Appliances 101

A kitchen range hood has taken on more prominence as a focal point in the space. Range hoods are built out of many types of materials such as stainless steel, bronze and copper. Whether you have a range hood as a statement piece or a simple vent, it is important to keep it clean for optimal performance. If you are cooking with and using the hood daily, try to clean it monthly. If you aren’t cooking as often, then seasonal cleaning should be sufficient. Always clean it after a bigger holiday feast. The range hood suctions up grease and food particles that naturally cling to the surfaces. Cleaning is essential not only to keep it looking and smelling better, but to also prevent a house fire. If a pot or pan is left on the stove for too long, flames can appear and if the range hood is greasy it can lead to extensive structural damage. As with any product, you should always reference the manufacturer’s manual before cleaning. This will give you a more specific procedure for taking care of your range hood. What You’ll Need: Baking Soda Degreasing dishwashing liquid Boiling Water Soft nylon-bristle brush Spray-on degreaser Paper towels or cleaning rags Cleaning a Range Hood Filter Range hood filters all help catch grease and food before it enters the ductwork. Some are metal that can be cleaned and reused for many years while others are disposable charcoal filters. Check your manufacturer’s instructions before cleaning. Remove the filter. To remove a reusable filter, either slide it out or find the latch that will pop out the rest of the filter. Prepare a solution. Fill the sink with boiling water or use a large pot or baking dish that is heatproof. Add a tablespoon or two of dishwashing liquid to the water. Check that it contains a degreaser. Add 1/2 cup baking soda and mix the solution. Soak the filter. Submerge the filter into the solution and let it soak for at least fifteen minutes. Try to remove it before the water cools completely or the grease will resettle on the filter. Scrub and Rinse. Use the scrub brush to remove any grease and food particles that are still clinging onto the filter. Rinse with hot water and dry completely before placing in the range hood. Cleaning the Range Hood Interior/Exterior Apply degreaser to interior surfaces. Clear out the stovetop below as you may get drips. Spray on the degreaser and let it work for at least fifteen minutes. Wipe away. Use paper towels to wipe away the cleaner and grime. For stubborn particles, spray a bit of degreaser on a nylon-bristled brush and scrub the area. Rinse well. Dip a clean paper towel in warm water and rinse the interior to remove any remaining cleaner. Cleaning the exterior surfaces. Depending on the material, use an appropriate cleaning product recommended for those finishes. To prevent streaks on stainless steel, use a drop or two of olive oil on a microfiber cloth for a final polish. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for other materials such as painted metal, copper and brass. Source: the Spruce

Your oven is bound to build up some grime over time. An oven cleaner can be a great solution to cleaning grates, reviving baking sheets and even scrubbing white porcelain tubs. However, an oven cleaner should be handled with care since it is a harsh solution. Here are a few precautions you should take when handling oven cleaner. Don’t use it on a self-cleaning oven. The oven cleaner could corrode the oven’s special enamel coating. If you have a self-cleaning oven, check the product manual to find out which products are safe to clean with. Avoid some parts inside the oven. Take caution to avoid certain oven parts while using oven cleaner. The heating elements on the top or bottom of the unit and gaskets should be off limits. The cleaner could cause them to degrade and lose their airtight seal. Don’t use it without protection. Oven cleaner eats through tough build-up in your oven and can damage sensitive areas on your body like your skin. Wear rubber gloves to prevent the harsh chemicals in cleaners. It’s also wise to consider wearing goggles or another form of eye protection. Don’t use it without ventilation. Oven cleaner is irritating to the respiratory tract. This could cause issues if it’s inhaled. Turn on the vent hood in your kitchen and open windows to circle the air when exposed to fumes. Don’t expose others. Take precautions to not use the product around those who have asthma or other respiratory issues. These fumes can be especially dangerous to pets, especially birds. Be sure to always keep the oven cleaner somewhere safe where children cannot reach it. Source: the Kitchn

