There is nothing more welcoming than a fully stocked kitchen. Having the ability to cook at home is such an understated luxury. You can quickly make healthy and delicious meals for you and your loved ones.
But cooking can also become routine and time-consuming. To make the most out of your prep time and continue to nurture your love for this activity, here are eight must-have kitchen cooking appliances that you should invest in.
Oven
Ovens are a great way to cook your meals because you can skip the oil and grease. You can choose from gas ovens, electric ovens, or the space-saving toaster ovens.
When you are shopping for an oven, make sure to check the amount of fuel or wattage it needs to operate. This will help you plan for its energy source accordingly.
In addition, consider the size. Most ovens come with a stove, which increases its versatility and is great for small spaces. Conversely, you may want the convenience of having a separate oven and stove if you need to work in a big kitchen for many people.
Finally, look at additional features offered by the models and brands you’ve been eyeing. You may need an auto-lock mechanism to protect little children in the household, or knobs that stick out for increased accessibility.
Refrigerator
The refrigerator is, arguably, the most useful kitchen appliance because it helps keep food fresh. If you have leftovers, you can just stow them away to prevent them from getting spoiled. You can also freeze meats and preserve vegetables. With that said, the ability to stock up on ingredients for longer periods of time means that you have more opportunity to cook all sorts of healthy and exciting meals.
We recommend getting refrigerators that are certified energy efficient, since this appliance will be plugged in most of the time.
Microwave
Don’t have the budget or space for an oven just yet? Microwaves are a great way to tap into everything that an oven is capable of doing at a much lower price point.
You can reheat leftovers, defrost meats, steam vegetables, and even bake small dishes. This is an incredible flexible appliance that encourages creativity in the kitchen. Just make sure that you do not heat aluminum foil or anything metal in the microwave because it is a fire hazard.
Dishwasher
This is a lifesaver for homeowners with big families and incredibly busy people. It’s a given that we need to eat at least three times a day to remain functional, so imagine all the dishes we have to wash on a daily basis without the help of this electric appliance.
Dishwashers are a costly investment, so you will need to save up for it. The good news is that this initial expense is definitely going to pay off in the long run. This appliance often has plenty of features to help you make the most out of it. Some washing modes include economy wash, sanitizing, delayed start, and half load wash.
Coffee Maker
If you are a coffee lover, nothing brightens your day more than a fresh cup of coffee. An electric coffee machine will give you the opportunity to save up on all those Starbucks runs and enjoy your morning in peace.
Coffee makers have also become more versatile over the years. If you have the extra cash to splurge on this appliance, you can look for machines that have the capacity to brew different types of coffee. Programmable models that keep your cuppa warm for hours or automatically set up the brewing process overnight also exist to cater to every sort of coffee drinker.
Water Purifier
Over time, all sorts of dangerous chemicals can build up in the network and affect you in various ways. It can harm the quality of your clothes, cause allergic reactions, and even affect the taste of the water itself.
Installing a water purifier inside your house eliminates the risk of introducing hazardous agents to your home. This means you and your family have immediate access to safe drinking water for all your needs.
Mixer
Regardless of whether you choose to get a hand mixer or go all-out for a stand mixer, you definitely need this appliance in your kitchen. There is nothing like baking a cake and knowing that you can rely on a mixer to evenly combine all the ingredients together.
Of course, hand mixing is always an option. But if you need to cook big batches of certain food or desserts, it is not practical nor easy. Getting a good mixer can help you save on time and energy.
Electric Vegetable Chopper
Finally, one of the most popular cooking appliances that you need in your kitchen is an electric vegetable chopper. Cooking is a complex process and the more you experiment, the more layered each dish can get. Save up on your time and energy while keeping your fingers safe from harm with this appliance.
You can go for simple models with a one-touch power control, or splurge a little for the ones that come with extra blades so you can also grind and mix different ingredients together.