subject: The Right Kitchen Appliance Can Save You Money And Time [print this page] Appliances have consistently been designed with advantage in mind, but modern kitchen appliances are created for maximum efficiency to save you time and cash. By updating your older kitchen devices you can easily shave hundreds of bucks every year off your food, water and electric bills.
Energy Efficient Appliances
Old appliances cost more money to run because they were built to conform to lower efficiency standards. Modern refrigerators, ranges, chest freezers and dish washers often have the same or improved performance standards but use less power.
When shopping for a refrigerator, remember that side-by-side models are less efficient than top freezer and bottom freezer models. When in operation, keep your new refrigerator temperature at moderate settings. By keeping your refrigerator colder than necessary, you increase your power usage and decrease the life of the refrigerator.
If purchasing a stove, operating costs for gas ranges may be less than half as much as electric ranges. Look for ranges that come equipped with an electric ignition.
Slow cooker
The slow cooker is the ideal tool for busy parents and professionals who don't have time to cook. Designed to cook food over an extended period of time on a low heat setting, the slow cooker allows you to prepare meals the night before. After heating all day, the food is ready for dinner. Food made in a slow cooker is often less expensive and healthier than convenience foods and restaurant take-out, but may be ready to eat just as quickly.
Chest Freezer
Chest freezers may be utilized to provide many opportunities for savings. With additional space to freeze leftovers, you eliminate the need to purchase expensive frozen meals at the grocery store. Frozen leftovers reheated in an oven make a convenient lunch or an easy, no-mess dinner after a long day, saving time as well as money. The storage space provided by a chest freezer will also allow you to buy your vegetables and berries in season, when produce is freshest and cheapest. In addition to produce, you can also freeze perishable items like milk and cheese. This allows you to buy these foods on sale and store extras in the freezer for later.
Food Processor
Food processors may be used to quickly and efficiently chop, dice and puree. Time saving conveniences like pre-shredded cheese and pre-sliced vegetables are available for purchase at grocery stores, but these products may be more expensive. Alternatively, your food processor can slice produce and shred cheese in seconds. With a food processor at home you can purchase more food for your money without wasting time chopping, dicing and shredding. As a bonus, a food processor may also be used as an alternative an electric mixer. Food processors can mix and cream, making an electric mixer an unnecessary, redundant appliance.
Coffee Maker
Coffee made at home is a great deal cheaper than coffee from the local coffee shop. Be sure to purchase a coffee maker that comes with a re-usable metal filter instead of disposable paper filters. In addition, your coffee maker should feature a double-walled insulated coffee pot that keeps coffee hot without extended use of the hot plate. Not only does this cut power usage by allowing you to turn off the hot plate, but you won't ever have to replace another shattered glass coffee pot again.
