Choosing Effective Cookware Part I
December 4, 2011 | 
Author Surprisingly, more often than not consumers choose cookware that is not in their best interests. Many purchases are based upon brand recognition, colour, style, previous acquisitions, or even as a result of being recommended by some TV chef.
As the old saying goes, “The customer is always right”, so I don’t want to appear critical of your right, or my right for that matter, to exercise personal choice. If you are happy with your choice for whatever reasons that led to that choice, then let me be the first to applaud that decision; I hope you experience many happy years with your purchase. On the other hand, I do feel it is high time that someone articulated the argument for cookware that delivers more effective results – and for the sake of this article I will focus the term cookware to saucepans, fry pans and their cousin’s sauté pans, casseroles and stockpots.
First of all, let’s consider what is meant by effective cookware. It may come as some surprise to you that you can take two different pans yet achieve different results even though the ingredients and recipe were exactly the same. Surprising Perhaps. Logical Certainly. As an illustration to this, I know many golfers who started out using a modest range of clubs, balls and the like, yet over time as their game improved (hopefully!) they realised that certain golf clubs, balls, shoes and the rest can improve their final score. Yes, technique and practice are essential to success, but so is using more effective equipment. From personal experience I can confirm this for other sports and from a personal and professional perspective this is most certainly true for home cooking.
In an open, free and dynamic market the choices can sometimes appear daunting. My advice is to consider your interests before those of the supplier. So let’s see if we can breakdown some of these interests: Hob type. Some pans don’t work on every hob or are not as effective on every hob type. Take for example the growing popularity in induction hobs, which works by creating a magnetic field between the pan and the hob and by doing so creates heat. As a consequence, all pans used on an induction hob must have a magnetic-conducting metal base.
The test for pans claiming to be induction safe is simply to place a magnet on the base – if it sticks, then it passes the test!Heat distribution. If you are one of millions of home cooks who has ever made a sauce that burnt slightly on the bottom of the pan, before the rest of it cooked through, then you may have experienced poor heat distribution. Ideally you want a pan that heats evenly from the base and then throughout the pan without the need to overheat the base using too high a flame.
Stainless steel, a material we are all familiar with in the kitchen, is a good conductor of heat, but not a great conductor. Quality manufacturers have developed technology to compensate for and improve upon stainless steel, such as “Tri-ply” technology, which adds a layer of a better conducting metal between two layers of stainless steel. The net result being pans that are extremely good heat distributors and ultimately very effective kitchen pans. Another technique is to encapsulate the base of stainless steel.
For a great range of Stellar saucepans [http://www.yeschef-cookware.co.uk/cookware/stellar-3000/cat_41.html] I would recommend this store, I bought a Dualit hand mixer [http://www.yeschef-cookware.co.uk/electrical-appliances/mixers/dualit-hand-mixers/prod_48.html] from them and they offered a great service.
This means that they add a layer of a better conducting metal to the base to aid is heat distribution. A warning to all consumers: just because a pan has an encapsulated base does not make it sufficiently effective for improved cooking. It just means that it is better than nothing! As an example, low gauge pans will not sufficiently distribute the heat from the base to the sides, so pans that have a thicker gauge are in your interest! I have some experience with pans whose base is completely covered in copper and this is yet another good technique for improving your results. That’s all for now look out for part 2 soon.
Why a Dualit Four Slice Toaster Is the Toaster for You!
Dualit 4 slice kitchen toasters are a class in themselves. The Dualit toaster has the esteemed Good Housekeeping seal of Approval. Appliances with this seal are top notch.They have been put through rigorous testing to be sure they do what they say they do. Good Housekeeping backs this toaster and puts its stamp of approval on it.
The Dualit four slice is a sleek stainless steel design for easy cleaning. This toaster can be used to make breakfast toast for one to eight people! It has a unique selector control that allows you to decide which slots you will use. You can use one slot or all four slots at a time. Its extra side 28 mm slots are large enough to accommodate the thickest bagel. It can toast 130 slices of bread an hour.
It has ProHeat elements this type of heat element is replaceable. After years of use if the heating element goes out it is replaceable and the element is guaranteed for two years. You dont throw away a Dualit toaster as it has replaceable parts and is easily repaired.
Forgot to defrost? No problem. The mechanical timer has a defrost setting and releases a loud noise when the cycle is complete. A manual ejector allows the user to check their toast as often as they like keeping it warm inside the toaster until needed. It also has a rear adjustable rear foot to compensate for an uneven surface.
An add on you can purchase to use is a sandwich cage. It is a great easy way to make a toasted sandwich. The “cage” holds the sandwich between its metal slats and perfectly toasts it. Delicious!
