Though nearly all refrigerators used today run on electricity, there is another way to power these appliances.  You can get a gas refrigerator that you don’t need to plug in.  They don’t need electricity to run, which makes them ideal for use in areas without a good power supply.  They are often used in rural cabins, recreational vehicles, and camps.  Though you can use a generator to produce electricity and use that to power a normal refrigerator, it is much simpler and easier to just use a gas fridge.

How a Gas Fridge Works

Gas fridges work by using the heat from burning a gas (usually propane) to separate ammonia from water, which is then cooled and circulated to keep the inside of the fridge nice and frosty.  They are actually pretty quiet, since there are no moving parts or fans.  They have a few components inside them which separate, condense, and cool off ammonia and other substances.  In addition to units that burn propane (called an lp gas fridge), you can also find a natural gas fridge, and even a kerosene fridge.  Depending on where you live, one type of fuel is probably cheaper and more readily available than the others.

Gas Powered Fridge Models

As far as exteriors go, most of these appliances look pretty similar.  They tend to be a bit smaller than normal refrigerators, with an average size of about 7.5 cubic feet.  With a few variations, most models of the gas fridge freezer pretty much work the same way.  A good example is the Danby propane refrigerator.  It has a capacity of 7.8 cubic feet, and the interior has all of the shelves, compartments, and other items that come standard with any fridge.  One thing to remember is that since these models don’t use any electricity, they almost always have a battery powered light that comes on when you open the door.  Over time, the battery might need changing.  Some models just use “D” batteries, but others use special long-lasting ones.

One of the biggest names in gas refrigerators is Dometic, which is a company from South Africa.  This company makes what it calls a gas electric fridge, which can run on both electricity and gas.  These units are wonderful for places that have unreliable electricity sources.  If the power goes out, you can switch it to gas and keep your food source safe and cold.  You can get a Dometic gas fridge that runs on propane, or you can get one that uses kerosene.  This is one of the only manufacturers in the world that produces dual electric kerosene refrigerators.

Tags: Appliances, Refrigerators by Jeffrey
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We are always on the lookout for cheap appliances.  Many of us don’t have much cash to spare, and when something breaks, you have no choice but to replace it.  There is an art to finding cheap kitchen appliances, and those who have mastered it can save some serious money.  Here is a guide to help you get the best products for your money.

Rule #1:  Shop around for cheap home appliances

It is no secret that the same exact product may vary in price tremendously, depending on where you buy it.  Stores know that once you are there, chances are you won’t remember how much things were at other places.  They also know that once people purchase a cheap appliance, it is usually too much of a pain to return it and buy it again somewhere else.  If you know you need something, check online to get a good idea of prices, even if you are going to buy it at a store.  You can spare yourself from getting gouged this way.

Rule #2:  Wait for cheap household appliances to go on sale

If you can wait for a few weeks, you can usually get a better deal.  How many times have you purchased a cheap kitchen appliance, only to find out that the same store you bought it from had it on sale a couple weeks later?  Big stores often deeply discount a few items to lure customers into the store because they know that once you are there, you will most likely buy a bunch of other stuff as well that isn’t on sale.  They love to discount cheap electrical appliances made in China.  I once got a waffle maker for $4.99 from one of these stores, and it is still working fine 6 years later.

Rule #3:  Consider buying a used appliance

For heavily used appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers, electric coffee makers, and microwaves, you probably want to go with a new one.  Most houses have quite a few other appliances tucked away in the cupboard or closet that rarely see the light of day.  My waffle maker is a good example.  It works fine, but it only gets a workout once a month if it is lucky.  Sometimes a cheap kitchen appliance is tempting to buy, but in reality you won’t really use it much.

There was a time when I wanted one of those automatic bread maker machines.  They cost over $100 new at the store, which is pretty steep for something like that.  A couple weeks later, I saw one on sale for $2 at a yard sale.  I use it once in a while, but I usually find that it is cheaper to just buy bread at the store than to make it myself!  There are a lot of kitchen appliances that are cool to have around, but really don’t get much use.  A while ago, I went through a”juice” phase and got a second hand Jack LaLanne juicer that was awesome.  I don’t use it so much anymore, but am happy I didn’t have to dish out a lot of money for it.  Let someone else spend the big bucks to buy it new, and then get it from them for a few bucks at a garage sale!

Rule #4:  Consider fixing it yourself

These days, it is often less expensive to buy a new item than to try to fix it yourself.  The exception to this rule is washing machines, dryers, and other high priced units.  You can easily find cheap appliance parts online at the manufacturers website and then try to fix it yourself if you have the time and/or ability.  Last year I replaced the belt on my dryer, and it was actually quite easy.  Most people would have just scrapped it and bought a new one.  I fixed mine pretty quickly and it only cost $19.
I have to admit that it saddens me to see our landfills overflow with cheap home appliance debris.  Manufacturers actually design their products so they will break after a few years, and the majority of these products end up in the trash can.   They want their stuff to work long enough for you to have a good impression of the company, but not so long that you won’t need to buy another one from them!  Decades ago people used to buy things for their homes that were handmade and are almost indestructible.  Appliances for cheap prices just weren’t available then.  Times have surely changed, and it is quite rare to find a quality, hand made appliance that will last decades these days.

Tags: Appliances, Kitchen Accessories by Jeffrey
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Many people face the same dilemma:  They need appliances in their kitchen, but there simply just isn’t enough room for all of them.  When space is short, you need to get creative, and one of the best ways of doing that is by combining appliances.  By itself, a microwave is definitely a bulky appliance that usually takes up a good portion of your counter space.  Getting a combination microwave oven is a great solution to this problem.  There are a number of different types of combination microwaves, so let’s take a quick look at them so that you can get an idea of how you save some space in your kitchen.

