that went bad in the refrigerator. It’s tempting to place the food items that you reach for the most, in areas that are easier to access. But, the primary consideration must be food safety and the most sanitary ways to store food. There is a real science to chilled food storage that’s beyond the scope of this article. So, to keep things simple let’s look at a typical sanitary setup that you would see in a professional kitchen where good food hygiene is practiced. We can broadly divide food storage in the refrigerator into the upper and lower shelves as follows: The Upper Shelves: This is the ideal location for cooked foods that are safe to eat right now, including leftovers, cold cuts, and chilled drinks. The Lower Shelves: Here you will store any raw foods, such as chicken,

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

Sub-Zero | Wolf announces $1,750 rebate Outdoor Kitchen Promotion for Sub-Zero, Wolf and Asko Outdoor Products As the weather is starting to warm up and summer is on the horizon, it is the ideal time to invest in your outdoor kitchen with some exciting rebates. From March 1st, there are new rebates on Sub-Zero, Wolf and Outdoor products. CLICK HERE TO WATCH THIS WEEK'S VIDEO Outdoor Kitchens Can Finally Live up to the Name The earliest versions of an outdoor kitchen could hardly be classified as a kitchen. Most designs were simply an extension of a gas grill. When the grill surrendered mobility and was anchored to a natural gas connection, they were supplemented by side burners, surrounds and other accessories that were often indoor fixtures or appliances that had been modified for outdoor use. In recent years, there have been high-end appliance manufacturers such as Sub-Zero Wolf who have been producing durable versions of almost anything in an indoor kitchen for your outdoor kitchen. Today, you can equip your outdoor kitchen with icemakers, freezers, refrigerators, warming ovens, dishwashers and more. Grills have also become more elaborate with once extravagant features such as low heat smokers and pizza ovens becoming more readily available for your outdoor kitchen. This has created a more formal and defined area to ensure that your outdoor kitchen now lives up to the name. The Importance of the Right Grill A grill acts as a cornerstone for any outdoor kitchen. Fortunately, grills now offer the versatility

Before You Buy a New FreezerReview of Many Freezer Choices Available at UAKCFull-Size FreezersIf you have a hunter in your family, live on a farm where you raise and butcher farm animals, or simply buy in bulk, then you may be a candidate for a full-sized freezer. It's great to have a utility room or other inside space for your freezer. Unfortunately though, it's often necessary to put your freezer in the garage. The downside of this is temperature variations may cause the freezer to work harder, and use more energy. Most likely you'll choose between a chest freezer and an upright freezer. Obviously, a chest freezer will take more floor space, and you may have to dig a little to find what you need, but chest freezers are less expensive. With an upright freezer, you'll have multiple shelves, and it will be easier to view and access the contents. Upright freezers are more expensive, and cost a bit more to run.Inside All Freezer optionsHaving All Refrigerators and All Freezers in the kitchen has become increasingly popular. Frigidaire has offered this option for a long time. The photo above is the latest offering of a matching refrigerator/freezer pair from Frigidaire Professional. Other brands such as Miele, Thermador, and Sub Zero also make various Column configurations of separate refrigerators and freezers. Dacor has now jumped on the band wagon with their high tech columns. The all refrigerator/all freezer is definitely worth consideration for a complete food preservation solution if you have

Featured Refrigerator: LG InstaView™ Door-in-Door®An Entire Collection LG InstaView™ Refrigerators at UAKCWithin the last few years, we've seen a host of refrigerator brands with a variety of new see-inside features. Each brand has unique advantages and benefits for their respective products. LG is no exception, AND they seem to lead the field in variety and selection with a host of models in various sizes and configurations. Let's see what they've got:LG InstaView™ Door-in-Door®Bringing innovation and distinctive design together, LG’s new refrigerators with InstaView™ Door-in-Door® will enhance even the most beautifully crafted kitchen.Meet Your Coolest MatchWith options including Side-By-Side, French 3-Door and 4-Door models, you can find the InstaView™ Door-in-Door® refrigerator that fits your kitchen perfectly.Raid the Fridge Without Losing Your CoolLG’s InstaView™ Door-in-Door® refrigerators bring distinctive styling and innovation to your kitchen with a tinted glass panel that allows you to see inside the easy-access door without letting the cold air out. Simply knock twice on the glass to illuminate the contents within.A Fresh Look"Food grazing" is easier than ever with the LG InstaView™ Door-in-Door® refrigerators. Experience the convenience of seeing what’s in the fridge without even opening the door, reducing cold air loss to help keep food fresher, longer.Extend Food FreshnessDoor-in-Door® with the ColdSaver™ Panel significantly reduces cold air loss by keeping it where it matters most — on the inside. More cold air means more peace of mind that food will stay fresher for longer.Space When You Need ItLG large capacity refrigerators have extra room for food storage,

Why Buy a Counter-Depth Refrigerator?Most appliances have common widths, such as 24" for a dishwasher, and 30" for a standard range. They also have fairly common depths of 24" - 26" inch so they fit fairly snug in 24" - 25" deep cabinets. Refrigerators have a tendency to stick out several inches more, and that's OK since they have storage in the doors, and need room for the doors to open wide and clear the adjacent countertops.However, over the years we've seen a tendency for refrigerators to get even deeper to handle the bigger capacity consumers have requested. For example, it's not uncommon for refrigerator brands to top out at a whopping 27 cu.ft. for a 36" wide freestanding refrigerator. Here's a giant 27.8 cu.ft. refrigerator from GE that is not only 35 1/2 inches wide, it also has a 34 3/4 inch depth (not including handles). That refrigerator will stick out about 10" beyond most cabinets. In many kitchens this is not a problem. Indeed, this 27.8 cu.ft. GE refrigerator is a popular model. But, if you have a galley kitchen, with cabinets on both side of a narrow aisle, you may not even be able to open the refrigerator and freezer doors all the way! Counter-depth refrigerators to the rescue. Unlike the full-depth refrigerators, counter-depth refrigerators are typically only 27"-28" deep. Of course, since they are slimmer than their bigger full-depth models they have less capacity. If kitchen space is an issue, it's definitely worth the trade-off. (I