Dualit four slice kitchen toasters are reliable, dependable, and repairable. It can take on English muffins, toast and the biggest of bagels. A great gift for newlyweds or housewarming parties!
4 Slice Toaster Features and Their Uses
Four slice toaster is a useful kitchen device, which, most often, helps you cook family breakfast in an easy and quick way. Modern toasters are complex systems which often have additional functions. In order to choose a right one, you should know how most of them look, and what most of them do, so that you never regret making your choice.
How does it look?
A 4 slice toaster is usually a device shaped as a cube (or less frequently as a parallelepiped), made of stainless steel or die cast aluminum (like Breville toasters). Slim toasters generally have the shape of a parallelepiped, while common toasters are cubic. The surface is cool touch in most models, to secure yours or your children’s fingers.
Commonly, four slice toasters have two control panels, or one panel with double controls. If it does not, you should seek for one that does, because it is sometimes handy to make the slots work in different modes, or let one of them work, and another – stay idle.
There are two pairs of slots in a 4 slice toaster, or a pair of long slots which can host any type of toasts and bread. Long slots are typical of slim toasters, while 2 pairs of them are a classical variant. While choosing a toaster pay attention to the type of slots: they should be extra-wide to satisfy any of your toasting needs; they should be self-adjusting to fix any type of bread reliably.
A power cord is usually at the back side of the device: for practical purposes it should be adjusted to the back corner, in order to make it easy to put the toaster against the wall. Cord length should be enough to get to the closest power outlet. It would be nice if the cord is retractable, as well, so that it doesn’t take much place.
Another point to mention is a crumb tray, which should be easily removable, to make the cleaning process fast and easy.
Additional features
In additional to classical look you can also buy a toaster which is supplied by some bonus, making it a functional device. Egg and muffin modes are also popular with toaster producers. However, you should always remember that all-in-one devices are not good if you look at their functional parts critically. It is sometimes easier to use a frying pan to fry eggs, and it will take less time. Multifunctional toasters are somewhat clumsier as well, and you cannot tell for sure if you will really use their additional commercially intended functions more than once.
Controls
The basic controls ensured through dual panels are browning modes (usually six or seven of them). Browning modes are used to fry well different types of bread, slimmer or wider ones. There is no thing as “bad” browning; everything depends on your experience: this or that mode is used for a particular kind of bread to make it well toasted. Actually, it is up to one’s taste whether to toast the bread in a light or a “heavy” way.
Reheat function is also included into a classical set, it helps you warm up the bread which has already been toasted, while not burning it into ashes.
Bagel function is used to cook the inside of the bread while leaving it practically untouched at the edges. Some types of bakery products can also be cooked using this function: muffins, for example.
Defrost control is used for frozen pastries and toasters, and helps process them quickly and easily.
Some toasters also have a function of stopping immediately even if the cycle is not finished. Others also offer a lift function, to let you look at your bread in the toasting process whenever you want.
So, as we see, a modern toaster is a complex device, possessing many functions. Most of them are common for the majority of products. However, to make the right choice, you should carefully consider, if this or that function is really useful or useless.
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Dualit Coffee Grinder – For Excellent Coffee Experience
Dualit and its products are invented by Max Gort-Barten, a German born entrepreneur who bought a small factory in Camberwell to himself manufacture products through his engineering skills and creativity. The company took its name Dualit from one of its inventions the Dual-Light selectric fire toaster. The company’s first product in the market was the first flip-sided toaster in the year 1946. Later then Max went in to design several consumer products and in 1952 he designed and engineered a six-slice toaster with a built-in timer.
After such new creations the company grew slowly started designing new and exciting commercial products like toasters and coffee grinders, percolators, food processors, audios, kitchen appliances and other catering equipments. Today Dualit has an appropriate line of kitchen appliances and continues to provide pro chefs and aspiring cooks with a decent range of kitchen equipments. This coffee grinder brand also produces other equipments that make our lives a lot easier in the kitchen. Its few important products include Rapido, Espressivo, and coffee percolators etc.
Here we are talking about one product of Dualit which is the Dualit coffee grinder. This device tends to produce steady ground coffee preserving the aroma and the flavor of every single bean. With its conical burr grinder which spins relatively slow and minimizes clogging effect of oily or flavored beans it produces less heat to preserve the bean’s aroma. Dualit creates magic with its coffee grinders. Here are some of the features of the conical burr grinder from Dualit:
Dualit Grinder Features:
With lots of coffee grinder brands available in the market today that offers multiple features, Dualit grinders without fail have made its customers happy throughout the year. The features of its various grinders speak for itself and people choose these for a consistent grind. Its large hopper comes with a bean capacity of 250g and the burrs are fitted to be removed which offers easy cleanup. It grinds at a slow 450 rpm which produces and preserves the natural aroma of coffee.