The Combination Microwave Convection Oven

One of the most popular 2 in 1 appliances are the combination microwave convection ovens.  Besides being fully functional microwaves, you can use one of these units for almost everything that you would use a regular oven for – baking cookies, browning casseroles, and anything else you want to cook up.  These appliances are great if you don’t already have a big range oven.  You can easily put one either on the counter itself or on a kitchen cart.
The best part about these microwave combination ovens is that they don’t actually cost any more than normal microwaves.  You can get the Sanyo EM-C6786V microwave convection oven for $159, which is pretty comparable to prices for standard microwaves, and Sanyo is a reputable company.
Some of them cost a bit more and add some extra features.  A fine example of this is the Panasonic combination microwave.  The Panasonic NN-C994S Genius Prestige has some features that you probably didn’t even know existed.  One of them is called the “genius sensor”, which automatically adjusts the power level and cooking time while it is on.  I’m not exactly sure how this works, but the folks at Panasonic are certainly geniuses for figuring it out.  If you need both a range and a microwave, a convection microwave oven is a good choice.

The Combination Microwave Hood

Another great appliance design breakthrough is the combination microwave hood.  You just mount this appliance onto the wall above your range, and it acts a fully functional microwave as well as a ventilator.  In addition, nearly all units come with lights that shine right on what you are cooking below, which is great as well.  Like the convection combos, these microwaves cost pretty much the same as normal ones, but they do two tasks.  The Sharp R-1406 is a typical unit.  As has three venting options, straight out, upwards, or recirculation.  The other part of this Sharp combination microwave features 10 different power levels, pre-programmed cooking buttons, and a popcorn button that automatically pops popcorn until it is done, regardless of the brand or size of the bag.

If you are looking for the best combination microwave available, you are in luck.  There are units that feature stylish stainless steel outsides that integrate with other appliances.  In addition, the more expensive models usually feature ventilation fans that aren’t as loud as some of the other ones.

Other Types of Combination Microwave Ovens

There are a few other types of appliance combinations that are available.  One of them is the Daewoo combination microwave toaster that has a toaster attached to the side of the microwave.  This is one of the only units that actually has a real toaster. Another version of this is the LG stainless steel combination microwave toaster, which has a sleek chrome exterior that will integrate well with the rest of your kitchen.  The toaster part is on the side of the unit, and holds two slices of bread or a bagel.

If you are looking for a high end solution for your fully integrated kitchen, you can choose a built in combination microwave oven.  These beautiful appliances have a microwave on top and a range oven underneath it, with a built-in stainless steel exterior that will perfectly integrate with your kitchen.

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There are certain situations when you need a mobile kitchen.  They come in a wide variety of sizes, from small, compact units to huge setups that can feed thousands of people.  Here are some of the situations that require the use of a mobile kitchen:

• Company and special events
• Food trucks and vendors
• Disaster relief:  Workers and volunteers need to be fed
• Renovations:  For when you can’t shut down your kitchen while you renovate
• Fairs and festivals
• Military camps
• Trade shows
• Temporary health care units and hospitals

Mobile Kitchens for Sale

While many people rent a mobile kitchen, there are many situations when you should buy one.  The most common reason why people buy one is because they want to use it for business.  A mobile kitchen rental is fine, but if you are going to use it more than a few times, it easily makes sense to buy one.  People all over the world have successful businesses that are run out of mobile kitchens.  If you don’t have a lot of starting capital, it is fairly easy to find a used mobile kitchen for sale.  People sell them every day, all over the world, which means that you don’t have to pay top dollar for used mobile kitchens, and can start your business with less money.

Mobile Kitchen Rentals

If you just need a mobile kitchen for one situation, you should definitely rent one.  Mobile kitchen rentals are available worldwide, and they vary from small-scale operations that rent vending trucks to large scale businesses that can customize and deliver an on-site mobile kitchen that is literally big enough to feed an army.

Mobile Kitchen Rental Costs

It is a given that the rental costs are going to vary depending on your needs, the location, and the company you choose.  Here are a few guidelines to think about:  It costs a lot to deliver and return a mobile kitchen to its location, so the prices for one day or a few days are going to be expensive.  All rental companies should give steep discounts for weekly or monthly rentals.  It is often the same price to rent a unit for a month as it is for only a few days.  Small kitchen trucks can be rented for as little as $150 per day, depending on the condition, size and intended use of the truck.  Large kitchen trailers cost $2,000 or more per day, but monthly rentals start at around $6,000 and go up from there, depending on the size and features.

Types of Mobile Kitchens

There are two basic types of mobile kitchens.  The first kind is the mobile kitchen truck.  This type of unit is an all-in-one cooking machine.  You can just drive it to wherever it is needed, and then park it and get to work.  Mobile kitchen trucks are good for smaller operations and food vendors.  The sides of the trucks generally open and awnings can be erected as well.  They are run by generators that power the stoves, grills, refrigerators, and other appliances.  These trucks can be custom made by a number of manufacturers, and are the easiest to find used.

The second type is the mobile kitchen trailer.  When you need to feed a lot of people at the same time, a truck usually just isn’t going to cut it.  Mobile kitchen trailers are the solution to large scale cooking in locations that don’t have permanent facilities.  There are different types of kitchen trailers, each specializing in a different area.  Here are some of the most common mobile kitchen trailers that are available.

• All-in-one mobile trailers:  Have everything you need in one unit to cook basic meals
• Bakery production trailers
• Food preparation trailers
• Dishwashing units
• Refrigeration and freezer trailers:  You can get them separately or together.

