If you are planning a refurbishment for your kitchen, it probably follows that you are planning to replace some essential kitchen appliances as well. This could include major devices such as your cooker, your refrigerator, your dishwasher, and so on. But we all know that kitchen appliances can be quite the expense – and sometimes, paying more for something doesn’t mean that you’re paying for the best quality, either. It takes more than a bit of knowledge to know which kitchen appliances are worth shelling out money for, and which appliances will work well even if they aren’t top of the line. If you would like to know how you can make your purchases worthwhile, here’s how to choose the best appliances for your kitchen.
Make sure to take measurements
The first step to choosing the best appliances for your kitchen is to take the proper measurements. It’s essential that the appliance fits into the space allotted for it, and if not, this could leave you with a lot of headache and hassle. Most cookers range from 50 cm to 90 cm, whilst most fridge and freezer combinations range from 56-65 cm to 140-180 cm. Dishwashers can range from 54 to 88 cm, whilst a washing machine and tumble dryer could vary in size from 52 cm to 85 cm. A built-in oven, on average, could be from 45 cm to 60 cm.
The criteria for various appliances
There are criteria you should take note of if you want to be sure that you are getting the right deal on the appliance you are looking for – and this includes the usable space within the appliance, the way it can evenly cool or heat food, and more.
- Check the usable space within the appliance and remember this: most manufacturers will not give too accurate a measurement of the space within the appliance, especially when it comes to fridge freezers and cookers. If you can do so, ask for ‘props’ like fake roast potatoes or turkeys so you can really see how much space the appliance has inside.
- In regard to cooking appliances, you have to consider how evenly it can cool down or heat food. When you are checking out microwaves, for instance, see if it can cook the food as evenly as possible without drying it out.
- Another consideration is how much it would cost to run the appliance. This is a major consideration for many, and for good reason. For instance, a fridge freezer which is inefficient can run up to £620 more than one which is efficient over a decade of use.
More considerations
Whilst it’s true that the best appliances need not be the most expensive, it still pays to consider the overall quality and reliability of the appliance. This is where independent customer reviews come in – you should read as many reviews as you can about particular brands of appliances, so you have a better idea of which brand works best. Some consumers also recommend going for built-in or integrated appliances rather than buying them separately, because when you go for a built-in one, it is easier to make sure that it is the right fit for your kitchen.
Another factor you may want to think carefully about is appliance insurance. Kitchen appliance insurance can actually work better than a standard warranty because it can give you unlimited callouts for relatively new appliances and prompt response in case anything goes wrong or your appliance needs repair or replacement. With this kind of insurance, you can also make your kitchen appliance investment more worthwhile.