Kitchen Appliances – What You Need to Know

Whether you’re shopping for a new kitchen, or just replacing a few items, an appliance specialist can help you get the best results.

No kitchen is complete without a cooker. These versatile appliances can roast, bake, boil or grill to create a variety of dishes.

A range combines a cooktop (also known as a stovetop) and an oven in one unit. They are available in gas, electric and dual fuel models in various sizes.

Refrigerator

The refrigerator is a kitchen appliance where you store perishable foods in a cold temperature. Its name is sometimes shortened to fridge and it can range from the small cube used in college dorm rooms to keep six-packs of soda cool to a huge walk-in refrigeration unit at a restaurant where chefs store all the food ingredients they need for cooking.

The fridge works by sucking up heat with a cooling liquid and pumping it out the back of the refrigerator. Because of a law of physics called the conservation of energy, any heat that goes out the back of the fridge instantly reappears as cooler kitchen air, but in reverse because heat always moves from warmer to cooler temperatures.

It’s important to store all foods in the refrigerator at safe temperature levels, especially during power outages. If foods are left at hot temperatures for a long time they can become dangerous to eat. Keep an appliance thermometer in the fridge and use it to check the temperature. If you own a condominium, remember that the refrigerator and freezer are your personal property, so you’ll need to add them to your condo policy in case they are lost or stolen.

Dishwasher

A dishwasher uses one to three spray arms (on the bottom and possibly on the top too) to wash dishes, rinse them and then dry them. It’s a key appliance for most kitchens and offers a range of cycles to suit different kinds of messes.

The most common feature is a sensor that determines how much detergent to use based on the load size and soil level. Some models have a Heavy Cycle, which uses an additional burst of water and higher temperatures to tackle heavily soiled pots and pans.

Most dishwashers have a separate drain and hot water supply line. Before installing, check the dishwasher installation site for these connections and make sure there’s enough room to accommodate the unit. It’s also important to ensure there’s a power point nearby and that there are no plumbing problems with the hot water or drainage line.

Microwave

Known as the master of kitchen appliances, the microwave defrosts, bakes and cooks using electromagnetic energy. It has gained wide popularity and spawned many other products like microwavable foods and special utensils. This master cooking appliance can help you heat up the food quickly and save your time.

The microwave oven uses magnetron to generate electromagnetic waves that penetrate food and heat it up. These electromagnetic waves are absorbed by water molecules. These waves can also create hot spots in the food. To avoid this, the oven is made of metal to prevent these hot spots from occurring.

A microwave can be recessed into a wall for a sleek look or mounted above the stove. If the microwave will be used by more than one person, it’s best to install it between a refrigerator and sink for convenience and outside the main work triangle. This will minimize interference between casual snackers and the primary cook.