New Refrigerators with Ice MakersGreat Selection at Universal Appliance and Kitchen CenterLooking for a new refrigerator? Bet you're going to want a built-in ice maker. An overwhelming percentage of refrigerator buyers select a refrigerator with an automatic ice maker. Most new homes today have a water line plumbed in the wall right behind the refrigerator space so why not?Here are a few things to think about when you decide on ice maker equipped refrigerators: Of course, as mentioned above, do you have a water line to connect your refrigerator so it can produce ice? If not, then you will need to connect to a water line and extend a water supply to the back of your refrigerator. Dispenser or no dispenser. It's very common to have a water and ice dispenser in the door, but there are other options. For example, you may choose a refrigerator which has no water dispenser at all, but is equipped with an ice maker only. In fact, many very expensive built-in refrigerators are non-dispenser models for esthetic reasons yet they typically will have an ice maker in the freezer. One or Two Ice makers. Yes, some refrigerators have two ice makers. Think of an ice maker and dispenser built right into the door, and a second ice maker in the bottom freezer compartment. You will need a replaceable water filter. Typically, these are built-in and last for 6 months or so. Your refrigerator will come equipped with one.Here's an example of a deluxe two

What's Inside the FridgeRefrigerators with Cameras and See Through DoorsOne of the most recent trends in refrigerators is adding cameras inside to let you know what is inside your refrigerator. Some manufacturers also have the low-tech solution of having a window on the door. We'll take a look (joke intended) below. The low tech window solution means that you have to be standing in front of your fridge to see what is inside, while the camera solution lets you check the refrigerator contents while you're in the grocery store or elsewhere:Window in the door refrigeratorsSub ZeroSub Zero has at least two versions of full-sized refrigerators with windows in the door which offer a view of what is inside. The Grand Pro 48 Refrigerator and the 36" Single Door Refrigerator with window. Both refrigerators are leaders in their class. The Grand Pro is a unique refrigerator which has the appearance of a refrigerator that you might find in the back of a restaurant. As you can see, it's a large 48" wide refrigerator, and one of the upper doors has a see through window so you can view what's inside. The 36" built-in glass door all refrigerator, BI-36RG has a full length window giving you view of the entire contents.Neither of these refrigerators have built-in cameras, but you can look at the contents to your heart's content as long as you are standing in the kitchen.FrigidaireThe new Frigidaire Professional refrigerator with a glass door

Why Buy a Refrigerator With A CameraSamsung, Dacor, and LG Refrigerators with Built-In CamerasWhy in the world would you want to buy a refrigerator with a built-in camera? GOOD QUESTION. Below, we'll explore 3 appliance brands that currently offer refrigerators with cameras. The obvious answer to the question of putting a camera in your refrigerator is so that you can know what's inside.The cameras not only take photos of the contents of your fridge, they're "smart cameras" that link with your smart phones so that you can view your refrigerator contents remotely. For example, when you're shopping you may want to check the status of your milk.The Dacor, LG, and Samsung cameras can each let you view the contents of your refrigerator from your smart phone and much more. Here are just a few highlights to whet your appetite:DacorThe Dacor column refrigerators are designed for the luxury refrigerator buyer who wants high tech with his or her luxury. The built-in cameras on the all new Dacor columns are just a highlight of the advanced features on these columns. Recently acquired by Samsung, Dacor is enjoying not just an infusion of resources, but also a healthy dose of advanced features completely new to the brand and to the luxury category in general. Their beautiful new column refrigerators are just one example. Ask your sales consultant at UAKC about the new Dacor Modernist line.LGKorean manufacturer LG created quite a stir when they introduced an early edition of high tech refrigerators with a

New Built-In Refrigerator IdeaOld Concept: Surprising New BenefitsElectrolux Twins at UAKCFor many years the folks at Frigidaire/Electrolux had been known for offering an All Refrigerator and an All Freezer. Selling them as a combination was not a new idea, but the concept was slow to catch on. However, this may be an example of an idea whose time has come. The current Electrolux Twins are part of the luxury collection of appliances in the Electrolux brand, and are being presented as a good choice for a built-in refrigerator/freezer.There is a lot to offer here:1. Full-size built-in refrigerator, and full size matching freezer (72" wide)While the products are mirror images of each other, and are clearly made to match, they are indeed separate and can be purchased that way if you just want an all refrigerator or an all freezer. The features are fully updated with LED lighting, slide out glass shelves, etc.There are trim kits (faux grills) available for both the top and bottom that are 72" wide, and visually tie the two units together. The doors are configured in the photo so that the refrigerator and the freezer each open in the center, just as you would expect on a traditional side-by-side refrigerator/freezer.2. Traditional compressor in the back.Standard built-in refrigerators have the compressor on the top requiring an 84" height. The Electrolux units have the compressor and machine compartment on the back in the bottom of the appliance, are easier to access and do not require the 84" height.