Tag: Microwaves

Ideas for Convenient and Affordable College Kitchen Appliances

College can be a significant expense, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t be comfortable. No matter where you’re living, the kitchen is still likely to be at the heart of your home; fueling your body and mind. While you may enjoy the novelty of eating junk food for a couple of weeks, once you get down to some serious study, you’ll need all the conveniences of a kitchen. So, here we’ll explore some affordable ideas for your college kitchen appliances.

Think Size

Of course, a college dorm is likely to lack the space you have at home, so your first thought should be space. Dorm rooms are generally already small, so you won’t want to clutter it further with appliances. Unfortunately, regardless of how space saving it is, your college is not likely to be happy if you try and dig a hole in the wall to fit a built-in model. So, you need to be realistic. Fortunately, there are lots of appliances that are available for more modest locations. Assess the overall size of the unit against what space is offered inside. After all, there is no point in getting a tiny fridge if it will only hold two cans of soda and nothing else.

Be Realistic

While you may fancy yourself a gourmet chef, you only have so much space, so you need to be realistic. You’re not likely to be able to accommodate a stove in your dorm, so you may have to stick to just a microwave. A countertop microwave is simple to install and takes up minimal space, but allows you to create warm food. You can even reheat leftovers during those busy cramming sessions. You can even get creative with your microwave, making mug cakes and other treats, but if you want to get really gourmet, you’ll need to save it for when you visit your parents at home.

Consider Cleaning

No one enjoys scrubbing appliances, but this is even more difficult in a dorm. For this reason, you need to consider how easy to clean your new devices will be. Look for appliances that make cleaning easier, such as easy remove shelves in compact refrigerators and microwaves with easy clean surfaces.

Look for Multi-Use Features

When space is limited, you need to look for appliances that can fulfill more than one task. Search for a compact refrigerator that has a decent freezer section. While you may only use this for the odd carton of ice cream, but it has the possibility to allow you to stack up some ready meals, so you can enjoy a healthy dinner when you’re busy.

Other appliances provide multi-use features, such as microwaves with a grill function. This may negate the need for a hot plate as you can make grilled cheese and other snacks in the microwave rather than needing a pan.

Don’t Forget the Coffee Maker

Very few students can get through a serious study session without a cup of coffee, so don’t forget a coffee maker when you’re shopping for college appliances. Look for an appliance that can make a cup quickly and makes clean up easy. A good coffee maker will take up very little space, but can save you needing to walk to a coffee shop and pay out for an overpriced caffeine fix.

College can be a serious adjustment, and it can make it hard when you don’t have all the conveniences of home. Choosing the right appliances will help to make all your day to day tasks a whole lot easier to manage.

If you’re shopping for appliances for the new semester, you can explore your options with this online collection, or speak to a home appliance expert for a more specialized service.

Simple Solutions to Clean Your Small Appliances

No kitchen is complete without a range of small appliances. These small devices improve the convenience of our kitchens and improve quality of life. Unfortunately, many of these small appliances can be a little tricky to clean, compromising their use. So, here we have some simple solutions to clean your small appliances.

Clogged Coffee Maker

Even the best coffee maker can become clogged with hard water deposits and coffee residue. This can mean that it not only takes longer to brew your cup of Joe, but also leaves it tasting less than fresh. If you want a bright start to your morning with the awaking aroma of a fresh pot of coffee, you need to ensure that this small appliance is crystal clean.

The best way to get rid of any unsightly stains inside your coffee pot is to use a solution of one part white vinegar to two parts of water. Pour this mixture into the reservoir and switch your coffee maker on. The solution will run through the coffee maker, and you’ll need to allow it to cool for approximately 15 minutes. Repeat this process before rinsing by running through fresh water. You should also wash the pot and filter with soapy, warm water. This will not only remove any stubborn coffee stains, but also eliminate hard water mineral accumulation.

Grubby Blender

Whether you need a morning smoothie to get you started or like to make soups and sauces, blenders can easily become stained with leftover particles stuck on the blades and glass. It is a good idea to give your blender a really good clean at least once a month. This will help to remove any stains or particles and freshen up any lingering odors. Fill your blender to the halfway point with warm water, a slice of lemon and a little dishwashing liquid. Set the blender running on a low setting for approximately 30 seconds. Drain the liquid and rinse the blender thoroughly.