It is also equipped with a safety cut-out that protects it from stones and other harmful agents. This particular grinder brand has pre-installed 13 grind settings which provides easy in various grind applications like coarse for percolators and fine for espresso coffee machines. It also offers a facility of portion control grinds whenever needed. With all these features and multiple applications this is a light-weight and space saving conical burr grinder from Dualit.
Dualit Modern Products:
Here we will discuss about some of the other Dualit products that have same importance as the grinders in the market. These include:
1. 4 Slice Toaster: This toaster offers ease in use and helps prepare breakfast on busy mornings. This 2 slice toaster is equipped with present-day finish and Peek & Pop function.
2. Compact Processors: Dualit‘s food processors are compact and this saves a lot of shelf space in the kitchen. The important accessories included whit this are two interconnecting bowls, 6 tools for chopping, mixing, slicing, shredding and a unique E-disc for mixing liquids.
3. Cremoso: This product makes perfect blend for an espresso or cappuccino.
4. Kitchen Scales: The Dualit kitchen scales offer precise measurements to make any recipe a five-star quality and are the perfect kitchen tool which complements to your food preparation range.
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Food Processor As the Best Kitchen Help
Our dependence on machines is so great that there is no area where they do not share our labour. The kitchen is a place where the food processor is the cooks’ right hand and the best source of help with the irksome and laborious job of cutting, chopping, mincing, grinding, blending and juicing. Cooking actually becomes a pleasurable chore when all these tiresome jobs are taken care of.
Food Processors are complex pieces of technology that have been so ingeniously created for the comfort of the modern day cook. They come with numerous attachments to perform a range of food processing tasks. For example research has shown that a small kitchens’ food processor performs more than 22 functions. In order to cater to the multifarious cuisine of a diverse group of people and make their cooking seem like a work of art, the modern food processor has to perform more tasks than any demanding cook could possibly dream of.
There are the blenders, juicers, liquidizers, hand mixers, grinders etc to mention only a very few. If vegetables have to chopped, shredded, minced, grated or sliced, then there are fruits to be liquidized and desserts to be whisked or beaten! A single food processor may have numerous attachments or accessories to do all the finer jobs and the complexity of the tasks demands more refined features.
Food processors can be compact, maxi or mini depending on our need and use. There are options in the choice of finishing too, which comes in glass, brushed aluminum finish or chrome finish. They are designed to make the washing and cleaning easy. Some also come as handy storage modes that occupy less space. The choice of food processors are so varied that choosing the most suitable model may be the only problem. A single unit which performs multi tasks is a better choice if the user prefers space saving gadgets in the kitchen. For the more gourmet cook perhaps the more number of single task devices, the better it is, especially if it for the preparation of food on a large scale.
A transparent lid will help us to view every stage of the food processing and accordingly help us to time it. It is best to go for stainless steel blades if it is a detachable blade because maintenance is easy and it is non corrosive. Some cooks prefer very fast processors but the energy efficiency should be checked before buying the product. The safety lock ensures that the food inside does not spill out and make a mess of the kitchen. This is very important especially for the fastidious cook who likes to maintain his kitchen well.
Food processors are many but it is a good idea to check all the above features and choose the model which answers to your need without compromising on the quality or cost.
Basics of Restaurant Kitchen Design
Of the myriad business ideas available you need to select one which is suitable to your temperament as well as profitable in the long run. For people who love to mix with people and who en joy life nothing is better than commercial kitchen business. It is indeed a great business idea, provided you know the basic rules.
First and foremost you need to ascertain why are you in the business and a major factor which would allow you to decide if you are in the right business or you are there just for the sake of it. The basic requirement is that you need to have a passion for food and this needs t be reflected in your man aging and organizing the kitchen.
Now what are the vital issues pertaining to restaurant business? For one the quality of food needs to be good and then the ambience needs to be perfect and for this keep in mind that design is a major issue. You might wonder why kitchen design is a major issue while doing a commercial kitchen- the answer to this is pretty simple. No one likes to have food in a shoddy ambience and the right kitchen design just adds to the appetite for food. So if you are having good food in your restaurant ensure that you match it with a perfect design.
Often just having good food is not enough and you need to select the right kitchen accessories. This is the reason why taking help of experts is needed as they will allow you to select the right ambience which matches with your food. Now how to go about it? There are a few tips you need to know and in this article we tell you about them.