These mobile kitchen trailers are also called modular kitchens because you can mix and match them to fulfill your needs.  You can get any number of different mobile kitchen units and put them together to meet your demands.

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There are only a few must-haves for a dorm room, and a dorm fridge is definitely one of them.  You need to have a place to keep beverages frosty, snacks handy, and other things like breakfast foods for when you don’t have time to hit the cafeteria.  Dorm room refrigerators, (which are also called a bar fridge) are also wonderful for tucking away the other half of that pizza you had delivered but couldn’t finish.  Believe me; the cheese and pepperoni isn’t very appetizing after being left out for 24 hours.  Although most dorms have communal kitchens, these tend to be easy targets for students with the late night munchies, and therefore aren’t good places to stash your food.  Here is a short guide to help you choose a good dorm refridgerator.

Basically, there is nothing different between dorm refrigerators and regular mini fridges.  These little appliances need to fit into your way-too-small dorm room.  The smallest of these units is only about a foot tall, so you can easily put it on top of a shelf or even in the closet.  You should get one that is a little bigger though, especially if there will be two people using it.  A size of 3 cubic feet or larger should be enough room to hold your stuff, and it will only be a little bigger than the tiny ones.

Dorm Refrigerator Features

1. Although most of these little fridges tend to be pretty basic, here are a few features that you should look for:
2. Find one with a good freezer in it.  Many dorm size refrigerators have tiny freezer compartments that tend to either ice up or melt whatever you put in there.  Look for one that comes with a full width freezer with a good door on it.
3. Get one that has a flat top that you can use for a counter.  This comes in handy for preparing simple meals.

Look for a unit that says it is “frost free”, which means it will be less likely to ice up.  It is a pain to clean up an iced up fridge in a dorm room with no sink in it!

Dorm Refrigerator Prices

Small dorm refrigerators these days go for as little as $50 or so.  Most college students tend to buy whatever is the cheapest.  Don’t worry about the outside look of it so much. You can slap a few stickers on it to brighten it up.  Many colleges, mine included, had guys prowling the dorm areas when new students moved in, trying to either sell you a used fridge or rent one to you for the year.  You can check the prices, but it is often cheaper to buy a new one than to rent one from one of these guys.  You can simply order one right here on amazon, and it will be delivered right to your dorm in a couple of days.  Alternatively, order one before you leave for school and bring it with you.

Tags: Appliances, Refrigerators by Jeffrey
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Many people want a small refrigerator to keep their beverages cool and frosty.  When you just don’t have the need or the need for a full size refrigerator, a mini bar fridge is just what you are looking for.  They come in different sizes, from the ultra tiny to fridges that are about half the size of regular ones.  Here is a guide to the different kinds of mini bar fridges that are available.

The Beverage Center Mini Bar Fridge

A great style of mini bar fridge is the beverage center.  These are great little refrigerators, and they have a glass front, so you can see in it without having to open it all the time.  The beverage center fridge is very common in both in-home bars as well as  restaurants, snack bars, boats, and other business locations that simply need a small fridge that can hold lots of cans or bottles.  Most of these models are designed to hold lots of cans, but there are some that can hold bottles as well.  The Haier HBCN05EBB beverage center is designed to hold 96 cans and 46 bottles of wine.  The shelves are coated with vinyl to keep the bottles from slipping off.

If you are just looking for something cheap that will keep your drinks chilled, you can get a normal bar mini fridge that is compact and inexpensive.  These usually don’t have glass fronts, but they work great.  The Igloo FR180 is very small, with a capacity of just 1.7 cubic feet.  That is enough to hold a couple six packs of cans or bottles, as well as a few snacks.  These units are available at argos if you are in the UK.

If you have a business and are looking for a fridge that will attract attention, you can try getting something like the Monster Energy Drink mini bar fridge.  It has the complete logo and design on it.  You can also get fridges designed with many other beverage brand designs.  Some people get one with their favorite sports team logo on it.  As an added bonus, many of these refrigerators come with adjustable hinges on them, so you can choose which way you want it to open.

Tags: Appliances, Refrigerators by Jeffrey
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What is an Integrated Slimline Dishwasher?

An integrated slimline dishwasher is used when you want the kitchen to look uniform and without anything standing out.  A slimline dishwasher is narrower and not as deep as a normal one. An integrated dishwasher is specifically designed so that it doesn’t really look like a dishwasher from the outside at all.  When you put both of these features together, you get integrated slimline dishwashers.  You have two choices when it comes to these appliances:

Semi Integrated Slimline Dishwashers

A dishwasher that is semi integrated means that some effort is made to make it blend in with other kitchen components.  They come in black, white, or stainless steel, which are the most common colors of kitchen appliances.  A semi integrated slimline dishwasher will have the controls visible on the door of the unit.  While some people will insist on having the control panel hidden out of sight, the reality is that most people don’t really mind.  To me, it seems like it isn’t really worth spending a couple hundred dollars more to have hidden controls.  Having said that, fully integrated models usually offer some great extra features as well.  One of them is a nearly silent washing cycle, which is very important to many people.

Fully Integrated Slimline Dishwashers

Fully integrated models are designed to completely match your other appliances or your cabinets (or both).  They are usually completely customizable, which means that you put a panel on the front of the dishwasher that is the same color and material as your cabinets.  If you have wooden cabinets, you put a wooden panel that is exactly the same as your cabinets on the dishwasher.  If your cabinets and refrigerator are made of stainless steel, you can easily put a stainless steel panel on the front.  The controls of a fully integrated model are hidden out of sight as well.  They are located on the top of the door, which means that you can only see them when you open the door.

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What is a Slimline Dishwasher?