Kitchen appliances come in all sorts of colors and finishes. However, the cost of home appliances can mean these are long-term investments for your home. The choice is ultimately dependent on your decor tastes, the reason for buying the appliance, and your living situation. Here are a few tips you can follow when deciding on their color. Colorful Appliances If you’re looking to get a colorful refrigerator or microwave, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons. A bright color will quickly date the appliance. Over time these appliances will go out of style much faster than expected. It may seem appealing to go for a trendy kitchen, but neutrals are more likely to seem timeless. When picking these appliances, remember that these colors usually go out of stock more often than stainless steel. If one appliance needs to be replaced, it may be difficult to find the same color or you’ll have to settle for mismatched appliances. Décor Preferences When deciding on an appliance’s color, ask yourself if it complements the rest of decor that won’t be changed anytime soon, such as flooring, counters and backsplashes. Stainless steel tends to be the most neutral of all finishes since they fit with both warm and cool color schemes. Stainless steel is more difficult to keep clean, as fingerprints show more easily compared to other finishes. Black appliances tend to blend with other stainless steel appliances and are harder to date than color finishes. If you’re looking for a customized look, the hidden-appliance look involves cabinet panels that virtually hide appliances within cabinetry. This will be the most expensive option but can greatly enhance the selling feature of your kitchen. Source: the Spruce

All major appliances have proper maintenance protocols to ensure it offers years of reliable use. Dishwashers are no exception. Mold, mildew, inefficient cycles and malfunctioning mechanics can disturb your kitchen’s flow for meal prep and cleanup. These repairs can also be costly. It’s important to prevent these issues by avoiding some common mistakes. As with any appliance, it’s best to refer to your product’s manual for the most accurate information. Running short, cold cycles. Many dishwashers can come with different cleaning options, such as cold washes or short rinses. However, it may be in the best interest of your appliance to stick to the standard full, hot cycles. A cold and short cycle can cause sludge and slime buildup. To ensure your dishwasher’s water is truly hot, try briefly running the hot water from the faucet closest to the dishwasher (typically your kitchen sink) before starting a cycle. Skipping heated dry. Similar to the previous rule, your dishwasher does need an extra hot cycle to burn off any lingering dampness and humidity. Not doing so can lead to mold and mildew. Use the heated dry option to give your unit a little more power to do its job. Using detergent pods. Most of the time detergent pods are more convenient, but may not be as effective as liquid detergent. Most newer dishwashers don’t get the water hot enough to completely dissolve the pods. Look out for any half-dissolved pods in the dishwasher door or residue on glassware. A detergent pod could be the culprit. Not cleaning filters daily. You may be unaware of the fact that your dishwasher has a filter food debris. This filter traps larger food particles, similarly to a basket drain in your kitchen’s sink. Leaving these filters dirty or clogged with food can lead to inefficient water flow and ultimately a less effective dishwasher. Avoiding maintenance. Anytime you notice your dishwasher working less efficiently than normal or leaving food residue behind on dishes, it may be time to schedule an inspection or maintenance. Sometimes sensors can malfunction and the dishwasher will stop heating water properly, no matter the way it’s set. It’s best to always take note of these issues sooner rather than later. A technician will be able to identify and fix any obstructed or faulty sensors before the appliance breaks down completely. Source: the Kitchn

You may be looking at your dishwasher, more specifically the detergent compartments and asking yourself what all those mean. Let your dishwasher take the load of the work by utilizing these compartments to their maximum potential. Your owner’s manual will be the most useful for model-specific practices. You can also find many manuals online in their PDF formats. If you’re still looking for a guide to fill the gaps, look no further! Here’s what dishwasher compartments mean, and how you should use them. (From left to right as pictured above) Main Wash Compartment. This is the main compartment where you’ll always be using when running the dishwasher. Many kinds of detergents can go here such as powder, gel and pods. Even if you use a pod, it should go into this compartment and not be tossed into the dishwasher as this will make it dissolve too quickly. Be sure to follow the recommended detergent amount, often times people use too much! Pre-Rinse Compartment. The smaller compartment usually located with the main wash compartment is there for a reason, even if most people don’t use it. The pre-rinse cup is meant to hold extra detergent if you feel the load will require some extra power on greasy pots and pans. It’ll add a bonus cleaning action to the pre-wash cycle of your dishwasher. Rinse Aid Compartment. Not often used, but should be! The Rinse aid helps break the surface tension of the water that rests on your dishes after they’re washed. The water will in turn slide off easily. It’ll help dishes dry faster and prevent water spots on your dishes. This compartment will hold more product than you actually need for a single cycle. Fill it up and refill once it runs out. There is usually an indicator to let you know it’s getting low. Source: the Kitchn

