Latest Trends in Kitchen Appliances

The kitchen is where the whole family congregates to cook, eat, drink, and enjoy good conversation. The best kitchens are equipped with the most important kitchen appliances - fridge, stove, toaster, microwave, and dishwasher. But there are new appliances on the horizon. What are the most popular kitchen trends this year?

Stainless Steel

You've probably already noticed that professional ranges are trendy in the modern kitchen, but if you really want to follow the trends a stainless-steel professional range must adhere to certain qualifications. Real professional ranges can be up to 60 inches wide (twice the width of a standard model). Unless you have a gargantuan kitchen, accommodating a professional stovetop may mean sacrificing cabinet space, but for many people these days, it's worth it. Of course, most people still opt for a "professional-style" range, which has the same look as the real thing without the giant size. This type of stove also offers the same features you get in a professional model, such as dual fuel (gas and electric), convection cooking, self-cleaning ovens, and childproof controls.

Cool as a Cucumber

A normal refrigerator can be an eyesore in a well-laid out kitchen (or in any kitchen for that matter). A stand-alone unit tends to be 30 inches deep, and sticks out past the 24-inch cabinets most homeowners have installed. That's why a new trend that's developing is the installation of built-in refrigerators, which fit in effortlessly with 24-inch cabinets. Due to the shallow depth, however, to provide the same amount of space these models tend to be wider in size. You can either choose stainless steel or painted finishes, depending on the look you're going for. Door trim panels are particularly attractive if you want all your appliances to appear hidden within the kitchen.

Another option: refrigerator drawers. These slide out of a base cabinet like regular drawers, except on the inside is a small, self-contained refrigerator with its own temperature control. Each drawer can store a different type of food, making food preservation convenient and organized. Panels hide the drawers and allow them to blend perfectly with the rest of the kitchen. Another bonus about this type of refrigeration system is the fact that you can place the drawers in different locations across the kitchen. Keep vegetables beside a prep sink, for example. You can even install one in a family room to keep drinks handy and cool, ready for any get-together you may have.

Ovens

Wall ovens work well for serious food aficionados. You can purchase wall ovens in conventional, convection, microwave, and broiler models, while some even employ more than one cooking method for your convenience.

Of course, if you purchase a wall oven a separate cooktop becomes essential, but the flexibility offered by a wall oven is well worth it, especially when you install two ovens in one space.

A warming drawer is another option, which makes it possible to prepare food ahead of time and keep it warm while you prepare the rest of the meal. Reduce stress and cook at your own convenience without serving your family cold meals. Warming drawers keep food at a temperature of 140 to 200 degrees. You can build one in the dining area or near the oven, depending on what is more convenient for you.

Cleaning up

Dishwashers make everyone's life that much easier, and keeps your kitchen looking clean and neat. Nowadays the new models are even more efficient and easy to use.

Dishwasher drawers hide the dishwasher in your kitchen, so you can enjoy convenience without sacrificing beauty. Stack them under the counter, or border them around the sink. You can save a lot of money on your water bill by doing smaller loads, or install one in the dining room to quickly clear the table after meals.

For people who have trouble bending over due to back problems or other issues, elevated dishwashers make the task of loading and unloading dishes easier to bear. Raise the dishwasher off the floor 6-18 inches, but leave at least 18 inches of counter space on one side and 24 inches on the other.

Quiet dishwashers allow you to do dishes at any time of day - even during the night while everyone is asleep or immediately after a party without disturbing the conversation.

Double dishwashers make it possible to separate dishes that shouldn't be together, or can't all fit in one load. One can be used to clean pots and pans, while the other cleans finer dishes.

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