Choosing Kitchen Appliances

1. Choosing Kitchen Appliances

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Ranges or Stoves • Fuel • Electric - 240 volt electrical circuit • Gas - gas line and 120 volt electrical circuit

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. 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

13. Other major appliances • Warming and refrigerator drawers • Food waste disposer • Trash compactor

14. 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

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

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

17. 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

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