Hiring a design professional is indeed a good idea but a few facts need to be kept in mind while availing the service of any professional to create an impressive kitchen design. First and foremost ascertain your budget. Undoubtedly more you spend money you will get better design. Service providers can work on any kind of budget. You need to know about this issue to create the right kitchen design.
Hiring the right professional is a must as it is he who can give the right solution to kitchen design needs. Before availing the service of the professional, you need to talk to him. You need to discuss some important issues related to kitchen design with the professional. Ask him a few basic question like the colors, the budget and the time he will take to finish the project and based on that you need to select the right person.
Rushing in the job is not a good idea as ultimately you will land up with a product which you do not like. So pause for a moment and retrospect on the ambience you would like to have in your kitchen and based on that take a firm decision.
A Housing Crisis Solution – Add Another Kitchen!
In the current housing slump, the large new homes just aren’t selling. They are too big to afford when the mortgage money tightens up. Existing homes are for sale at below their original purchase price, depleting the homeowner’s equity. People can’t justify paying the mortgage or selling homes that are valued less than the mortgage. Adjustments must be made to find a way to make these homes more affordable.
Food, gas and educational costs have skyrocketed. Investments and retirement income are shrinking. Job markets have tightened. And savings are non-existent. What do businesses and families do? They need to re-think their lives and identify the necessities to survive and the strategies to more forward.
When the standards that we live by are failing, we must become more resilient than ever. One method that is being considered by many families is to consolidate their resources by
combining households. The ‘Sandwich Generation’ has opened their homes to returning (boomerang) children as well as their own parents. Recent studies have shown that 65% of all college grads move back home, at one time or another. 3.4 million seniors are living at their children’s homes. And these trends are on the rise!
Up until just 100 years ago, multi-generational living was the norm. Extended families lived and worked together on farms and opened small businesses together. However many articles have been written about the monetary advantages as well as the social pitfalls of modern families living together after being autonomous for so long. It seems that the most important condition for success is a clear understanding of the monetary responsibilities of the members of the household. Secondly, living areas that respect the autonomy of the different members need to be established.
Many homes only have enough space to offer the new occupants a bedroom of their own. A bedroom and a private bath is a better solution, especially in a household with young children. Converting the garage, the attic over the garage, the basement or 2 bedrooms into a studio apartment is one of the more successful arrangements. In new construction, the dual master suite arrangement is great for multi-generational living and it can also be sold as a home that can be shared by two single parent families.
The shared cooking and dining experiences can be a wonderful enhancement to the lives of all involved. Or they can become a nightmare. Mealtime has become very hard to schedule for many on-the-go families and the scheduling can become even more difficult for two families living together. A great solution is to provide a small food prep area outside the traditional kitchen. It can be as simple as a breakfast/snack center or it can be a fully equipped mini-kitchen that can offer complete autonomy. It can be located in a private living area or in an area shared by the whole family. Having the option to choose when and what to eat can alleviate a lot of stress in an expanded household.
Existing or new homes that can be designed with completely separate living units can have lasting value. An autonomous apartment can provide a place for aging homeowners to live while they rent out the main house for income. Taking in a boarder can make the investment of building a studio apartment a good solution for all. Some senior homeowners may even subsidize the apartment’s rent to a boarder who can act as a caretaker for the entire property.
Resort condos have used flexible design solutions quite successfully for years. Typically a normal two bedroom apartment is divided into a complete one bedroom apartment and a studio apartment that includes a mini-kitchen and separate bathroom. Either unit can be rented separately or combined at any time.
In many localities however, a second dwelling unit or even a second kitchen is prohibited by zoning. Increasingly, many localities have changed their zoning to allow auxiliary dwellings, largely due to the efforts of The American Association of Retired Persons research that created a model for legislating Accessory Dwelling Units into local ordinances.
Once the zoning issue is overcome, there are many design solutions that can provide a secondary kitchen. If space is not limited, standard cabinetry and full sized appliances can be used to create a kitchen of any size. When space is limited, complete mini-kitchens and hospitality centers are available from many companies (Google unit kitchens) that can meet almost any special need. Adding small appliances to a built-in cabinet is another solution. Tiny appliance combinations that include a coffee maker, a microwave and a single burner can sell for less than $50.00. Coupled with a 2.7 CF refrigerator freezer ($150.00 on-line), a mini-kitchen does not need to break the bank.
For those who want to have a mini-kitchen, but don’t want to see it all the time, most codes allow cabinetry to be built into a closet with bi-fold doors and any UL Listed appliance can be used as long as it has a plug and is not hard wired. In this way, sinks, refrigerators, portable hotplates, microwaves, toaster ovens etc. and all the countertop mess can be hidden from view.
