The Basics of Kitchen Appliances
In choosing kitchen appliances, there is a wide range of options available and it can be rather confusing. It is vital to find appliances that will fit your decor, lifestyle and budget.
The basic kitchen essentials are a refrigerator, dishwasher, stove and oven. For refrigerators, there are three configurations. The traditional top-mounted fridge which is the most common, the bottom-mounted fridge and the side-by-side models. The configuration and size of a refrigerator is measured in cubic feet. Add-ons like a frost-free feature, water dispenser, ice maker and built-in television are also available. Additional features will increase the cost of a refrigerator, so skip those that aren’t truly useful.
Dishwashers with convenience options like a delay timer and energy-saving features like an economy cycle or half-load capacity should be considered. Dishwashing drawers, which can be used in one- or two-drawer configurations, are a good choice for smaller kitchens and are often used as secondary dishwashers.
Most of today’s kitchens include more than one cooking appliance. These include ovens, cook tops and ranges. Most ranges today multitask which combines traditional cooking with convection. Ranges, which are usually gas or electric, also come in dual-fuel models that offer induction cooking in addition to gas. Some ovens also double as microwaves. Today’s appliances go beyond the essentials. Warming drawers, under-cabinet refrigeration for wine, built-in coffeemakers and trash compactors top the list of kitchen extras. After identifying the appliances needed for the kitchen, consider free-standing versus built-in models. Another option is whether to make appliances integral by concealing them behind cabinetry panels. In both cases, kitchen style and budget will play into these decisions.
Energy efficiency is very important nowadays. Energy Star-rated appliances are recommended because they save energy that translate to smaller utility bills.
Finally, gather specification sheets of all appliances that you are considering so that you can compare the features, designs, capacities and warranties among other things before you make your final decision.
