Choosing Kitchen Appliances

Safety & Service  Safety seals  Manufacturers hire independent agencies to test their appliances for safety  Underwriter laboratory

Safety & Service cont.  Warranties: seller’s promise that a product will be free of defects and will perform as specified  Full warranty - states the issuer will repair or replace a faulty product free of charge  Limited warranty - states conditions under which the issuer will service, repair, or replace an appliance  Service contract: is like an insurance policy for major appliances that you can buy from an appliance dealer  You have to pay extra and if you don’t use it you lose it

Safety & Service cont.  Energy labeling  Energy guide labels: yellow tags show an estimate of yearly energy use for major appliances  ENERGY STAR label: energy efficient label

Major kitchen appliances  Size and style of appliances depends on their needs  Trend and technology  Energy efficiency  High-tech electronics  Professional look - smooth, stainless steal

Ranges or Stoves  Fuel  Electric volt electrical circuit  Gas - gas line and 120 volt electrical circuit

Ranges or Stoves cont.  Styles  Free standing range - finished side, can be open on one side, most common  Slide-in range - sits on floor, snugly between two cabinets  Drop-in range - sit on a cabinet base  Combination ovens: can do to types of cooking, conventional and convection  Convection cooking: uses a stream of heated air to bake and roast foods

Ranges or Stoves cont.  Range features  Griddle, grill, and rotisserie units  Thermostatically controlled cooking units  Super-hot ovens - helps with browning  Ventilation - draw away heat and orders  Down draft vent: fan mounted under the cook top  Automatic cleaning and continuous cleaning ovens

Ranges or Stoves cont.  Using and care for ranges  Porcelain tops - do not drop heavy objects, do not use cold water on the hot top - will crack and break

Microwave ovens  Defrost, cook, or reheat food  Microwaves: high frequency energy wave  Wave pattern: repeated cycle in which this energy is emitted  Stirrer fan - distributes the microwaves  Countertop and over-the-range microwaves  Features - power levels, turntable, automatic settings, add time, child lock

Refrigerators  Top-mount, side-by-side, bottom-mount single-door  Frost free, manual-defrost, automatic ice-maker, temperature-controlled compartments  Freezers  Chest or upright

Dishwasher  Built-in or portable  Wash cycles, adjustable racks, delay-start, food disposal timer, sound insulation, no-heat drying  Dishes need to face the water  Empty the drain into the garbage

Other major appliances  Warming and refrigerator drawers  Food waste disposer  Trash compactor

Portable Kitchen Appliances  Trends and technology  Smart appliances - one appliance talks to another  Cordless and under-the-cabinet  Purchase consideration  More than one use  Who big or small  How often will it be used  General use and care  Read the manufacturer’s instruction booklet

Portable Kitchen Appliances cont.  Toasters and toaster oven  Electric mixer - hand held or stand mixer  Blender - do not incorporate air into the food

Portable Kitchen Appliances cont.  Food processor - does mixing and blending  Coffeemaker - percolator and automatic drip  Electric can opener

Portable Kitchen Appliances cont.  Electric skillets - high dome cover  Slow cooker - to make one-dish meals, soups, and stews  Bread machines - mix and knead bread dough

Portable Kitchen Appliances cont.  Pasta maker  Cappuccino  Electric kettle  Woks  Electric knives  Coffee grinder  Ice cream maker  Waffle maker