Another company makes special U.L. Listed furniture in the form of armoires that allow hard wired, more powerful built-in appliances and everything else to be completely hidden when they are not being used. The closet and furniture idea is great for the smallest rooms that have many functions, only one of which is a kitchen.
More versatile design solutions like those mentioned here can help homes retain their value in any market. As the demographics of our families change, the call for flexibility in the design of our homes becomes more important. The secondary kitchen is just one of the ideas that can make a real difference.
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How to Choose Dough Mixers
If you love the smell of freshly baked bread but you hate kneading dough, you may be thinking of adding one of the many dough mixers on the market to your kitchen appliance collection. Do not be too hasty in your choice however as making dough is a tough task for a mixer and not all of them will be suitable. Here are the things to think about when considering which mixer to choose.
1. The Power of the Motor
Whereas most hand mixers and cheap stand mixers will have no trouble at all mixing cakes, bread dough is a completely different proposition. The difference is in the proportion of dry ingredients to wet ones which is much higher with dough than cake mixture. The mixture is simply heavier to move and has more resistance and therefore needs a powerful motor to deal with it. If you try and make bread with a mixer which is not powerful enough, the motor will simply burn out and you will be left with no mixer at all. So that is the first criteria when choosing a dough mixer – a powerful motor, as powerful as you can afford.
2. The Weight of the Mixer
For the same reason, you need your mixer to be heavy and preferably made of metal. If your mixer is too light it will tend to move when it is forcing its way through the mixture and will not stay firmly in one place on your kitchen work surface.
3. The Capacity of the Machine
Think about the capacity of each machine too. If you are just going to make a small loaf or a pizza crust every now and again you can get away with a smaller machine than if you want to cook regularly for a family. If you cook a lot, you may want to look at a professional level machine.
4. Additional Attachments
Most of the machines for home use are not simply dough mixers, they also carry out a number of kitchen jobs. At the very least your mixer should have attachments for cake making and whipping cream but you will also find some machines on the market with many optional attachments and these are worth paying a bit more for if you are keen cook, so that you have the ability to extend your machine at a later date even if you do not need the attachments at the moment.
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Freshen Up Your Kitchen
So you’re selling your home and you’ve read all the books on staging and how to effectively get your home ready for showing. Once of the simplest things that many people overlook is cleaning. Their home may be tidy and staged beautifully, but is it clean? There is nothing like a truly clean home to eliminate any unwanted odors and leave a home smelling fresh and new.
Some of the worst offenders come from our appliances that we used every day. Baked on foods or lingering odors get absorbed into the walls of our refrigerator, countertops and other surfaces, and before you know it we’re spending money on fragrance laden air fresheners to try and mask the smells.
Implement this list of cleaning tips to extend the life of your appliances and freshen up your kitchen for your next open house.
Coffee Maker – Start by cleaning your coffee pot either in the sink or dishwasher (depending on manufacturer’s instructions). Pour equal parts of water and vinegar into the tank and run it through a couple times. If you have a build up of mineral deposits in your water, run about 2 cups through, unplug and let it sit for an hour. Turn the unit back on and let it run through. You may have to repeat the rinse a couple more times with plain water to get rid of any leftover vinegar or sediment.
Wipe down the outside of the unit with a combination of water and baking soda.
Coffee Grinder – Use a soft brush to wipe out any coffee grains. Place pieces of bread inside and grind. This does a great job of cleaning under the blades – brush again.
Stand-Up Electric Mixer – Wipe it off with dish soap and warm water and wipe after every use.
Toaster – Unplug before cleaning. Although you may be tempted, never use metal tools or knives to recover scraps. Not only could you be electrocuted if the unit was on, but it is very easy to bend the internal metal pieces.
Remove lower tray wipe with a damp cloth and mild dish soap, (use a cleaner free of ammonia for chrome surfaces), and turn upside down, shaking gently.
Toaster oven – Remove racks and clean with warm, soapy water. Never use an abrasive scrubber or steel wool on any surface with a nonstick surface. Clean the outside with a nonabrasive liquid cleaner since most toasters have plastic or painted metal exteriors.
Refrigerator – Wipe down with water and mild dish soap or two tablespoons baking soda for every quart of warm water. Loosen any hardened spills by saturating them with a damp sponge until they break away. Toothbrushes are good for getting into small places. Never use bleach or ammonia.
If you use an open box of baking soda to absorb odors in your fridge, it only traps them; make sure to replace the box regularly. Refrain from using any scented odor-control products as the fragrance becomes absorbed into the plastic. To mask odors, place a small dish of vanilla extract in the fridge.
