The purchase of electrical appliances is not, although it may seem like it, a simple action. Today there are thousands of options and features that will complicate your choice. We recommend that you follow these tips to improve your decision when choosing kitchen appliances.
12 tips for buying kitchen appliances
Find out before making the purchase . Today the internet offers access to all kinds of information, from user advice or technical information to consumer opinions. The ideal is to complement this information with visits to stores to see what they can offer you and consult specialized magazines.
Before choosing, think about the use you are going to give it . You may have seen a yogurt maker or a bakery that you have loved, but are you really going to use it? It can also happen that you only use the oven very occasionally and that it goes unnoticed the rest of the year. So do you need a state-of-the-art oven or just a good oven that works when you want to use it and has the basic functions?
Don’t be afraid to use appliances from different brands . There is no rule that says that all kitchen appliances must be of the same brand and with the same finish. You can experiment and even get a better combination of functionalities with which to cover your needs.
Decide what you need and how much you are willing to pay . Before going to buy or make a final choice, it is advisable to make a list of the essential functionalities that the new appliances in your kitchen must cover and how much you would be willing to pay. As we already mentioned, there are a large number of options, many of them can satisfy needs that we do not have while raising the final price.
Do not oversize the purchase . It is very likely that there are electrical appliances that you will need, such as a washing machine or a refrigerator. These appliances are sold with different capacities and if we are a small family it is likely that we will never finish filling a large freezer, lose useful space and have an additional cost in electricity. Mydeal Reviews
Gas or electricity . When choosing some kitchen appliances, especially the hob or the water heater, the cost of energy can play an important role. Today gas would be cheaper than electricity. However, it has some drawbacks such as the need for an installation and in the event that we use cylinders, we have to be careful not to run out since we run the risk of being unable to use our appliances.
Quality pays . If we opt for a kitchen appliance from a renowned manufacturer that uses quality materials and technology, the price will go up. Remember also that cheap is often expensive.
It never hurts to try to get a better price . If we are going to buy all the appliances for our new kitchen in the same establishment, we will not lose anything trying to negotiate a discount.
Do not forget about the additional costs . Although the most typical additional expense is transportation, this is not the only one. Hiring someone to install the appliance, some cable or hose, or even changes to the plumbing system are frequent expenses and do not have to be irrelevant.
The Guarantee . The law requires manufacturers to offer a minimum two-year warranty in Spain and Europe. You can find manufacturers who offer more years or offer extended warranties by adding a small amount to the invoice. When choosing electrical appliances this is a relevant issue not only because we make sure that after the first two years, if there is a problem, the manufacturer will be responsible, also for what is known as programmed obsolescence , according to which there are manufacturers who design their products for that have a specific useful life.
Measure twice and buy one . It is very common to find buyers who do not know how to answer questions such as how big is the hole for the microwave ?. It must also be taken into account that some decisions affect others, for example, if we opt for a larger oven, we may have to choose a smaller dishwasher.
Seek professional advice . Even if you think you already have things clear, it is always advisable to hear the opinion of a person with experience and knowledge on the matter. Their knowledge can guide us towards a better option or make us see a mistake that we could have made.
What should I know to choose a refrigerator?
Choosing the refrigerator is perhaps choosing the most important appliance in a home. This must meet a series of requirements:
Energy efficiency is especially important when choosing a refrigerator. This will always be on and represents an average of 30% of the energy consumption of a home. Buying a high-efficiency refrigerator can even be seen as an investment since in a few years its cost will be recovered through savings in the electricity bill.
It is important, as we already mentioned, to measure the space available for the fridge since these can be found in different sizes. We must also pay attention to the opening of the door, that is, if there are elements that can block it.
No frost. These freezers not only do not generate ice, they avoid having to defrost and also bad odors.
Today there are systems that allow to extend the life of stored products, especially fruit and vegetables.
Needs are changing and not everything we buy will always be of the same size. Make sure that the storage is flexible, that you can move the shelves, the door balconies and any other compartments.
