Replace old Appliances every 10 Years

They say that the kitchen is the heart of any house. Given that, a lifeless kitchen leads to a lifeless house and if you’re looking to spice up your home life, a kitchen makeover might just be the answer. If any of your major kitchen appliances are over 10 years old, chances are you’ll need to upgrade sometime soon. Older appliances, especially refrigerators and hobs, tend to cost you more because they are less energy efficient and their inefficiency sometimes increases with age. Time is money and older cookers, ovens or hobs will blow a lot of your time slowly preparing your meals. If you’re in the market for buying a new cooker, a separate oven or hob, a refrigerator or microwave, I think you’ll find the information below highly enlightening.

Ovens

If you don’t use an oven too often, would like to replace your existing one and  would prefer not to buy a new set of hobs or a standalone cooker, a single oven is the most cost effective solution for you. You have many options when considering buying a single oven–one option to consider is the under oven. Under ovens are single ovens that are built under a counter which opens up much needed counter space. If you have children or aren’t to keen on having to bend over every time you use your oven, the under oven does have its drawbacks. Children can easily harm themselves as the oven is within their reach and can be easily opened.

Electric ovens are especially popular because electric heat, as opposed to heat generated by has, tends to cook more evenly and proves a dry heat that can roast meat. Gas heat tens to create a bit of moisture so that it can’t roast food well. A built-in electric oven is one of the best kinds of single ovens available because it saves space and can provide even, dry heat.

If you do a lot of cooking with an oven and a single oven isn’t cutting it for you, a double oven will suit your needs. Two separate ovens allows you to cook twice as much at the same time. The options available for a double oven are simply a regular built in double oven or a built under double oven. A built in double oven is usually mounted within a wall while a built under double oven, like a built under single oven, is built under a counter. A built in oven means that you won’t have to bend over to pull food in and out of the oven and is much more child friendly, while a built under allows for more counter space.

Hobs

There are three major kinds of induction hobs: gas, electric and induction. Gas hobs have been the chef’s choice because it gives off a moist heat. That means that food will rarely be dry. Also, gas hobs allow for better temperature control as you can see just how much heat is being applied to the food. Electric hobs, like electric ovens, gives off a dry, even heat and is the most energy efficient model. Because if doesn’t rely on gas, you have much more flexibility in where to install your electric hob. Typically, electric hobs cook faster than gas hobs as well.

Induction hobs are a new technology that is quickly gaining widespread popularity. An induction hob uses electromagnetic technology to heat up pots and pans and here’s the best part–the hobs themselves don’t get hot. Instead they use electromagnetic technology (that I quite frankly can’t begin to explain) to heat up the cooking vessels themselves, so that the hobs remain quite cool and only your cookware gets hot. The benefits of the induction cooking is that it can literally cook twice as fast as an electric or gas alternative. Gas ovens only uses a little over a third of the energy it consumes to cooking food. Induction hobs uses 90% of the energy consumed to cook your food. That means that induction hobs are twice as fast and three times more energy efficient than gas and electric hobs. They are also incredibly safe because they don’t get hot and it doesn’t require gas.

And of course, there are drawbacks. You can only use cookware that consists of ferrous materials. If you use nonconducting cookware like glass or ceramic pots and pans, induction hobs won’t work. Copper or aluminium pans will not work as well. Induction hobs are also more expensive than electric or gas hobs.

Cookers

Cookers are the perfect all-in-one solution. You can get a brand new oven and hobs together and save yourself the hassle of having to shop for them separately. There is also an endless variety of cooker combos–you can get an electric hob/electric oven combo, a gas hob/electric oven combo, an electric hob/gas oven combo or a gas hob/gas oven combo. Induction hobs can also be thrown into the equation. You can also get a double oven configuration as well. For example, a Zanussi Electric Cooker offers an entirely electric solution with electric hobs, two electric ovens and a grill.

Refrigerators

There are two basic types of refrigerators: an integrated fridge freezer or a larder fridge. An integrated fridge freezer is a refrigerator/freezer combination. It’s an all-in-one configuration and its pricier than a larder fridge. A larder fridge is quite simply a refrigerator without a freezer and is understandably cheaper. Most of us need an icebox so the integrated fridge freezer is usually more cost effective than buying a larder fridge and a separate icebox.

Microwaves

And last, but certainly not least, a microwave is a smaller kitchen appliance that doesn’t require as much though as the larger, more expensive appliances. Like everything else, however, there are still options to consider. A built in microwave is the space saving, aesthetically pleasing option while a typical stand alone microwave is cheaper and takes up quite a bit of space, but gets the job done all the same. Whatever the choice, there’s not much science in picking a microwave beyond figuring out how much you want to spend and how much space you have to offer.

Did you know?

You can save yourself hundreds of dollars a year if you use energy efficient appliances. Your ovens, hobs and refrigerator might be costing you hundreds of dollars in energy bills that could be saved. Do your wallet and the environment a favour and invest in energy efficient appliances.

-Miljean

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