As its name suggests, a slimline dishwasher is slimmer, or narrower than a normal sized dishwasher.  Most dishwashers are 24 inches wide, and the width of a slimline is usually 18 inches.  In addition, they are also shallower, which means that the distance from back to front is not as much as a regular dishwasher.  People use slimline dishwashers because they need to fit them into their kitchen that does not have a lot of room.  Although slimline dishwashers can hold about the same amount of dishes as a portable dishwasher, they are a lot different.  A portable dishwasher is usually hooked up to the sink, and it definitely does not blend into the kitchen very well.  A slimline dishwasher, on the other hand, is made so that it is an integral part of the kitchen and blends in as much as possible.

One of the best features that these appliances have is their ability to blend in.  They are called an integrated slimline dishwasher because the front panel is customized to perfectly match your kitchen cabinets, refrigerator, and other items.  If your cabinets are wooden, you put a wooden panel made of the same type of wood and color as your cabinets onto the front of the dishwasher.  Many people make their entire kitchen stainless steel.  If the refrigerator, cabinets, and other items are stainless steel, you put a stainless panel on to make a stainless steel slimline dishwasher.

The Miele Slimline Dishwasher

The most common and arguably the highest quality brand you can buy are the Miele Slimline dishwashers.  Its 18 inch fully integrated slimline dishwasher has a capacity of 9 place settings.  It features 6 different wash settings, temperature controls, a double waterproof seal, and a built in water softener.  Another great feature it has is a 24 hour delay timer, which lets you set the machine to run at a time when you won’t be bothered by it.

You can also buy a Bosch slimline dishwasher, although they technically aren’t called slimlines.  That is a term used by Miele.  The Bosch Integra 800 series dishwashers are also 18 inches wide, making them the same size as the slimlines.  A number of other appliance manufacturers also offer 18 inch dishwashers, including the Avanti DW181SS and the GE Profile 18 inch stainless steel built in dishwasher.  The Avanti is also customizable, and it costs far less than a Miele model.  The GE Profile comes in stainless steel, and has its controls hidden out of sight.  This would be great if your kitchen is designed with lots of stainless steel features.  For more information on this type of dishwasher, read my post about integrated dishwashers.

Tags: Appliances, Dishwashers by Jeffrey
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There are a few kinds of bar fridges.  Some are meant to hold only beverages like cans or bottles.  Others are made specifically for wine.  Still others are designed for a combination of food and drinks, like a mini bar.  Although sizes vary, usually bar fridge dimensions range from very small with a capacity of under 2 cubic feet to quite large, although a bar fridge for sale usually doesn’t get much bigger than 5 cubic feet or 3 feet tall.  Any bigger than that, and you can just get a normal upright fridge.  Here are the types of bar fridges available and the best models.

Normal Bar Fridges

For everyday normal use, there are lots of bar fridges to choose from.  You should think about what you might want to put in the fridge before you choose one.  If you are primarily going to use it for cans and bottles, you might want to get one without drawers, so you can fit more beverages inside.  Here are some of the most popular models available:
The Sanyo SR-3770S is a great little refrigerator.  It is quite large, standing at counter height, which is almost 3 feet.  This Sanyo is a stainless steel bar fridge, which means it will look great anywhere you put it.  It features a built-in vertical can dispenser and plenty of space both inside and on the door.  Another great feature that this fridge has is a full-width freezer, which comes in very handy when you need some ice.  A small bar fridge usually won’t have a good freezer like this.

The Glass Front Bar Fridge

There are great bar fridges available that are specifically designed to hold lots of cans.  These fridges are called “beverage centers”, and are a great solution

if you need to chill lots of cans.  They are used in all kinds of places, from snack bars to boats to workplaces and schools.    This type of refrigerator is rated according to how many cans it can hold.  Sizes vary from 60 cans up to 150 or more.  The Haier 150 can beverage center is a great little fridge.  Its bar fridge glass door lets you see what is inside without having to open it.  If you are looking for a light-use commercial bar fridge, this type would work well.  It is reasonably priced as well, at just $200, although you can get cheaper beverage centers that hold a smaller quantity of cans.

Mini Bar Fridges

The mini bar fridge is the most common type of bar fridge.  These are the ones that you see in practically every decent hotel room in the world.  Although they are technically just a mini fridge, they do have some distinctions that differentiate them from their little cousins.  The biggest feature that sets them apart is that the good ones use a different method to produce cold air. While other refrigerators use compressors to chill the air, a good mini bar will use what is called the absorption technique.  The result is a completely silent mini bar fridge.  Hotels don’t want noisy refrigerators waking up their guests, and they are willing to pay a lot of money for these silent fridges.  One of the leading manufacturers of mini bar fridges is Summit.  The Summit mini bar fridges features the silent technology and a door lock.

Other Types of Bar Fridges

There are a few other types of bar fridges that are designed for specific uses.  One of them is the wine bar fridge.  Unlike the beverage centers, these fridges are specifically designed to hold bottles of wine.  They come in various sizes, ranging from 6 bottle to 28 bottles or more capacities.  They also have glass doors and thermostats that are far superior to normal fridges.

Another type of fridge is specifically designed for use at a bar.  There are models that are built more sturdy and can hold up to heavy everyday use, such as a back bar fridge.  You can also get an under bar fridge that fits right under your bar, making it conveniently out of sight from customers.

Tags: Appliances, Refrigerators by Jeffrey
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Many people want to buy the best things for their homes.  How do you know what the best freezer for sale is?  There are certainly some top-notch freezers out there, but it all depends on the type that you need.  Here is a guide to the best freezers for sale in each category.