Your fridge stays cool by removing the heat from the air inside and releasing it through condenser coils. If they get covered with dust, it acts as an insulation and prevents them from doing their job. Keep them clean by vacuuming with a long handled wand or dusting brush. If you have pets, your refrigerator coils may need to be cleaned more often.
Freezer – Sometimes in side-by-side refrigerator-freezers ice may build up and block the defrost drain tube. If you can see this hole, squirt in a mixture of one teaspoon baking soda and two cups hot water (a turkey baster works great for this). If this doesn’t work, you may have to set up a service call.
Manual defrost: Never try to pick or pry the ice away for fear of damaging the surface. Simply turn off the freezer and let nature take its course. Store any food in an alternate freezer. Wipe clean with warm, soapy water.
Oven: Don’t wait until your oven starts smoking to give it a good cleaning. Wash the racks by hand, unless your manual advises they are dishwasher safe. Try using this home made cleaner before resorting to the more toxic versions:
Plug holes to the broiler with aluminum foil (don’t forget to remove after cleaning)
Combine one-quarter cup salt, three-quarters cup baking soda, and one-quarter cup water, and stir into a paste. Brush on, but avoid any bare parts as salt corrodes metal. Leave overnight, remove with a solid spatula and wipe with paper towels. Use a nylon scrubber for any remaining stubborn spots.
Doors should be cleaned with nonabrasive cleaners and control panels wiped with a barely damp cloth (never wet).
Stove: For electric burners, wipe off when they are cold. If stubborn food residue still remains, turn on the fan, turn burners to high and burn off the excess.
Glass Cooktops: Never use harsh cleaners or scrubbies that will scratch the surface. Use only a cloth safe for non-stick surfaces. Wherever possible, wipe spills when they are warm. For burned on residue, use the cleaner recommended by the manufacturer. For heavy stains, carefully scrape off with a single edge razor blade with a plastic handle.
Microwave Ovens: Nothing is worse than opening a door to a microwave and getting hit in the face with odors from the last two weeks worth of cooking. Start by wiping out the interior with warm soapy water and rinsing with plain water. For heavier jobs, combine two tablespoons baking soda in one quart of water, heat on high for three minutes and let stand for another five minutes with the door closed. Wipe clean. If the odors are still there, leave the door open for a few hours. If that doesn’t work, stir six tablespoons baking soda or one-half cup lemon juice into a cup of water and heat on high for three minutes. Leave the door open for a few hours.
How to Install Your Own Kitchen – Part 6 – Installing Kitchen Appliances
Installing Kitchen Appliances
Appliances
If installing a kitchen was like building a car then it’s time to fit the engine, in this case the appliances. Kitchens, like cars, depend upon the quality of the appliances to give a more efficient performance. There is a wide range of appliances now available and they can range from Reliant Robin to Rolls Royce in their comparative looks and performance. The current trend is for aluminum or stainless steel finishes and due to their popularity they are more expensive.
Some appliances are fitter friendly, others not. Some manufacturers offer a good service back up if things go wrong, others don’t and some may last for years others, months. After 23 years of installing appliances, I have formed an experienced opinion on what’s hot and what’s not in the kitchen. Anyone wishing to hear of my views before buying a particular make can register and post a query in our forum and I will offer an honest opinion on your choice.
Anyway, every car needs a parking space so in this article I’ll attempt to show you how to install your appliances with the minimum of fuss.
Tools required:
Spirit level
Hand tools. Screwdrivers both pozidrive and slotted heads of varying sizes, pliers and grips.
Cordless drill/driver Masonry, screwdriver, and steel drill bits of various widths.
Plumbing tools.
Patience, understanding and the ability to deflect criticism successfully.
Freestanding Washing Machines/Dishwashers.
The majority of washing machines are 595mm wide and the important thing to remember is that freestanding machines are normally between 840mm and 860mm high. Important because when installing your kitchen units at the standard height of 870mm, this can leave very little tolerance for fitting when flooring has been added. A 600mm, or 450mm, in the case of slim-line dishwashers, space is sufficient and will ensure a more fully fitted look.
For correct fitting of a washing machine, all plumbing services should be fitted in an adjacent cupboard to prevent the machine protruding from the worktop. A washing machine waste of 40mm diameter can be fitted within the void of an adjacent cupboard and again this will prevent the machine protruding from the worktop.
If fitted next to a sink unit, the waste from the appliance may be incorporated with that of the sink. However should the washing machine and dishwasher be sited either side of the sink, I recommend that you install a separate waste pipe. Three appliances entering one waste pipe will render the waste extremely prone to blockages.
Electrical services should also be fitted in an adjoining unit and appropriate sized holes for hoses and plugs must be drilled through the back or base of the cupboard. This can be achieved with an appropriately sized hole saw.
