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Review of the Latest Appliance FinishesChoices of Appliance Finishes Abound at UAKCThe last half of the 20th century began with most appliances having porcelain enamel on steel cabinets. Porcelain was durable and easy to clean, but the manufacturing process was expensive, porcelain was subject to chipping, and was not environmentally friendly. Eventually, porcelain enamel disappeared in appliance cabinets to be replaced by steel with powder coat painted exteriors or stainless steel. In the last decade, we've begun to see some different choices in appliance exteriors. While painted surfaces remain a standard for base appliances, more expensive stainless steel is enormously popular. In recent years, we've seen new smudge-proof Frigidaire and fingerprint resistant stainless steel in Maytag brand and others. They're still stainless steel, but they have properties that eliminate or greatly reduce the possibility of smudges and fingerprints. European luxury brand, Miele, has introduced a fingerprint resistant steel called CleanTouch, as a replacement to stainless steel.Even more recently, Black Stainless Steel has hit the appliance market and appears to be taking off. Black Stainless Steel is essentially stainless steel base metal with black painted finish. KitchenAid was the first to Black Stainless Steel, and it seemed to take off slowly. But now, it is available in more brands and seems to be rapidly taking hold as an alternative to the shiny stainless steel we see everywhere. Here are some of the brands that are now offering Black Stainless Steel appliances:Brands offering Black Stainless SteelKitchenAidSamsungLGDacorMaytagFrigidaire

Latest Appliances at Universal Appliance and Kitchen CenterBlack Stainless SteelA quick look around the major appliance displays at the January 2017 *IBS/KBIS confirmed that the new color/finish Black Stainless is THE big trend in appliance colors. Of course, stainless steel is not going anywhere. In a recent survey, 72% of respondents opted for stainless steel. Truth is, there are tons of appliance colors out there. The custom high end range company BlueStar offers several hundred colors, many of them quite stunning. Luxury appliance brands such as Viking, Bertazzoni, La Cornue, and others also offer their appliances in a variety of colors. But for many of us these brands might not be realistic options, and the bright colors aren't for everyone.Voilà! Black Stainless is here to save they day. It's new and it's different. It really looks classy, but I wouldn't call it bold or risky. After all, it's a combination of the two most popular appliance colors. As near as I can determine KitchenAid was the first major appliance brand to offer Black Stainless steel. Recently, Samsung jumped on the Black Stainless bandwagon, followed now by Whirlpool, Frigidaire, GE, Electrolux, and LG. I do know that some supplementary brands are on board with this new finish such as Sharp (microwaves) and at least one of the vent hood manufacturers, Zephyr.I think Black Stainless looks good in the photos, but even better when you see it and touch it. Believe it

Special Microwaves for a Special Person Available at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center All microwave ovens are not created equal. While there are microwave ovens that are good only for reheating coffee or popping corn, there are also microwave ovens with very nice features that make the microwave oven an everyday appliance with many advanced cooking capabilities. Here are three that you can get from Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center (UAKC) that are priced right for a premium appliance. Great for a special Holiday gift. Sharp Microwave Convection Oven R820BW Microwave with enhanced browning and crisping Enhanced browning and crisping are possible in this convection microwave oven. That's because only the Grill 2 Convection has "double" grills that emit radiant heat both over and under food. Additional Features 0.9 cu. ft. Convection Microwave bakes, roasts, grills 12-3/4" Carousel (R) turntable holds most 9" x 13" dishes Easy-to-use 12-digit 2-color display 35 cooking options, plus CompuDefrost Stainless Steel Rack 20-1/2" W x 12-1/8" H x 19-3/4" D Silver exterior, Stainless Steel interior KitchenAid Microwave Convection Oven KCMC1575BSS Width: 21.75"Depth: 20.44 *KitchenAid products ship only within 150 mi. of store location 1200W Microwave/1500W Convection 10 Power Levels Electronic Controls w LED Display 9 Quick Touch & 4 Sensor Cycles Roast and Grill Functions This countertop microwave oven operates at 1200 watts of microwave power and includes a separate 1500 watt convection element that allows you to use this microwave as a true second oven. In addition to convection, you can also grill

Finding the Ideal Location for Your Wall Oven Many customers spend hours on the internet, and in showrooms researching wall ovens for their new kitchen. Should it be a single oven, double oven, or combination oven/microwave? Is convection important? What about steam? HOLD ON!! First things first! You need to have a kitchen layout, before you begin the selection process. Where will the oven or ovens be located, and are you going to have the requisite power available? Not too high nor too low, but just right for YOU. Unfortunately, wall ovens too often get placed either too high or too low for convenient operation. Since it's a new installation, why should you settle? You don't want an oven control panel so high that you need to be on your tiptoes to operate it. Nor do you want one so low that your back goes into spasms every time you place an item on the lower rack. Take a moment before deciding on the perfect oven to find the perfect location for the oven. New oven designs are available so that you can also choose among traditional drop down oven doors, side swing doors, or even French doors. Click below for blogs covering: Appliance trends French door and side swing ovens Would one of these new options work well for you? Here are a few choices to consider: Microwaves are now often finding new places to fit in the kitchen. Counter height is ideal, but not always practical. Undercounter is