The Best Chest Freezer for Sale

A chest freezer sits on the ground and the top opens up, just like a treasure chest.  This kind of freezer has some great advantages.  Many people like them because of their low profile.  For ice cream shops and other businesses, they work great because they can be kept hidden under the counter.  Chest freezers can vary in size from tiny to huge.  For most people, bigger is better.  Frigidaire makes a gargantuan model, which has a capacity of 29.4 cubic feet.  It has a few great features that other freezers don’t seem to have.  One of them is a lock, so you can keep unwanted ice-cream raiders out.  Another great feature is an alarm, which goes off if the temperature drops below a certain level.  When looking for a freezer chest for sale, keep your eye out for things like warranties, frost-free designs, and other options.

The Best Upright Freezer for Sale

Different from the chest freezers, the upright models are tall and narrow.  The door opens in the front, like a normal refrigerator.  The advantage of having an upright freezer is that you can just open the door and easily find what you need.  If you have a large chest freezer, you may need to do some heavy duty digging to reach what you are looking for.  Both Frigidaire and Kenmore make some great upright freezers.  Generally, the bigger the capacity, the more they are going to cost, and the better features they will have.  If you are looking for a commercial freezer for sale, the best ones are certified by the food safety administration, and they temperature controls and other features are far superior to domestic models.

Some people don’t need one that big.  You can find a decent small freezer for sale online or in your local electronics shop.  They cost around $100 for the small and cheap ones, and go up to $300 or more for the best small models.  Another option to consider is finding a used freezer for sale in the classifieds.  You can often find nearly new appliances that will last you a long time.  Your best option might be to find a regular fridge freezer for sale.  Since these are so common, used ones are often very cheap.  Although they are big, you can buy an extra one and put it in the garage and use it as a spare freezer.

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Kitchen accessories come in many different forms.  There are appliances like blenders, microwave ovens, toasters, and refrigerators.  There are small accessories like kitchen knives, hand mixers, and spatulas.  If you are the type of person who cares a lot about the colors in your kitchen, you might want to take a look at some red kitchen accessories.  In the restaurant business, it is no secret that red is a great color to be associated with food.  When people see the color red, they eat more.  Other colors are good for certain things, but red is definitely a good color for the kitchen.

Apart from renovating your entire kitchen, a good way to add some color is by getting red kitchen accessories.  We all purchase kitchen items now and then, and if you make a point to get red colored stuff when you go shopping, you will eventually have quite a bit of red in your kitchen.  Although not very common, it is possible to buy a red refrigerator.  You can get a retro style Smeg fridge that comes in red (they also come in all kinds of other cool colors too).  You can take a look at my post on the red microwave oven.  These large red kitchen accessories do a lot to add color to the room.

Another popular design that people often use in their kitchen is having both red and black as the dominant colors.  Red and black kitchen accessories complement each other very nicely.  You can decorate your entire kitchen with these two colors, including the furniture and cabinets if you like.  Finding appliances and other kitchen items in the color black is very easy.  Almost every appliance comes in either black or white.  Finding them in red is a bit trickier.  However, with a little perseverance, you can get your hands on red accessories for the kitchen without too much trouble.  An easy way to add some color into your kitchen is by selecting curtains that go well with the theme you have chosen.   For more information, learn how to choose kitchen curtains.

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Many people have heard of a cabinet depth refrigerator, but don’t really know what it is.  Basically, cabinet depth refrigerators are made so that they don’t stick out farther than your cabinets.  These great appliances can be very useful as a bar fridge in the home or outdoor kitchen as well.

Cabinet Depth Refrigerator Dimensions

There are different depths available, and they range from around 24 inches to 30 inches.  In comparison, a normal refrigerator is usually between 30 and 34 inches deep, which means that it sticks out past the cabinets quite a bit.  The truth is that even a cabinet depth refrigerator has to stick out just a little.  Otherwise you wouldn’t be able to open the doors.  Due to the fact that the the cabinet depth fridge is not as deep, they tend to have a smaller capacity than normal refrigerators.  Some manufacturers make up for this by giving them extra width or height.

Why Choose a Cabinet Depth Refrigerator?

The main reason why many people choose a cabinet depth refridgerator is because it integrates your refrigerator with the rest of your kitchen better.  You can often get a customized refrigerator with wooden panels that match your cabinets.  If your cabinets are stainless steel, it is easy to find a refrigerator with a stainless steel outside.

Although some people opt for a completely built in refrigerator, these cost quite a bit of money, and nearly always involve a complete kitchen remodeling.  Cabinet depth models are very popular simply because you can get one that integrates nicely without having to renovate your entire kitchen.

Cabinet Depth Refrigerator Manufacturers

There are a number of companies that manufacture these large appliances.  They tend to be of higher quality than most normal fridges, and they cost a bit more as well.  Here are some of the brands available.

If you are looking for an inexpensive model, you can get an LG cabinet depth refrigerator for under $1,000.  Compared to other brands, this is a great deal.  One of the reasons why they don’t cost a whole lot is because they are definitely on the small side.  At only 10 cubic feet, that is smaller than even the smallest normal refrigerator.   LG produces good quality refrigerators, but they aren’t customizable like those of other brands.

With a capacity of between 20 and 24 cubic feet, a Jenn Air cabinet depth refrigerator is twice the size of an LG.  In addition to being bigger, they are also packed full of features that the LG doesn’t have.  Conveniences like a built-in water filter and dispenser, electronic control panel and temperature display, and roll out shelves among many other things make it a luxury.  As far as integration goes, you can customize a Jenn Air refrigerator with your own panels to match other kitchen features.

An Amana cabinet depth refrigerator is an excellent choice as well.  Amana makes many different styles of fridges, including recently popular French door cabinet depth refrigerators.  These large and beautiful models have a large freezer compartment on the bottom and a full size kitchen on top, which can be accessed by opening either one of the two doors.  There is also a cabinet depth side by side refrigerator model available, which have the refrigerator on one side and the freezer on the other.