Juicers have come a long way, and are best to extract juice from firmer fruits and vegetables. There are three basic types of modern juicers– centrifugal force, masticating or cold press, and triturating. A centrifugal force juicer contains blades in a spinning container. These are the fastest, loudest and least expensive types. A masticating or cold press uses a single spiral auger to masticate the produce. It will mimic the action of chewing. It’s much slower but extracts more juice. The triturating is a professional type that uses two augers to grind the fruit and vegetables into small particles. Cleaning is essential for any kind of juicer, regardless of the type. Without regular upkeep, small bits of pulp can get trapped in the components and decay leading to bacterial and mold growth. Many of these components are dishwasher-safe and can be kept clean with just a few items. Every juicer should be cleaned after every use. Bits that are trapped can harden quickly, making them more difficult to remove later. If the juicer is being used daily, make sure to give it a deeper cleaning weekly. What You’ll Need: 1 Non-abrasive sponge 1 Soft-bristled bottle brush 1 Toothbrush 1 Spatula 1 Microfiber cloth 1 Dishwasher 1 Dishwashing liquid 1 Dishwasher detergent 1 Baking soda 1 Distilled white vinegar Directions: Before you begin the cleaning process, turn off and unplug the juicer from the wall outlet. Remove the juice and pulp collection containers. Disassemble the juicer to access the grinding mechanism, strainer, lid, and plunger. Use a spatula to scrape out the pulp container. The pulp can be used in some recipes, composted, or placed in a trashcan. Fill a sink with hot water and add a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Place the components in the sink and let them soak for two or three minutes. Use a non-abrasive sponge to wash the plastic containers. Use a soft-bristled bottle brush or toothbrush to clean the strainer and around the grinding components. Rinse the clean pieces well with hot water and allow to air-dry or dry with a microfiber cloth to help prevent water spots.Even if you plan to place the parts in the dishwasher, give them a quick rinse to flush out the pulp particles. This is particularly important for the fine mesh of the strainer. Dampen a non-abrasive sponge with water and wipe down the base of the juicer. Never submerge the base that contains the motors in water! Dry with a microfiber towel. Once every component is clean and dry, reassemble the juicer and you’re ready for the next use. Weekly Deep Cleaning: If pulp has been allowed to dry and harden in the juicer components, fill a sink with hot water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid, add the components and allow them to soak for 15 minutes.Dip a toothbrush or bottle brush in dry baking soda and gently scrub the components. The baking soda will act as a gentle abrasive. Rinse the components often and continue scrubbing until they are clean. If the containers have streaks and water spots, fill them with distilled white vinegar and allow them to soak for 15 minutes. Pour out the vinegar and wipe them down with a non-abrasive sponge. Rinse well and dry with a microfiber cloth. Source: the Spruce

A gas oven can be a bit tricky if you’ve only used electric ones. All gas ovens have a main burner at the bottom of the oven compartment which is usually shielded by a sheet of metal with vents on the sides. This provides intense radiant heat upwards into the main oven compartment. However, the temperature can fluctuate more widely and the overall heating can be less even. If you’re wondering why some muffins aren’t browning on top or a cake is baking unevenly, try these helpful tips. Rotate trays. It’s important to rotate trays once or twice during cooking to ensure that everything bakes as evenly as possible. If you’re baking multiple trays of pastries, try swapping the top and bottom trays as well as rotating them. If you’re baking cakes, breads or muffins try rotating them 90 degrees midway through. Move trays upwards to brown. Gas ovens can retain more ambient moisture which can result in foods taking longer to brown on top. Place the tray at the top of the oven or place a second tray directly above it so the heat will bounce off and help brown your foods more quickly. If a broiler is built into your oven you can also run it under that for a minute or two. Increase the temperature to crisp. If you’re looking to achieve a crispy crust, try turning up the oven heat by 25 degrees F. This will affect the cooking time slightly so be attentive to visual and aromatic cues that your food is done. Avoid dark metal cookware. Since heat in a gas oven is radiating from the main burner, the bottoms of your bakeware absorb more heat and speeds up cooking. This can result in the bottom of your food burning while the top isn’t done. Light colored metals, glass and silicone are great choices for baking in gas ovens to reduce the risk that bottoms burn. Cosmo Appliances are built with a variety of fuel types to match whichever needs you may have. Our line of Electric Ovens can be built into cabinetry for a seamless look. If you prefer a Cosmo Gas Range or Dual Fuel Range, check out our available models here. A better home starts with Cosmo. Source: the Kitchn