Without
appliances, your kitchen would be pretty bare and not very functional. From
everyday cooking to washing clothes and storing food, a well-equipped kitchen
is crucial for every household. In today’s modern world there’s always a new
and useful appliance finding its way onto the market, making life that little
bit easier as we juggle the day to day running of the home. But as we all know,
appliances can be expensive to run and finding the right balance between luxury
and efficiency can be difficult. Luckily, this blog is here to help you out!
If you’re
moving into your first apartment or house, you may need a little more knowledge
about which appliances you need to set up your kitchen, or perhaps you’re
looking for a way of enhancing your kitchen while ensuring all your appliances
are energy-saving. Read on, for a detailed overview of all these areas.
Which appliances should every
kitchen
have?
Kitchens are
an area of the home mainly used for storing, preparing and cooking food, so
it’s important that you have high-quality appliances that can do this. Here we
explain the appliances every home should have.
Oven
How do you
expect to cook food without an oven? As arguably the most important appliance
in the kitchen, the oven is used daily for grilling, baking or roasting your
food. It’s important that you don’t go for price over quality when choosing
your oven, of course, stick to your budget but make sure you do your research
before buying.
You also
need to think about the benefits of gas and electric ovens or whether you want
both - a gas hob but electric oven perhaps. Do you want a single oven or double
oven? Could you benefit from a fan-assisted oven that cooks more evenly? Would
you like your oven standing or fitted at a height? These are all questions you
should ask yourself, but nevertheless, a good oven of some sort is an essential
appliance you need in your kitchen installation.
Fridge Freezers
Today, most
fridges are built with a freezer section included so you have the convenience
of accessing all your food quickly, instead of having a separate freezer in the
garage or another part of the home. Modern fridges also come in a variety of
designs, so you can find something in the right colour that will suit your
decor. Depending on the size of your kitchen you may choose a side by side
fridge with the freezer opening on one side and the regular fridge on the
other, or a bottom mount fridge where the freezer sits underneath the fridge
separated by top and bottom door.
Microwaves
For
defrosting food, heating things up quickly and speedy cooking, microwaves are a
handy appliance. According to OVO Energy
, microwave cooking is
the cheapest way of cooking, so having one to could a positive effect on your
annual utility costs. Microwaves have a number of settings designed for
particular food items such as pizzas and curries so every meal will be heated
to perfection.
Modern and energy-saving features: How can you
enhance your kitchen appliances?
So, we’ve
explained some of the must-have appliances for your kitchen, but how can you
make them more modern and energy-efficient? The majority of all white goods
will come with a energy rating
, ranging from G to
A+++, this will give you an idea of how much energy each item uses and how this
will your bills. In this section, we’ll
explain modern extras that will enhance your kitchen, as well as some
appliances that will help save energy.
Oven extractors
Extractor
fans or cooker hoods sit on the wall above the oven and have many uses in the
kitchen. Their main purpose is to extract the steam, heat and odour from the
kitchen, so your home isn’t filled with lingering cooking smells.
Smart coffee makers
What’s
better than starting your morning with a freshly brewed coffee? If you can’t
live without your coffee machine then upgrade to a smart machine that can make
your life a little bit easier. Many modern machines can be controlled by your
smartphone, meaning you can set a timer for when you’d like your coffee to be
brewed so you can drink it as soon as it’s ready. This will also help you save
energy as you won’t need to reboil the water if it’s gone cold.
Eco cycles
It’s always
worth purchasing appliances that have an eco-cycle such as dishwashers and
washing machines. Eco settings usually aim to use less water at lower
temperatures, this is great if you’re washing clothes that are not heavily
soiled or when you’re only washing a half load.
Additional tips for making your kitchen more
efficient
There are
also ways that you can make your kitchen more energy-efficient just by changing
the way you operate in this space, and by making sensible decisions about your
appliances. Read on for some more top tips.
●When cooking, cover your pans using
their lids as not doing so allows heat to escape, making your food cook slower
and therefore, uses more energy.
● Purchase appliances that are the
right size. For example, buying a huge fridge for a household of two people is
not energy efficient, as you simply won’t need one of that capacity.
●Make sure you turn your appliances
off when they’re not in use such as washing machines, kettles and microwaves.
●Batch cooking your meals is a great
way of saving money on your food bill as well as saving energy. Reheating meals
in the microwave such as bolognese, curry or chilli uses a lot less energy than
cooking it from scratch.
What luxury appliances can enhance your kitchen
design?
Not only
should your kitchen be functional, but like other areas of your home, you can
also make it luxurious. Below are some luxury appliances that could enhance
your kitchen for the better.
Wine coolers and racks
Who doesn’t
enjoy a cold glass of wine in the evening? If you do, then having a handy wine
cooler will keep your wine at the right temperature without taking up space in
your main fridge, allowing you to see exactly which wines you have in stock.
Plate warmers
The main
objective of plate warmers is to prevent your food from getting cold. If you’re
cooking a meal and each item cooks at a different speed, you can dish one item
up once it’s ready and keep it hot while you wait for the rest - this is great
if you enjoy hosting dinner parties.
Blenders and mixers
It may not
seem like much of a luxury, but if you bake regularly then all that mixing by
hand can get a little tedious. Mixers will cut your workload in half, by doing
the hard bit for you and mixing things more evenly than you may be able to do
yourself. Similarly, blenders are great for making smoothies and sauces - grab
the remaining fruit from your fruit bowl and you’ve got yourself a tasty
morning drink, a practical way of not wasting food.
Bells Builders Merchants: The experts in modern
kitchen design and high-quality plumbing parts
With over 95
years of experience in bathroom and kitchen design, Bells
Builders Merchants
are experts in installation, plumbing
supplies and equipment, making us one of the most reliable kitchen suppliers in
London. Perhaps you’re moving into a new home and want the perfect kitchen or
maybe your current kitchen simply doesn’t match your needs anymore, whatever
your reason we can help. Contact us
today for more
information.