The colors that come standard in almost all of these models are white, black, and stainless steel.  White is the most common and popular, but many kitchens are going with the complete stainless steel look.  A stainless cabinet depth refrigerator can add to the sleek and stylish look this metal offers.  Black is a good choice if you want to either match or contrast your refrigerator with other appliances or features in the kitchen.  Another way to match appliances with cabinets is by choosing knobs and handles that are the same.  Here is a good site to take a look at when considering if your cabinet hardware goes with your refrigerator.

Tags: Appliances, Refrigerators by Jeffrey
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There seem to be so many different names for stools. There are kitchen stools, bar stools, outdoor stools, step stools, and so on.  But what about breakfast bar stools?  Breakfast bar stools really aren’t a whole lot different than other types of stools.  In fact, it is the location that you put them that changes their name.  Nonetheless, there is great demand for these little seats.  People need a place to eat breakfast.  Many of us are in a hurry in the morning, and we just want to be able to pull things out of the fridge and pantry and eat quickly.  This is the beauty of the breakfast bar and stools:  You can put it right in the kitchen so it is within easy reach of everything.

A breakfast bar looks like a rectangular table.  They usually aren’t very big, since they need to be able to fit in kitchens that don’t have a lot of room to spare.  If you already have a kitchen island, you can just use that, and simply buy some stools to place next to it.  Typically, kitchen breakfast bar stools are made out of wood.  Though metal ones do exist, the vast majority of them are wooden.  The reason that wood is used is because they match other features in the kitchen like cabinets, which are made out of wood as well.  Oak is probably the most popular material, followed by cherry and maple wood.  These are beautiful and hard woods that last a long time.

Styles of breakfast bar stools

The majority of stools are simply designed and don’t have backs.  This kind of stool is fine for most people, but they aren’t the most comfortable when sitting for long periods of time.  Another option is the breakfast bar stool that has a back on it, just like a normal chair.  These have the features of a chair, but they have the long legs of a stool, so they sit higher off the ground.  If you are the type of person who likes to enjoy breakfast and read the paper or chat for a while, I would definitely recommend getting comfortable stools with backs on them.  You will also need to make sure the footrest is at the correct level.  Try a stool out, put your feet up, and make sure you like it.  Having a place to put your feet is important.
One of the most common styles available is the mission breakfast bar with stools.  The mission style is very popular and beautiful, with its simple, old fashioned, yet elegant designs.  Many of these mission styles feature bars that are very simple, and others have a table that is wooden but has a tiled surface on top, giving it a special accent.

Although you can easily find them separately, purchasing a breakfast bar with stools is most likely going to be your most economical option.  In addition, when you buy them as a set, you are ensured to have stools that perfectly match your little table.  Of course, if you want them in contrasting colors, you can just buy the table and the stools separately.  As far as quantity, pretty much all sets available include a breakfast bar with 2 stools.  For most households, 2 stools in the kitchen is all that will fit.  If you need more, you can always buy 2 more stools separately.  The reality is that few kitchens are large enough to seat 4 or more people, so you will have to move to the dining room.

Breakfast Bar Stool Prices

If you are looking to find some breakfast bar stools cheap, you can find them for as little as $20 each, but a greater value is to get a whole set including a breakfast bar with two stools for as little as $76.

Tags: Kitchen Furniture, Stools by Jeffrey
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For most people, a blender is one kitchen appliance that you just need to have.  They come in handy in all kinds of situations, from making breakfast smoothies to whipping up frothy margaritas at night.  Spare change is hard to come by for many people, so here is a guide to finding the best cheap blender that will whip up endless frothy beverages for your enjoyment.

When I say cheap, I mean cheap.  These days, you can find some good blenders for less than $20.  That is about as low a price as you can get for a full sized blender.  If you want one any cheaper than that, it will probably have to be a mini food blender instead of a full sized unit.  Here are the best cheap blenders available:

Cheap Blender Models

For $19, you can get the Proctor Silex 57171 blender.  It has a plastic base and a plastic jar, which is not as good as glass, but you just can’t get a blender with a glass jar for this price.  It has a 350 watt motor with 7 speeds and should be fine for faithfully performing your basic blending chores.

For a buck more, you can get the Oster 6640.  At 450 watts, the motor is a bit

more powerful, which will make chopping up ice easier.  The jar is also made of plastic, but it is “break resistant”.  One great feature this blender has is an all-metal drive

system.  Some inexpensive models use plastic parts that spin around, but a good cheap blender will use metal.  Rounding out the features is are 10 speeds and a top that has a removable cup for adding ingredients.

Another cheapie is the Hamilton Beach 54615 blender.  You will have to part with an additional $3 of this appliance, but in my opinion it is well worth it.  The motor steps up to 500 watts on this model, and it uses “revolutionary” wave action.  What this does is force whatever is in the blender down to be whipped up with the blades.  Have you ever blended something and had the bottom half spinning, while the top just sat there?  This feature is meant to do away with that once and for all.

I would say the best cheap blender is the Hamilton Beach.  The bigger the motor, the easier it will be to blend thick or hard items such as ice.  The price difference is really negligible, and the Hamilton Beach model even gives you a three year warranty, which is pretty generous for a blender.

If you are looking for a cheap vitamix blender, good luck.  These are top quality products, considered the cream of the crop in the blending world.  The cheapest new models cost over $400.  They are wonderful machines though, and can do things that normal cheap blenders can’t even dream of.  You can make your own peanut or almond butter, ice cream, guacamole, soymilk, and all kinds of other things.  If you try doing this with a normal blender, the motor will start to smoke after a while, and it might just break on you right there.  The motor and blades are top-quality, making it a great kitchen appliance.  If you scout around, you should be able to find cheap vitamix blenders at yardsales or used ones for sale online.