Flooring for all freestanding appliances should be installed prior to final fitting. After completing the above, slide the washing machine into place and make necessary adjustments to the feet for leveling purposes.
Built under freestanding fridges/freezers.
Installation of built under fridges/freezers is carried out much the same as above yet they vary in widths. Adding 5mm to the width of the appliance will leave sufficient space for fitting.
Freestanding machines may be fully integrated by the use of a deeper worktop and by increasing the width of the space and doors that will house them.
Before explaining the installation of cookers and hobs, I must stress that to work on any gas appliance, a person must be competent to do so.
Built in Ovens/Microwaves.
Whether the oven is a single or double oven ensure the cabinet aperture is the correct size for the appliance as heights can vary. Check the electrical rating of the appliance and fit the appropriate sized outlet, again avoiding the space directly behind the appliance. Once you’ve fed the appliance flex to the outlet, this may be in adjacent cupboard or in the case of a double oven, in the cupboard above, slide in the appliance and screw to the cabinet gables with the screws provided.
Splash back
It may be that you wish to install a splash back with your range cooker and to fit one correctly you must determine the finished height of your worktop. The reason for this being, that your extractor should be fitted prior to fitting the cooker and splash back fixings are positioned behind the position of the extractor. Installing this before fitting the cooker will prevent any damage to the appliance and ensure that you have adequate space to work.
Range cookers
Preparation for the fitting of Range Cookers is similar to that of a freestanding appliance in that the space between cupboards needs to be accurate and I would suggest, 5mm wider than the appliance. The electrical connection, as with all appliances, should be made through an adjacent cupboard for access purposes.
Great importance should be given to the finished height of the appliance and the top edge of the cooker should finish at least 5mm above the worktop. Although not regulatory, I protect adjacent worktop edges with metal edging strips and these are available at major DIY outlets.
Should the appliance legs offer insufficient height adjustment, the appliance must be raised on a platform. This platform can then be finished in a material of your choice to match the appliance or the kitchen.
Integrated Dishwasher/Washing Machine
Integrated Dishwashers are available in slim line, generally 450mm width, and standard, 600mm wide sizes. The size of the dishwasher matches the aperture you will need to leave to accommodate the appliance, no more, no less. The only room for accommodating crossing pipe work or services behind integrated dishwashers is within the recess at the bottom of the machine. This is an important point to remember as to install services elsewhere behind the appliance will result in the dishwasher protruding from the adjacent cabinets and unless you wish to start a new design trend, this is to be avoided.
Doors are fitted to the appliance door by means of fixings provided with each machine a template assists in marking the appropriate points. The nature of the way a dishwasher door opens, warrants that the kitchen kickboard be cut approximately 10mm directly beneath the appliance in order to accommodate the door on opening.
Again, water and electrical services for both dishwashers and washing machines should terminate in an adjacent cupboard and waste services must be fitted behind an adjacent unit, within the void. Should the appliance be sited next to a sink however, the waste can be integrated with the sinks waste outlet.
When positioning the appliance in readiness to connect, feed the water hoses and electrical flex behind the appropriate rear unit leg. This will allow access to the services when the appliance is in place and will also permit fitting before the furniture plinth is installed.
The height of the appliance is made by means of adjustable feet and the rear feet can be accessed under the unit prior to fitting the plinth. Once you’ve achieved the correct level, screw to the underside of the worktop with the screws provided. Dishwashers require the fitting of a protective waterproof barrier and this should be fitted to the underside of the worktop once the appliance is in place.
Many integrated washing machines present a further problem for installers as they have no recess at the rear of the machine and the height adjustment is minimal. For this reason it may be necessary to install a platform ensuring that it does not protrude from the furniture plinth and no services should cross the rear wall behind the appliance as they will impede on the appliance hoses, thereby obstructing correct fitting.
Of all integrated appliances, integrated washing machines in my opinion are the least fitter friendly and require many improvements before they become so. The door is fitted to the appliance by means of side opening hinges that allow little adjustment and you may be required to drill the furniture door hinges to match adjacent door heights. There is little room for error and measurements should be double checked before drilling.
Built Under Integrated Fridges/Freezers
Follow the same rules as for installing a dishwasher. Again there is no room for services directly behind unless at low level. Feet are fully height adjustable and fridges or freezers are screwed to the worktop through pre-drilled holes once fitted. For door fitting, follow the instructions supplied with the appliance. These again, will come with a template and fixings. More manufacturers allow rear leg adjustment from the front of the appliance and this makes for simpler installation.
Built In Integrated Fridges/Freezers
Integrated built in appliances, unlike built-under appliances, are fitted within a furniture housing. Some manufacturers require the doors of the housing to be fitted to the cabinet prior to fitting the appliance but of recent; more rely on fitting the doors direct to the appliance after fitting.
