Common Kitchen Appliance Questions
Renovators Place Columnist
Oct 08, 2009
There are literally hundreds of kitchen appliances on the market, with many featuring computerized advances that greatly enhance the cooking experience. As you narrow your shopping list, here's a look at common appliance questions.
About the Author
Allison E. Beatty is a syndicated real estate writer who has been writing home improvement columns for 15 years.
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Should I buy stainless steel appliances? Stainless steel appliances have been all the rage during the past 5 to 7 years, as home owners try to create a commercial kitchen design. If you're debating whether to add them, remember there are two main categories:
- High-end stainless steel appliances with advanced cooking features -- great for those who like to cook and need precise cooking tools. Or, if you just want a high-end kitchen design, then industrial appliances can be the answer.
- Moderately priced kitchen appliances made in stainless steel. While you might pay 10 to 20 percent more for the stainless steel covering (versus white), the appliances are priced for the "average" homeowner.
- What are the pros and cons of a side-by-side refrigerator? This style of appliance, with the freezer next to the refrigerator, is used often in kitchen remodeling because it creates an upscale look. Many have a convenient, built-in water and ice dispenser. The downside is that the openings are more narrow than with a traditional refrigerator with the freezer on the top or bottom. This makes storing large platters a challenge.
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Should I buy a cooktop or a traditional range? The answer depends on how you use the kitchen, your desired kitchen design and whether you like having a wall oven. Some people like cooking with a wall oven and a separate cooktop because it eliminates the bending necessary with floor-style ranges. Also, some people prefer:
- Cooking with a gas cooktop and an electric oven, making it necessary to separate the two appliances.
- The convenience of having a cooktop on an island and a wall oven nearby.
- I've heard a lot about convection cooking. What are the benefits to this type of appliance and how much does it cost? The main benefit to convection cooking is that your food cooks more evenly, making those cookies, pies and casseroles more desirable. With convection cooking, a fan continuously circulates air through the oven, allowing the food to cook at lower temperatures. Another benefit is that the food cooks quicker. Many cooks add convection ovens during a kitchen remodeling and say it just takes some time to get used to adjusting your recipes. There are some small, countertop convection ovens priced around $200, with larger ovens priced from $450 to $800 or more.
About the Author
Allison E. Beatty is a syndicated real estate writer who has been writing home improvement columns for 15 years.
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