Kitchen Appliances

A shiny new kitchen design will require some shiny new appliances. Whether you are purchasing a new kitchen or updating your existing one, it is worth researching some of the new appliances available to see how much easier kitchen operation and organisation can be. Inevitably, some of the top-range versions will cost a lot more, but they will also work more effectively and last longer. If you have enough money to enable you to be selective, here are a few suggestions on some modern kitchen appliances.

To help you decide on the kind of appliance to install, consider how much use you will get out of it. There are an increasing number of professional ranges available for the home which can appeal to the frequent cook. Appliances come built in as part of a fitted kitchen, freestanding, or panelled so as to blend and flush deceptively into the rest of the kitchen. Drawer units can be added that act as freezer space, a wine cooler or even a warming oven.

Ovens:

kitchen appliances Professional style ovens that imitate the capabilities of those in restaurants are becoming widely available. Restaurant precision, durability and control can now be achieved in your own kitchen, topped off with a professional looking stainless steel appearance. This style appeals to keen cooks and those with large families, as well as those who just want their kitchen to look stylish and contemporary.

Convection ovens are a step up from conventional ovens in efficiency. In a convection oven the heat source warms the air that is nearest to it, when that air moves away and is replaced by cooler air the process repeats. The oven contains a fan which ensures that the air is evenly circulated and cooks the food faster. In conventional ovens, the heat comes from the bottom and so the air rises and falls with temperature change, giving an uneven cooking performance. Convection ovens are all electric.

The benefit of convection heating is that the food heats at the same time despite being on different shelves. Moreover, the presence of the fan means that odours from the different foods that can be cooked in the oven (such as fish, stews, or biscuits) will not interfere with each other. However, the increased performance of the oven may take a little getting used to. Convection ovens are more efficient at heating and so your food will take less time to cook. You should also be aware that the fans can sometimes be noisy.

Hobs:

kitchen appliances The more established gas hob is still considered the best at hob heating, although the electric and plated ceramic styles provide a greater aesthetic value. Electric hobs are usually cheaper than gas to purchase, but the cost of running them can be more expensive than gas in the long run. Ceramic hobs provide another surface when they are not in use, but it is hard to tell if they are still hot after use and so it is easy to get burnt accidentally.

The power of gas hobs is measured in British Thermal Units, whereby a single unit is equivalent to the amount of heat needed to increase the temperature of 1lb of water up 1 degree Fahrenheit. Hence the higher the BTU, the hotter the hob can get. For average use, 9000 BTU is usual, although some professionally influenced systems designed for domestic kitchens can reach up to 15,000 BTU.

Range cookers:

Range cookers that combine several cooking features in one compact unit are usually at their best when they are duel fuel; that way you have the speed and power of gas or the control and timing of electricity when you need it. Additional features available now include triple ring burners to accommodate large pots or woks, griddle surfaces for a healthier option of cooking your food, or electric programme timers which start and finish cooking automatically so that dinner can be ready for you when you get home.

Cooking ventilation is a vital assistance for reducing the amount of smoke, grease and gaseous by products in your home. This can be achieved in two ways; with an updraft or a downdraft vent.

Updraft vent hood - The hood is positioned above the range or the hob, and either pulls up the air by means of a fan, passing it through filters and extracting it outside; or it pulls the air into its filters to be re-circulated back round the kitchen as clean air.The vent hood is the most effective as it catches all the upwardly rising smoke, but it can be tricky to clean. Extra attention should be given to cleaning re-circulating hoods as they will clog unless the filters are regularly changed. On the lower end models the fans have a tendency to be noisy.

Downdraft vent - Built into a bottom cupboard, the downdraft vent draws down the air through vents on the sides and back of the hob. Separate blower vents that rise from the hob and lower after use are also available. These are primarily for island units where hood vents cannot be installed, but can also be fitted as a more discreet alternative to the hanging hood. The height restriction however means that steam from taller pots and pans are harder to extract, as is anything that is not right by the vent.

Fridge freezers:

Choosing a fridge freezer is a decision heavily determined by the kitchen space available. Separate fridge and freezer units obviously provide the greatest amount of room in each and are the most easily accessible for storage. They do take up a good amount of space this way, and are the least energy efficient. The top-freezer model is the cheapest to buy but often has the least room and is trickier to defrost. Bottom-freezer units give better fridge access, but it eliminates the possibility of the ice and water dispenser feature.

The biggest chore associated with the maintenance of freezer appliances is the periodical defrosting required to keep them working effectively. However, there are now a number of brands available that have eradicated the need to defrost by constantly circulating the air to avoid build up. It is also possible to buy "zoned" fridge freezers which have different temperature sections that keep your foods fresh according to their individual requirements.

Dishwasher:

kitchen appliances Energy efficiency is the key phrase in modern designs of dishwasher. Slimline models aim for low water consumption and use only around 1.3kw/hr. There are also measures taken against the build up of limescale and the amount of noise usually associated with these machines. Additional features include adjustable baskets and shelf arrangements that will accept most size and shape loads. Tilting upper baskets allow for large dinner plates to be washed on the lower shelf, for example.

Dishwashers are constantly being improved in their appearance as well as their function. A freestanding stainless steel dishwasher will perfectly complement the design addict's stainless steel oven, hob, and fridge. For a less eye-catching model, fully integrated models are also available that blend discreetly into fitted kitchen designs.