Cooking has become more of an art than a mundane household chore. With more and more electronic appliances that boast of elaborate functions, a kitchen is a storehouse of luxury and beauty. But apart from all the functional advantages, that we women like to invest our savings in, some of these machines are masterpieces made especially to save our time and energy. We listed some must-haves in a modern kitchen. Take a look.
Fridge: Used to store cooked and uncooked food to keep their freshness intact and minimize wastage.
What to look for when buying: The capacity of your fridge will depend on its usage and the amount of people living in the house. The capacity is directly proportional to price; more capacity means more expensive. Buy a fridge that allows you to create space with adjustable shelves. Measure the space available at home and keep in mind the approximate space you require to easily pull open the doors. The most preferred and affordable refrigerators are the ones with a freezer on top. These allow you to segregate foods for cold storage. Also, look for a higher star energy rating appliance that is energy efficient.
Approx Price Range: 15,000 to 30,000 (For a basic fridge)
Water Purifier: Removes impurities and germs from water making it safe to consume. Different purifiers use different processes of purification.
What to look for when buying: A water purifier comes in different shapes and sizes so its important to measure the space you have to spare for one. Look for companies that offer a good after sales service. A purifier that is low on maintenance and high on performance would be the most suitable option.
Approx Price Range: Rs. 2,000 to 10,000
Microwave Oven: It was essentially used to heat cooked food but the newer versions can cook and bake too.
What to look for when buying: Consider the oven size and its wattage. Buy one with variable settings and an easy user interface. Remember to check if it has an automatic turntable which makes heating quicker. You can also opt for one with an additional functionality that allows you to grill veggies and meats.
Approx market price: Rs. 6,000 to 15,000
Coffee Maker: Used essentially to brew coffee.
What to look for when buying: Look out for a coffee maker with easy cleaning features which also has inclusions such as a steam wand, water filter and manual water control. If you are willing to shell out some more money, you can get one that also grinds the coffee beans.
Approx Price Range: Rs. 1000 to 2000
Toaster: A small appliance that is used to toast multiple types of bread
What to look for when buying: Should be energy efficient, with a double slot and centering device that ensures even toasting. A removable crump tray makes it easy-to-clean. It should also have wide slots to accommodate all types of bread.
Approx Price Range: Rs. 500 to 1,500
Blender (Mixer): Used to essentially blend, mix or puree solid substances.
What to look for when buying: A traditional blender consists of a blender jar with a blade at the bottom rotated by a motor. Look for a sturdy jar and sharp blades. Something that is easy to clean and maintain is an added advantage. Ensure that the blender can breakdown items such as grains, fruits and vegetables. Depending on the use, decide the amount of voltage you need.
Approx Price Range: Rs. 3000 to 5000
Food Processor: An electronic devise that is similar to a blender. It comes with multiple blades and attachments that enable you to do various things with the same machine such as grate, shred, chop, mince etc. It doesn’t require any liquid to process food, unlike regular mixers.
What to look for when buying: Look out for the number and sizes of blades, and the material of the appliance such as plastic, porcelain or metal. Additional accessories are thrown in for free, and these may or may not be useful. The machine should be easy to clean and maintain. A food processor with lids and a wide-feeding tube, along with versatile blades is the best bet.
Approx Price Range: Rs. 3500 to 5000
Juicer: An electronic machine that helps extract juice from fruits, vegetables, leafy greens and herbs in an easy and simple manner.
What to look for when buying: Look for easy operation. Effortless to clean, durable and simple to use would be ideal. Consider the power usage and storage too.
Approx Price Range: Rs. 1500 to 3000
Electric Kettle: Used to boil water in no time.
What to look for when buying: Check for its speed of boiling, size and weight. Also, note how many cups of tea or coffee it can make at once. An energy efficient kettle, which is also easy to use, is the best.
Approx Price Range: Rs. 500 to 2,000
Hand-held Electric Whisk: This is a handheld electric mixer with beater blades. It does the continuous stirring, whisking and beating that some foods require. It is primarily used to stir batters. If you are into baking, a whisk is a must-have.
What to look for when buying: Lookout out for a comfortable handle design. Pay attention to its speed functions and blades and attachments. Ensure that it is easy to clean and does not cause any harm to the vessel or your hands.
Approx Price Range: Rs. 700 to 2000
Rice Cooker: Used to cook rice
What to look for when buying: Although it is called a rice cooker, it has several uses like steaming, making pasta, cooking quinoa and such. So, while you can opt for one that only cooks rice, we suggest a multi-tasking appliance for a win-win situation. Check for the durability factor because a good one will last for more than a decade.
Approx Price Range: Rs 1500 to Rs 5000
Sandwich Maker or Panini Presses: Used to toast sandwiches in an easy manner, it is sometimes also used for frying eggs, omelets, making pancakes and waffles.
What to look for when buying: Check the amount of storage space it needs. Also, measure your counter top size and height of the sandwich maker so that it doesn’t cause you inconvenience.
Approx Price Range: 700 to 2,000
Dish Washer: Used to clean dishes and vessels.
What to look for when buying: Look for a machine with adjustable racks and fold-down tines that can accommodate different vessel sizes. Also see how efficient it is for your needs. It is good to buy a product that provides after-sales service. Functions such as self cleaning, food disposer, water and electricity saving are essential and will be useful.
Approx Price Range: 25,000 to 40,000
Electric Chimney: Primarily used to eliminate the smoke in the kitchen that culminates while cooking.
What to look for when buying: It comes in two styles, the baffle filters and metal grease filter. So decide which one suits your kitchen best. Choose one with minimum noise and more suction power. The baffle filter is supposed to be better because they have overlapped filters that suck the grease out.
Approx Price Range: A basic chimney can cost anywhere from Rs. 5,000 to 25,000
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