The door doesn’t close properly anymore. It takes twenty minutes to boil a pot of water. The dishes come out sort of clean. These are a few of the things we tolerate from our kitchen appliances.
The reality is that when we finally decide the time has come to purchase new appliances, the process can seem incredibly overwhelming. There are so many options to choose from, where do we even start?
In the past, I’ve shared tips about cooking with kids in the kitchen. I’ve talked about the best tools that help getting kids involved in food prep run smoothly. What I haven’t looked at is perhaps the most important part – the appliances you use. A faulty stovetop can be ineffective and unsafe for kids to work with. Appliances that aren’t fully functioning can make spending time in the kitchen frustrating and clean up exhausting.
I was fortunate enough to attend an event with the folks at Maytag for the launch of their new hardworking fingerprint-resistant stainless steel kitchen appliances and extra-large capacity top-load washer and extra-large capacity dryer last week. The event reminded me of how important deciding which appliances to purchase really is. There are so many things to take into consideration. So, when the time comes to purchase new appliances keep in mind these tips for buying kitchen appliances for your family.
Tips for Buying Kitchen Appliances
Who Are You? No, this isn’t a “meaning of life” type question. What are your actual needs in the kitchen? Do you LOVE cooking? Do you LOVE baking? Do you HATE cooking? Does your family eat a tonne of fresh foods? Does your family rely on healthy dinners from the freezer? How do you really use your kitchen? Every family has different priorities. Before you make any decisions take inventory of how your family uses your current appliances. Make a wish list of things you would like to be able to do with your appliances.
Size Matters Yep, size matters in the kitchen. You can’t host Thanksgiving if the turkey-roasting pan won’t fit inside the oven. A busy family of six will need plenty of room in the fridge. How many loads of dishes do you have to do every day? More space means fewer loads. Think about the interior capacity of the appliances…will it meet your family’s needs?
Efficiency Let’s face it, energy prices are not going down. It is important to keep in mind the efficiency rating of the appliances you want to purchase. What will your appliance cost you in the long run? Efficiency also has to do with using appliances that work smarter. A more efficient dishwasher will use less energy by cleaning your dishes faster and more effectively. Every load of dishes counts.
Get A Measuring Tape So, you know the exact spot where the fridge is going to go – check. The fridge you love will fit in the spot like a glove – check. Will the fridge actually fit in your front door? Take your measuring tape through your house and follow the path your appliance will have to take to get into the kitchen. Maybe you will need to remove a door or a handrail to get it in. It is much better to know in advance of the appliance arriving, than having to leave your new fridge on the front porch because it simply doesn’t fit.
Clean Up You want to spend time with your family enjoying the food that comes from your appliances, not cleaning your appliances. The new line of kitchen appliances from Maytag features fingerprint-resistant stainless steel. The coating is baked right into the stainless steel…not a spray that might peel or fade. Imagine a fingerprint free fridge, stove or dishwasher…dare to dream. If the kids are going to be spending more time helping in the kitchen, making clean up easier makes sense.
Room For Growth So, you are a family of three right now. That little one is going to grow up and you may even have another kid, or two in the future. Quality appliances should last you for many years. Will your appliances grow with your family? When your kids are young, dedicate the lower drawer to healthy snacks for the kids. When the kids grow up, adjust the temperature and use the drawer as storage for wine bottles.
What Else Will You Need It might not be immediately evident, but don’t forget to consider the importance of the exhaust fan for your new stove. If you want to avoid all the grease and grime that can accumulate on the surfaces in your kitchen….you need an appropriately sized hood fan. Yep, it’s not only about style, the power of your stovetop will indicate the power of the fan you need. Take it from me…open shelving in my kitchen…our hood fan was one of our most important purchases.
It’s time to kick that faulty fridge to the curb. Stop putting up with a stove that takes 30 minutes to preheat. New appliances will inspire you to spend more time in the kitchen, making food to share with your family and friends. Invite your kids into the kitchen to learn skills that will last them a lifetime.
Do you have any tips for purchasing kitchen appliances? What have you learned about making this important purchase?
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