Appliances that Fit Under Your Countertops Visit Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center Not long ago the only appliances placed underneath a counter in most homes were the dishwasher and perhaps a trash compactor. Now, there are a host of appliances configured to fit underneath the counter. In fact, it's hard to think of a major appliance category that does not have products configured to work under a countertop. Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center has a huge selection of appliances from many brands that will fit under your countertop. Among the reasons to install an appliance under a counter, would be not only to save counter space, but also for accessibility. It's also good to remember that the cabinets above your countertop are only 12" deep, not the 24" that most appliances are designed to occupy. Microwave ovens are no longer relegated to the countertop or over the range. Today, microwave oven drawers open and close at the push of a button and are perfect for undercounter installation. In addition, the big kitchen refrigerator is being replaced or at least supplemented with refrigerator and freezer drawers.Sub Zero has recently introduced a host of new undercounter refrigeration appliances that are also designed for living spaces other than the kitchen. The phrase that is being used is "point-of-use" appliances. For example, it might be a good idea to have a refrigerator in a recreation area stocked with snacks and drinks for the kids. Entertainment areas are being equipped

Avoid These 3 Mistakes When Buying AppliancesThey see a lot of customers every day at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center, and most purchases are straightforward. But, once in a while there are just situations where appliance applications and usages don't quite make sense. Here are 3 of them:1. Don't buy an Energy Star refrigerator and then hook up the old energy wasting refrigerator in the garage.One of the major differences between refrigerators built today and those that date back to the 90's or before is energy usage. Many Energy Star refrigerators today will use about the same amount of energy as a light bulb. It's really remarkable just how much electricity you're saving with that new refrigerator. Why then would you buy a new energy efficient refrigerator and then take that 20 year old energy hog refrigerator and plug it in in your garage where it will run day and night? The old refrigerator needs to be taken out of service, and the refrigerant needs to be properly discharged from the unit and recycled. Ask your salesperson at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center (UAKC) about this.2. Don't buy a new dishwasher with a protruding handle for a corner location. The adjacent cabinet drawer will not open.Locating a dishwasher in a corner cabinet. is generally a bad idea. Even worse is putting a dishwasher with a handle in a corner location so that the handle prevents the

Installing a microwave in a kitchen Island. Utilizing an island for kitchen appliances is often just a case of good space planning. Designers are increasingly installing microwave ovens in the kitchen island. Microwave ovens can be problematic against a wall where upper cabinets a) may not make sense ergonomically, and b) don't fit in a standard 12" deep cabinet. The island turns out to be a logical and convenient location for a microwave oven. The easily accessible microwave oven under the counter is a good example of universal design at work. Consumers can choose from an inexpensive countertop microwave with trim kit, or if they don't like the side swing door, several manufacturers offer built-in options with drop down doors. Some companies even have microwave ovens which have a motorized drawer. Here are three brands that offer good options for island microwaves: KitchenAid KitchenAid offers a choice of built-in microwave ovens that can work nicely in an island. The oven below is a 24" wide oven that comes with a 27", and 30" trim kit so that it can work in a 24", 27", or 30" cabinet. KitchenAid also offers a very powerful built-in Micro-Convection oven that is available in a 240v. version.Sharp Sharp is a leader in microwave ovens and pioneered the microwave drawer. They also source microwave drawers for a number of other leading brands. The Sharp microwave drawer is available in both a 27" and 30" version. [caption id=""

Remember the pressure cooker? Ever had a rice steamer? Cooking with steam has been around for a long time, yet major appliances have begun adding steam features to their ovens and ranges as if they'd discovered something new. Ovens with steam are available in countertop versions, wall ovens, or in ranges. Brands include Sharp, Miele, Thermador, KitchenAid, Gaggenau, Wolf, and Viking. Most people are probably familiar with steamed vegetables or at least steamed rice. In addition to the obvious benefits of the freshness of steamed vegetables, cooking quickly at lower temperatures also helps retain important vitamins and minerals. Proponents of steam cooking also point out the benefit of reduced fat content. Fat helps keep food moist, but that's not necessary when using steam, so less fat and no basting is necessary. Gourmet Chefs will marvel at the ability to use a steam oven to make stunning creme brule without a water bath, or to bake fresh moist salmon avoiding the fish en papillote (parchment) regimen. The rest of us will marvel at how good leftovers taste when they can be re-heated without drying out. For more information on cooking with steam contact the experts at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center in Studio City at 12050 Ventura Boulevard PH 877 696-2982. They've not only got the best selection, but also the lowest prices.