Messy Microwaves

Frozen dinners and warming up leftovers can often result in splatters of food stuck to the interior of your microwave. Unless these particles are cleaned immediately, they can easily turn into tough stains that are difficult to remove. This can not only look unappealing, but can also make you reluctant to put food or drinks in your microwave. Fortunately, there are some simple steps to remove all these messy marks and stains. Every six to eight weeks, place a half cup of water, a tablespoon of vanilla extract and two tablespoons of white vinegar into a microwave safe dish or bowl. Microwave this for 30 seconds on high power. Carefully remove the container, being cautious as any remaining liquid will be very hot. You can then wipe down the interior surfaces of the microwave with a damp cloth. You should find that any leftover splatters of food or stains can be easily wiped away and you’ll even be left with a fresh-baked and clean cookie odor.

Although dirty small appliances can be frustrating, it is important to ensure that they are safely cleaned. You should never submerge any small appliance in water and avoid allowing any liquid to come into contact with the motor or power cord. It is always best to err on the side of caution and use these simple steps to ensure that your small appliances are clean and safe.

No kitchen is complete without fully functioning small appliances. If you’re struggling to get your small appliances clean and need to upgrade, there are plenty of models available.

If you’re in the market for a new small appliance, explore the options with this online collection or speak to a home appliance expert for a specialized service.

Integrating a Microwave into Your New Kitchen Design

Microwaves are considered vital in today’s busy lives, but it is hard to deny that they can take up a great deal of counter space. This can be problematic in even the most generous of kitchen layouts, but it is possible to reclaim some of this precious space by integrating your microwave into a new kitchen design.

Choosing the Right Microwave

Before you can even consider integrating your microwave, you need to choose the right model. Countertop models can be tucked into a shelf, or you could opt for a wall mounted unit. If you have limited space, you may prefer a drawer style unit that can be placed at any height. Over the range microwaves can be directly placed above your oven, sharing light and ventilation with the range below. Your choice of microwave model will have a direct impact on how it can be integrated into your kitchen design, so you will need to give it some serious thought before you make a purchase decision.

Stack Your Cooking Appliances Vertically

A floor to ceiling unit can be a fantastic, space saving way to stack your cooking appliances on top of each other. This configuration not only looks sleek and attractive, but helps to maximize space. A single unit tower allows you to have lots of serving and prep space alongside your oven or microwave.

Group Horizontally

A horizontal grouping can also save space and still offer great functionality. Placing a drawer microwave alongside your oven makes it easy to move food from one appliance to the other. For example, you can quickly transfer baked potatoes from your microwave to your oven to finish them off. This creates a visual aesthetic of a professional kitchen with a sleek look that complements any style of kitchen design.

Conceal it in a Larder

Modern kitchens are harking back to the past with larder units coming back into fashion. Not only is a larder an excellent storage option for your canned goods, but it can also hide your microwave and free up counter space. If you want a minimalist feel to your kitchen, you could even store all your other small appliances in the larder. Just be sure to keep the larder doors open when your microwave is in use.

Place it High

This isn’t an option for people with children interested in independent cooking or those who are vertically challenged, but placing your microwave at eye level can save counter space and also add interest to a run of wall units. If you don’t like the idea of your microwave compromising the sleek aesthetics of your wall cabinets, you could always conceal it within a unit. You will need to ensure there’s sufficient ventilation and you will be restricted to use only when the door is open.

Recess It

If you have wall space available from a closet or garage, it could be possible to recess your microwave into the wall. This provides a convenient solution without it looking unsightly protruding out into the kitchen. Ideally, your recess would be created near your range for complete ease of use.

Consider Additional Microwave Features

If you are still struggling to incorporate a microwave into your kitchen, you may wish to consider a model with additional features. There are models available with grilling elements. This eliminates the need to have both a microwave and toaster oven in your kitchen. You can not only use the appliance as a standard microwave, but you can also toast, brown and crisp your food.

A microwave is an essential appliance in the modern kitchen. Fortunately, there are a myriad of choices to find the ideal model for your kitchen layout. If you’re looking for a new microwave, you can explore your options with this online collection of microwaves or speak to a home appliance expert for a more specialized service.