Types of refrigerators. Normally, the number of doors and / or opening systems is used to differentiate the types of refrigerators.
1 door, usually for small fridges with a small section for the freezer in the same compartment. They are the least efficient and their most frequent use is in apartments and hotels.
2-door. With the freezer up or with the freezer down (Combi). They are the most frequent.
American or side by side. Usually with two vertical doors. On the one hand they are very efficient and have a lot of space, but on the other they also take up a lot.
How to choose a kitchen hood
When it comes to choosing appliances for a kitchen, the hood usually takes a backseat as it is not one of the most striking appliances. However, it fulfills a series of very relevant functions, including absorbing smoke, odors and avoiding condensation.
Evacuation or recirculation? Evacuation consists of expelling the air out of the kitchen, for this it is necessary that there is a system of tubes that allows it to do so. This is the traditional way and also the most effective. Recirculation consists of passing the air that the hood absorbs through a series of filters. The latter is ideal for kitchens where evacuation systems cannot be installed, although on the other hand power is lost and the filters also need to be replaced periodically.
Installation. There are basically three types, fixed to the wall, the most traditional. Those that are inserted into a kitchen cabinet and then removed when cooking. And finally those that are installed on the ceiling, ideal for kitchen islands.
Power. This is an important variable, which of course it is preferable to oversize than to fall short. The power required will largely depend on the use to be made of the kitchen, the number of fires, the length of the extraction pipes, the height at which the hood is installed, etc.
What are the main characteristics of the ovens
The oven is one of those kitchen appliances that are used a lot or are hardly used. This is a question that will depend to a large extent on family habits. This can be a first criterion when choosing an oven, that is, if the use is minimal, it would be logical to opt for a basic model with small dimensions, since otherwise space, functions and money would be wasted.
When the use of the oven is more intensive is when we must make ourselves consider more options:
Energy saving . It is always advisable to purchase efficient kitchen appliances, however this is an issue that is gaining importance as the use of the appliance increases. The difference in consumption between an efficient oven and one that is not efficient can reach 50%.
Cleaning . Cleaning the oven is an important issue since they accumulate grease and food remains and are not always easy to clean. In this sense, manufacturers have presented interesting developments in recent years. The pyrolytic ovens for cleaning allow reaching very high temperatures, around 500 degrees, carbonizing the fat and the remains. After the completion of the process and cooling, the oven can be cleaned with a cloth.
Ventilation . The air distribution inside the oven when it is operating plays a very important role. It affects both the result when cooking, distributing the temperature better, and from the point of view of efficiency.
Preheating . The oven’s rapid preheat function saves energy and time. This is something very interesting in homes where this kitchen appliance is used intensively.
Opening of doors and extraction of trays . It is a question of comfort and avoiding burns. There are ovens with sliding systems for the extraction of trays that make it easy to remove the food when the oven is still hot, either to serve it or to add something to what we are preparing.
Cold door . It consists of systems that maintain the oven door at low temperatures. This is a very interesting feature for households with young children.
Criteria for Choosing Microwaves
Microwaves, over the years, have become essential kitchen appliances. Its uses do not stop growing and over time they are replacing other large and small appliances.
Here are some features that can help you choose:
With or without grill . If we are one of those who use the microwave only to heat and defrost, do not hesitate, a microwave without grill. However, if you also want to cook the grill, it will allow you to cook, grill or even steam. A good microwave with grill can make you forget about the oven and also save energy.
Combined with the oven. To replace the oven, we only need to be able to heat with heat or hot air. This is why combi microwaves have arrived. They are ideal for those who need to make the most of space.
Power. Don’t choose a high-powered microwave if you’re not going to use it at full power. It is a question of efficiency.
Advanced features . Each manufacturer offers additional functions to their premium models. Take a look you may find them very interesting. One of the most striking is the crisp or fryer function . With this you can even fry parents, which can make you forget about another small appliance.