BUYER’S GUIDE
The latest and greatest kitchen appliances
When it comes to renovating or updating your kitchen, the appliances are going to be the most expensive aspect of the entire project. With that in mind, it’s important to ensure that you go shopping armed with a wealth of knowledge about purpose, functionality and technological advancements. We spoke to experts in the field to bring you the most up-to-date information.
fridges & freezers
Investing in products with smart technology provides convenience, says Andrew Wand, head of home appliances at Samsung Australia. “When purchasing a new fridge, you should be led by the features and format that are right for your family. You should consider the products with the maximum number of features for the budget you have available. Cooking and entertaining with close friends is becoming more popular in Australian homes, so investing in fridges with adjustable and easy storage solutions is a key feature.” Andrew says innovations like the Samsung Family Hub also mean new ways of communicating with your family. “Features such as the Family Board allow families to post videos and pictures or scribble notes.” Other technological advancements to look out for include auto-filling water jugs, ice makers and dispensers, intuitive troubleshooting functionality, instant view technology and digital control screens with shopping-list capabilities.
ovens & cooktops
Many of the new features in ovens and cooktops are designed to help take the guesswork out of cooking with more inbuilt functionality. “Controlling temperature and achieving even, consistent heat is something that changes the way you cook. Consistency makes it easier to get great results, and the latest technology will help you achieve this,” says Chloe Skipp, national culinary manager at Winning Appliances. “Cooktop gas technology gives you high temperature options – perfect for wok cooking – and some cooktops now have dual-stack burners for gentle heat, such as for melting chocolate directly in the pan.” Smart sensors that remember pot placement have also been integrated into induction cooktops, as has the ability to link zones for large-surface cooking, says Chloe. “Entry-level prices for a smart oven start at $2500 and go to $7500; cooktops range from $2000 to $5000,” she explains. Other advancements to look out for are products that include remote control via a smartphone app, ovens with interior cameras that feed to your smartphone, automatic cooking cycles for particular foods, inbuilt recipes and even self-cleaning abilities.
dishwashers
“Smart dishwashers connect to your mobile device so you can view wash times and cycles and download new wash programs,” says Colin Jones, category expert at Appliances Online. “Essentially, smart dishwashers enable individuals to customise the machine and its settings to align with their needs.” Colin also recommends looking for technology that diagnoses issues with the machine and provides helpful hints on how to correct the fault, without the need of a service person; trouble shooting like this from your machine can save you time and money. “Great brands to consider are Bosch, Siemens, Neff, Samsung, LG and Asko,” says Colin. “If you use your dishwasher daily or up to four times a week, it’s worth investing in a quality machine, which could cost from $1000 up to $2000, depending on the technology and sophistication of the functions.” Look for a slide-out cutlery drawer to make accessibility easy, as well as adjustable racks and water- and energy-efficiency ratings.
Also, be aware of the noise your dishwasher makes. “In openplan kitchens, intense noise from appliances can disturb the peace,” says Colin, adding that it’s more common in older models.