Templates and fixings are provided with the appliance and provision is made for fixing through the feet and the top of the appliance once leveling is complete. Ensure that the appliance is fitted to the correct depth for correct operation of both the cabinet and appliance doors.
Again it is a good rule to avoid services to the rear of the appliance. It may be necessary to adapt the cabinet prior to fitting your built in appliance as some cabinet manufacturers leave a back fitted to the appliance aperture. This will need to be removed to allow correct fitting of the appliance.
Appliances fitted within a housing require adequate ventilation and this is achieved by fitting a ventilator to the plinth.
American Freestanding Fridge Freezers
These appliances are becoming increasingly popular and require a cold water supply. They can be integrated to blend in with your kitchen by installing a top cupboard between two tall end panels. As with other appliances, services i.e. water and electrical, should terminate and be connected to the appliance via an adjacent cupboard. Should this not be possible, fit the services as close as possible to the rear wall. If you wish your fridge to lie flush with the adjacent cabinets you will require greater depth matching end panels and this will achieve the desired effect.
Built In Microwaves
Microwaves can be fitted within both wall units and appliance housings dependent on the model purchased. To do this will require a build-in kit in addition the microwave. Electrical supply again should be fitted to an adjacent cupboard or in the cupboard above or below the appliance.
Hobs – Gas and Electric
After cutting the appropriate sized hole in your worktop and protecting the exposed chipboard, the hob needs fixing to the worktop. Apply the seal (provided with the appliance) to the worktop. Fix the hob on the underside with the fixing clips provided and electrical or gas connections can now be made. Gas connections must be made by a competent person
When a hob is fitted above an oven, gas pipe work must be completed in such a way as not to impede the fitting of the appliance below. Electrical connection in the configuration described above, must be made in an adjacent and accessible unit unless the hob is fitted above a drawer or door unit.
Integrated Extractors
Having left the appropriate gap and installed the wall outlet, if applicable, secure the brackets to the rear wall and hang the extractor. Remove the pivotal door-fixing frame and screw the appliance to the adjacent cabinets. Fit the door to the fixing frame using the screws provided. This is made easier by using a template if provided. Make the vent connection to the exhaust outlet of the appliance and make the electrical connection in the accessible yet hidden space at the rear top of the extractor.
Chimney Style Extractors
A popular choice in contemporary kitchens is the chimney style extractor and it is imperative to ensure alignment and level for its installation. To achieve the correct finish, mark the centre line of the hob on the rear wall and continue this line up to the ceiling. Use this line as a reference point for fixing the flue brackets above the extractor. Ensure that the extractor is sited the correct and regulatory distance above the hob and transfer the template measurements to the wall using the line as reference. All ventilation connections should be made behind the flue and may be possible above the ceiling dependent on the joist direction.
After installing the extractor and flue, place the telescopic two-part chimney on top of the appliance. Slide the chimney up to the ceiling and fix to the previously installed bracket. Electrical connection for chimney extractors should be made via a fused outlet in an accessible position above the worktop. The feed from this should terminate behind the flue and connection to the extractor can be made via a junction box of appropriate size.
Canopy Extractors
The cut-out for the extractor is best made prior to installing the canopy and electrical and flue connections should all be made within the canopy. Canopies fitted between units are easier installed by fixing a temporary batten across the top. Lift the canopy above the neighbouring units and slowly bring down to rest on them. This will ensure the unit will remain level with the adjoining units before fixing. Fixing of the furniture canopy can be made within the cut-out by drilling four holes to each gable and fixing with appropriately sized screws. Install the extractor into the cut out after making electrical and flue connections.
Island Extractors
Before installing an island extractor, the ceiling to which it will be fitted may require extra timber fitted, between or adjacent to the existing joists. Adequate fixing is imperative to carry the weight of the appliance. When you have determined the position of your extractor, the flue, if the joists allow, should be fed through to the nearest outside wall.
The fixing frame should be fitted to the ceiling with the screws supplied. The extractor will then require fitting. Final leveling using the adjustable bolts can now be done before tightening. Again, electrical connections can be made within the flue via a fused spur fitted to the wall above worktop height. Finally, the flue, which is in two parts, can be fitted and screwed to the frame with the fixings supplied.
Well apart from the toaster, blender and sandwich maker, I think that covers most appliances in the kitchen. All that’s left once they’re fitted is to cook, cool and wash in them. If like me, however, you’re that cook that spoils the broth, stick to the washing.
next article: Kitchen Nightmares – how to avoid them
© Tim Foley 2009