When I look around my kitchen there are countless things that I would change. I have a list, that’s constantly getting added to, of small changes I would like to make to my kitchen every long weekend: fix this loose cupboard door, repaint this chipping shelf, rearrange my countertop. There are also some things that bug me about my kitchen that aren’t a quick fix.
Having appliances that are on their last legs is a constant source of frustration. My latest kitchen appliance headache is my dishwasher. My dishes are constantly coming out with stuff still caked on and whenever I turn it on it makes so much noise that I am convinced that I am going to walk into the kitchen to a flood! Isn’t the whole point of having a dishwasher that you can put in your dirty dishes and then move into the rest of your evening care-free?!?!? WHY DO I HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS?!??!
If you are going through similar frustrations with a kitchen appliance, treat yourself and replace it this spring!
I’ll start with dishwashers because it’s number 1 on my wish list.
According to Top Ten Reviews, Samsung and General Electric have two of the highest rated dishwashers on the market. Samsung 24” Tall Tub Built-In Dishwasher (DW80F800UWS) has three spray arms on the top, middle and bottom. It operates at 46 dBA, making it one of the quietest machines on the market, and has six wash cycles and four options including a powerful storm wash and half load wash for when you need to do a load and the machine is not full. I also love that this machine has an adjustable rack system so you can pack it efficiently and use up every bit of available space.
The GE Tall Tub Built-In Dishwasher (PDT750SSFSS) is guaranteed to give you a great clean every time with bottle wash jets and a reversing quad blade. The bottle wash jets will ensure you get all the hard to reach places while the quad blade, with its 25 spray jets, ensures water gets to every dish and all the way up to the clean the dishes on the top shelf. This machine is also Energy Star qualified, with a 250kWh/year rating, so it’s energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
Is your refrigerator a constant source of headache? Whether it’s because the door doesn’t close properly, it doesn’t give you enough space, or your food isn’t being stored at the right temperature, having a fridge that doesn’t work can be frustrating and a waste of money.
If you’re looking for a French door model, the Samsung 35.7” 27.6 Cu. Ft. French Door Refrigerator is the latest and greatest from Samsung. This spacious fridge is ideal for a big family that needs lots of food!
The inside compartment has four split glass shelves and two humidity drawers, and when you open the doors you get four more shelves on either side. The freezer has a massive pull-out drawer with two storage baskets to help you keep your frozen food organized. This Samsung fridge uses a Twin Cooling Plus System which means that the fridge and the freezer are cooled separately to ensure that both are cooled at a more accurate temperature and that no odors are mixed between compartments. This fridge also uses Metal Cooling technology as metal is a most effective conductor of cold temperatures. This technology results in an even temperature throughout the fridge and more precise temperature control.The way they have it placed as a layer on the doors also means that the temperature of the fridge won’t fluctuate as much when you open and close the doors.
Samsung also makes a side-by-side model, the Samsung 35.7” 21.5 Cu. Ft. Side By Side Counter Depth Refrigerator, with the same patented Metal Cooling system is you prefer this style of fridge. If you would prefer a freezer bottom model, the LG 37.8” 21.6 Cu. Ft. Bottom Mount Refrigerator (LDC22370ST) is a great option. Like the Sumsung fridges above, this LG model has independent temperature controls that can be independently adjusted. It has Multi-airflow cooling so that every shelf receives the same amount of cool air. The door shelves can also be moved and adjusted to fit any taller bottles and sauces. The insulation materials are also earth friendly and the model is Energy Star qualified.
Though you may be happy with your larger appliances, your smaller appliances may be in need of replacement this spring. Maybe your coffee doesn’t taste as great as it used to? Maybe it doesn’t stay as warm as it used to? If this is the case for you, think about investing in a good-quality coffee machine like the Hamilton Beach 2-Way Brewer.
I love that this coffee machine gives you the option to brew either one cup or a whole pot depending on what you need. It also has a brew strength selector that lets you choose between mild, medium and dark and a timer function so you can wake up to freshly brewed coffee! If you don’t tend to brew a full pot you may prefer to invest in the Keurig Elite Single Serve Coffee Maker. This machine is simple to use and has tons of different K-cup options for various hot drink including coffee, tea and hot chocolate, you can make whatever drink you want in seconds.
If your toaster is constantly burning everything or leaving crumbs everywhere then it may be time to get a new one you can rely on! The Hamilton Beach 2-Slice Toaster has extra wide slots to accommodate larger bagels and buns and has a defrost button so that you can defrost and toast your bread in one easy step. The seven toasting settings will ensure that you get the perfect toast you want every time and the auto-shut off setting will turn the machine off even if your toast is jammed.
Lastly, your blender might have lost its original luster and is now giving you smoothies full of ice chips and unblended fruit – upgrade it with the powerful Bendtec Designer Series 1L Blender. This blender has fantastic online customer reviews and the common theme in all the reviews is how powerful it is. The 1560-watt motor effortlessly blends through ice and fruit and it offers tons of blend settings. In addition to smoothies, it can also be used to make soups, batters and grind coffee. The jar is also dishwasher safe for easy clean up!
If you’re looking for something at a slightly lower price point, I own the Cuisinart Compact Blender and love it! This blender can make smoothies or chop ingredients in either the 32-ounze blender jar, one of the 4 16-ounce travel cups or the 8-ounze chopping cup. I love that I can make my morning smoothie in the 16-ounze travel mug, switch the blades for a lid, pop in a straw and go! It eliminates the annoying transfer and clean-up that I would have to do if I was using a jug blender. I also find that the 350-watt motor is enough to cut through ice and fruit to make a smooth, drinkable smoothie.
Whether it’s the dishwasher that doesn’t wash anything, the fridge that doesn’t keep your food fresh or the toaster that incinerates every piece of bread, everyone has a kitchen appliance that drives them nuts. With spring starting up, it’s the perfect opportunity to ditch the old and bring in the new spring appliances!
So if you could only change one thing about your kitchen, what would it be?
