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Kitchens
> Appliances

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Finding your way through the maze of products available for kitchens can at times seem impossible. To narrow the choice some major factors should be considered:

the design theme ~ country, art deco, modern, federation etc.
The cost ~ European versus locally made appliances
the functionality ~ products like kitchens themselves should not only look good but work well and suit your individual needs
the type of cooking you prefer and number of people you cook for

Many varied products are now available and if economics and space allow they can often increase the efficiency of the way you cook and expand your horizons. Indoor BBQ grills and wok burners are very popular. Grills are quick, efficient and versatile but need to be well vented.

Grills are quick, efficient and versatile but need to be well vented. Grills can be installed as individual units where they are usually downdrafted or incorporated into a cooktop unit which will necessitate a particularly efficient overhead ventilation unit.

Cooktops too come in many styles and combination of styles all offering the consumer different opportunities and advantages:

-electric coil elements and solid plates gas — a fast traditional cooking method with good control

-ceramic tops (including halogen) which feature an electric element under glass with a smooth surface which is easy to clean

-induction — heat is transferred by magnetic field to the pan so only area under the pan gets hot and only while a pan sits on it. The induction method is very quick and control is instantaneous

The choice will probably come down to the service available to your home (gas or electric), the cost and the type of cooking you are wishing to do, as well as the individual design of the appliance.

Dishwashers can usually be integrated into the kitchen cabinets with a panel of the cabinets fixed to the front of the machine to either partly or fully conceal it. In full integration you must open the dishwasher to access control panels, while partial integration leaves the control panel exposed.

Dishwashers seem to offer many features these days. European and locally made products are available the main difference being price and some extra features. Decide which features suit your lifestyle — there is no use in paying for extras you will never use. Popular features include low temperature washes for delicate ware, adjustable racks, removable racks, preset timing, extra drying cycles, extra quiet operation. Some kitchen designers recommend placing the dishwasher higher off the ground built into a cabinet to prevent repetitive bending but this has not been taken up to any great degree in Australia. A two drawer dishwasher is now available where one drawer can be used on its own for small loads.

Refrigerators too can be integrated into the kitchen cabinets such that the fridge appears to be in a cupboard. Fridges are available in many shapes, sizes, styles and models and choice will depend on the size of the family, the type of cooking done in the home and the cost. Allow for the future needs of the family too, and think about whether large storage freezer space will be necessary. Decide whether one unit is preferable, top and bottom doors or side by side doors, or perhaps a separate freezer and fridge unit altogether. Ice makers are a popular extra but it is important to remember that not only do they add to the cost but they take up a certain amount of freezer space as well.

Microwave Ovens. With our busy lifestyle today, microwave ovens are extremely popular and in many cases are the preferred method of cooking. Some ovens can be a combination of microwave and convection systems. These ovens can be used alone or as an extra oven for traditional cooking, where extra capacity is required.

Ovens too, are available in many styles. As far as function is concerned most ovens now offer both conventional and fan forced/ assisted functions and most now offer an internal grill. Separate grills can be purchased in some brands of oven. Single ovens can be placed under the bench or on the wall. Many people are choosing single ovens these days as the move has been to more and more benchtop cooking. However, double and one and a half ovens are still chosen by some for their increased capacity.Large ranges have become popular in recent times as well and fit in well with the country and olde world themes. These are available in 600 and 900mm widths the latter being very handy for large quantity cooking. In the final analysis the choice of oven is usually determined by cost, style and design, ease of cleaning and the family cooking pattern.

Insinkerators have been the subject of much attention in recent times. However, they are most convenient for getting rid of kitchen scraps and reducing the amount of rubbish. Make sure you choose a motor of sufficient size - some can cope with vegetable peelings only whilst others can cope with tougher items such as chicken bones.

Rangehoods exhaust the cooking fats and smells to the outside of the home in most cases, but where cost, practicality or persona choice prohibit this, the exhaust can be recirculated through filters to extract grease and odours. Many styles of rangehoods are available today including canopies, slide out and undermounted hoods. Some cooking appliances offer the option of an integrated downdraft where the air is extracted down from the benchtop grill to the outside. This option can be useful when design prohibits an over-bench exhaust, say on an island benchtop. Downdrafts however need to be exhausted to the outside. Downdrafts are particularly efficient in downdrafting indoor BBQ grills. They are recommended for use with an open gas flame.

Laundry appliances are state of the art. Machines wash and dry with ease to make the wash day task even simpler and easier. Front loading washing machines are more popular now and can be placed under bench freeing up bench space. Machines and dryers are convenient space savers when used in stacking pairs.

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