A cheap hand blender, which is also called an immersion blender because you stick the spinning end into a glass, costs around $15.  They are great for taking on the road, but since you can get a big blender that will do much more for a few dollars more, they aren’t really that great a value.

Tags: Appliances, Blenders by Jeffrey
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There are many reasons why a mini freezer might come in handy.  Maybe you just don’t have enough room in your normal refrigerator freezer for everything.  Here are a few things that you can use a mini freezer for:

• Buy items when they are on sale to save money, and then freeze them until you are ready to use them.
• Grow lots and lots of vegetables in the summer, and freeze them so you can pull them out and use them all winter.
• Pick or buy berries, apples, or any other fruit when it is in season, and keep it in the freezer to use the rest of the year.  Fruits are double or triple the price when they are out of season.
• Bake bread, cookies, or other foods and freeze them for later use.
• Cook extra of whatever you are making and put it in containers so you can simply pull them out and reheat them for quick and easy meals when you don’t have much time to cook.

Whatever the reason for needing it, one of these mini freezers can be of great help.  A mini fridge with freezer doesn’t get cold enough to freeze items inside.  You need a real freezer.  If you don’t want to put it in the kitchen, you can easily keep it in the garage or somewhere else that is out of the way.  Most people who have these appliances don’t use it as much as the refrigerator.  For this reason, you can keep it out of your kitchen if you want to, but still within easy reach.

Mini freezers for sale come in a few sizes.  The smallest ones are about 2 cubic feet, and the larger have capacities of about 5 cubic feet.  If you want something any bigger than that, you have plenty of options as well, but they are just not called “mini freezers” any more!

On the small side, we have the Avanti mini freezer that is 2.2 cubic feet.  It stands upright, which means that the top opens, instead of the door.  It has a few basic features, including a quick freeze button for when you want to get something ice cold fast.  In addition, there is a drain at the bottom for when you want to defrost it   Rounding out the features is a  removable storage basket, and it comes with wheels on the bottom, which makes it easy to move around.

If you want a mini freezer that is bigger, there is a Frigidaire mini freezer with a capacity of 5 cubic feet.  This chest freezer has almost the same features as the Avanti model above.  As far as mini freezers go, there isn’t a whole lot to them.  They pretty much only have one job to do, and that is keep whatever you put in them frozen.  If they get iced up, you have to take everything out, turn it off, and drain the water out when the ice melts.  Other than that, they just keep doing what they are supposed to.

If you need both a refrigerator and freezer, there really isn’t such thing as a mini fridge freezer that has both.  The mini fridges almost always have tiny little freezers that don’t work too well and aren’t big enough to fit much more than ice cubes.  If you try to use the mini refrigerator freezer, you will often find that whatever you put in there doesn’t freeze solid and it ices up quickly.  If you need to keep some things chilled, and others frozen, instead of buying a mini freezer fridge combination, you could buy them separately.  Just get one bar fridge, and a separate freezer entirely. If you have room in your kitchen, you could also just get a large sized refrigerator.

Tags: Appliances, Freezers, Refrigerators by Jeffrey
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When it comes to toasters, there are three basic model designs that you can choose from. The first is the toaster oven, which has a door that opens, and is like tiny oven.  The second kind is a side by side slot toaster, where you just drop the bread in the slots.  The third design is the single slot toaster.  Instead of having two different slots, it only has one long one.  There are many different toasters to choose from, but most of them feature the side by side style.

If you are looking for a toaster that is only big enough for one single slice of bread, you’ll have a very hard time finding one.  I have only seen 2, 4, or 6 slice toasters.  As for single slot toasters, nearly all of them can toast 2 slices. Having a single slot, you put the toast end to end in there.  The reason why they don’t make many 4 slice single slot toasters is because the appliance would be very long.  In fact, it would have to be almost 2 feet long to be able to put 4 slices of bread lengthwise in a single slot!

If you like the single long slot toaster style, and you need to be able to brown 4 slices, you can get one that is called a tandem toaster.  Cuisinart makes what it calls a tandem 4 slice toaster.  The slots are wide enough to toast a bagel, and you have the option of only turning one side on if you want.  This saves electricity because you only use one side if you are toasting 2 pieces of bread.  It also features an extra lift lever that comes in handy when removing small pieces of bread.  This way, you don’t need to go fishing in the hot toaster hole for your piece of bread!!

Tags: Appliances, Toasters by Jeffrey
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If you are looking for a fun way to serve kids food, the Disney toaster is for you.  It is a wonderful invention that can help even the pickiest eater smile for food.  Believe it or not, you have a few choices when it comes to Disney toasters.  Here is the rundown of Disney Toasters.

First, we have the Pop Art Disney Mickey Toaster.  The toaster itself looks normal with its red color.  How it works is you drop a metal stencil art plate into the slots, and it will brown the design into the slice of bread.  It comes with four different plates, so your kid can choose between Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, or Donald Duck.  The exterior is cool-touch, which is important if junior wants to do it by him/herself.

The second appliance to enter the Disney toasting market is the Pop Art Disney Princess Toaster.  Made by the same manufacturer as the Mickey toaster mentioned above, the princess toaster works the same way.   This toaster comes with plates that brand the slices of bread with designs like a crown, a heart, a glass slipper, and a castle.  Just drop the plate in, and the bread comes out with the chosen design on it.

Finally, we have the Disney Cinderella toaster.  This one is made by Villaware.  The toaster itself has a picture of Cinderella on the front of it, but it only prints a glass slipper on the bread itself.  The two other Disney toasters are probably a better choice, since you can mix up the designs.  If you have both boys and girls in your family, you might consider getting both.  Girls will like Minnie, and boys will eat a castle-imprinted slice of toast.    There is even a Disney Toaster movie.  It is called The Brave Little Toaster, made in 2003, and featuring the voices of Jon Lovitz and Timothy Stack.  You can find it here.

Tags: Appliances, Toasters by Jeffrey
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So you want to get a red microwave oven?  Although a little hard to find, they do exist.  A few appliance manufacturers make them because they know a certain number of customers out there just have to have red microwave ovens.  Although it isn’t all that hard to change the colors of a microwave, few companies do it.  They all seem to make dozens of models in colors like black, white, or silver, but don’t stray very far.  Fortunately, a couple do make them.  Let’s take a look at both of them so that you can make an informed choice.

The Emerson red microwave oven is one of your choices.  First of all, you should know that only the front of it is red.  The rest of the microwave is actually black.  This shouldn’t matter much if your microwave can slide into a compartment in your cabinets, but if it is just going to be on the counter, you will see the black sides and top.  As far as features go, it is an average size and uses 900 watts.  It comes with the standard microwave features and not a whole lot more.  It is inexpensive however, which is a big bonus for many consumers.  You will only have to shell out $64 for this red microwave oven.

Your other choice for this color is the Magic Chef red microwave oven.  Unlike the Emerson, this model is all red.  The top, sides and front are all red, so if you don’t want any black on your appliance, this one is for you.  It is the same size and has the same wattage as the Emerson, but it throws in a few extra features as well.  5 auto cook buttons and 3 auto defrost buttons, as well as 3 pre-programmed one touch cooking buttons round out this red baby.

Tags: Appliances, Microwaves by Jeffrey
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If you are looking for a new microwave, Sharp is one of the biggest names in the industry.  They are a leading manufacturer of appliances such as the sharp carousel microwave oven.  You have a few models to choose from, which vary in size and electricity use.  There are smaller models that are great for kitchens without much room to spare, and there are huge, full-sized units that are perfect for large families.  Here are a few of them:

If you are looking for something on the small side, the .8 cubic foot Sharp carousel microwave ovens are a good choice.  They have all of the features you would expect from a microwave like one touch controls and a popcorn button, plus they have a sleek and snazzy stainless steel exterior.  If you are looking for something that will go with your integrated fridge or other appliance, this is a great choice.

The Sharp Carousel ii Microwave Oven

If you need a full sized model, the Sharp ii microwave oven is a good bet.  They have a large capacity at 1 2/5 cubic feet, and are packed with features.  It has four defrost options, one-touch buttons that set the microwave on high to heat food in a hurry, and a popcorn button.  It also has a two color lighted display that includes a kitchen timer.

There is one model that combines two great appliances into one.  It is the Sharp carousel convection microwave oven.  Although quite a bit more expensive than normal microwaves, this model has heating elements that will heat the food from the bottom and the top.  While a normal microwave just heats it up, this one will brown it as well.  If you are a fan of cooking meals in the microwave, you should really consider a convection microwave oven like this one.  Sharp even wrote a cookbook to go with it!

Tags: Appliances, Microwaves by Jeffrey
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If your kitchen is looking dull and worn, before you rip out your old cabinets and replace them, consider getting them refaced.  Kitchen cabinet refacing involves removing the cabinet drawers and doors and replacing them with new ones.  If you don’t have cabinets, you will need to buy new ones.  If you already have cabinets, you should definitely consider a cabinet reface as one of your options.

Why should you consider refacing?  There are many reasons.  First of all, the cabinets you have now may well be better quality than the new ones you will buy.  Most cabinets used to be made of solid wood, but these days the majority of them only have solid wood doors and drawer fronts.  The rest of the cabinets are made from cheap particle board.  Refacing kitchen cabinets lets you keep your quality cabinets intact (if you have them), and only replace the parts that are visible from the outside.  In addition, it is a lot quicker, easier, and cheaper to reface cabinets than to replace them with new ones.
If your cabinets look really, really bad, chances are they will need to be thrown away and replaced.  Cabinet resurfacing may hide some things, but if your cabinets are really falling apart, it is better in the long run to just replace them.  For example, if your cabinets have extensive termite damage, or moisture has rotted the particle board away, it might be time to consider replacing them.

Kitchen Cabinet Refacing Cost

A typical cabinet refacing cost is between $5,000 and $8,000.  Compare this with $12,000 minimum for new cabinets, and you can see that you can save 50% right there.  What’s more, if you are handy and have the time and desire to figure out how to do it on your own, do it yourself cabinet refacing can save thousands of dollars off your typical cabinet refacing cost. It actually isn’t that hard a job, and most people can complete the task in a weekend.
Although you might be cringing at the expense, resurfacing kitchen cabinets will add value to your home.  The kitchen is arguably the most important room of the house.  Home inspectors know this, and will look closely at your cabinets when determining the value of your house or apartment.  If the insides look fine and have little or no visible damage, you should be able to reface kitchen cabinets.  If however, the insides look awful, it is most likely better to just replace them.

If you are going to hire professionals to do your kitchen cabinet resurfacing, here is a checklist to make sure that quality work has been done:

1. Open and close each door and drawer.  Make sure they close easily and return to the correct place
2. Take a look and make sure the doors and drawers line up and are level.  Hinges that are incorrectly installed can cause gaps and doors that are not level.
3. Make sure the colors are all the same.  You might have a completely different color than you had before.  This is fine, as long as all doors, drawers, and trim match.

Tags: Kitchen Cabinets by Jeffrey
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